With a chance to clinch their first playoff berth since 2007, the Buccaneers were in Detroit on Saturday afternoon to kick off an NFL day-after-Christmas tripleheader against the Lions.
Tampa Bay came into Saturday’s game at 9-5, possessing control of its own destiny for the NFC’s No. 5 seed. Wins over the Lions and Falcons in the final two weeks would set the Bucs up for a date with the NFC East winner in the first round of the playoffs, set to take place the weekend of Jan. 9-10. The boys in red, white and pewter had to take the field in Detroit a little short-handed, with Ronald Jones II out for a second straight week and Carlton Davis inactive after leaving last week’s game with a groin injury.