IMPRESSIVE NEWS: Lions defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to advance to NFC Championship Game…

Following their victory against the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions made their way back to Ford Field for a

second consecutive week to host Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Divisional Round. After

all was said and done, the Lions had once again provided an entertaining finale for the crowd that filled Ford Field.

They won 31–23 to claim the victory and move on to the NFC Championship game against the 49ers.

Baker Mayfield misdirected a ball, which C.J. Gardner-Johnson blocked and intercepted, giving the Lions immediate

advantage. Detroit took an early lead thanks to a good field goal by Michael Badgley, even if the Lions were unable to

score on the turnover.

Chase McLaughlin’s 43-yard field goal for Tampa Bay quickly answered. They tried to go to the end zone, but were

thwarted in part by a vital sack that Brian Branch gave.

Detroit then went on an incredible 14-play, 7-minute drive down the field. A perfect ball from Jared Goff to Josh

Reynolds brought the drive to a climax and sealed the offensive effort with a score.

Tampa Bay moved up the field considerably as Baker Mayfield made passes to Rachaad White and Mike Evans. They

tried their best, but Chase McLaughlin’s 50-yard field goal attempt hit the upright, costing them vital points, and

they were unable to cut Detroit’s lead.

Cade Otton’s one-yard touchdown catch with the Buccaneers just before the half ended helped them tie the score.

This touchdown play capped a seven-play, 92-yard drive that was highlighted by passes from Mayfield to Evans that

were 27 and 29 yards in length. By the end of the first half, Tampa Bay had tied the score thanks to a good drive.

The Lions would take the lead as the third quarter came to an end, but neither team being able to gain any

momentum. Craig Reynolds’ touchdown was the result of the Lions’ daring decision to go for it on fourth and goal,

which was made possible by head coach Dan Campbell. The play resulted in a 64-yard, 10-play drive.

Nonetheless, the Bucs answered right away. After leading Tampa Bay down the field for 75 yards, Mayfield found

White in the end zone: The good news for the Lions is that they managed to pull away from the Bucs in the last

quarter by imposing their will. Jahmyr Gibbs ran a 31-yard touchdown run after donning his Superman cape:

Not too long after, when time started to really matter, Detroit would find the goal zone once more due to a 10-play,

89-yard drive that culminated in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were not going to take a knee and go to sleep. After reducing Detroit’s advantage with a

16-yard touchdown pass to Evans, Mayfield would unnerve Lions supporters; their subsequent 2-point conversion

attempt would fall short.

That would be the utmost Tampa Bay could go. Derrick Barnes would deliver a crucial interception for the Lions with

little under two minutes left: As the clock ran out, the Lions formally declared themselves winners and moved on to

the NFC Championship game.

Regardless of the result of the 49ers game the following week, the Lions have produced an absolutely incredible

season that will live on in the hearts and minds of supporters for many years to come. With today’s triumph over the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the season will be remembered as a watershed in the team’s history, and this incredible

campaign has been a beacon of hope, washing away years of pain.

Next Sunday, the 49ers and Lions square off at Levi Stadium with the winner going to Super Bowl LVIII in Las

Vegas.