DETROIT — It was easy to point at the Detroit Lions going into their Monday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and have concerns about its depleted secondary.
The Lions were down their two starting cornerbacks and safeties from the beginning of the season against the Bucs and quarterback Baker Mayfield on a strong run of form.
But despite playing guys in the secondary with limited time on the Detroit roster or even in the NFL like Arthur Maulet, Nick Whiteside and Thomas Harper, the Lions caused fits for Mayfield and the Bucs, holding them to their lowest point total of the season (9) en route to a major win.
“I mean, they’re really physical. It didn’t matter who they had down there at the secondary,” Mayfield said postgame. “You know, some plays could have had some illegal contact downfield and some holding calls. But it’s no excuse for the ones that were there that I should have hit them on. So it’s a little give and take.”
The Lions were hot out of the gate, forcing back-to-back three-and-outs to start the contest at Ford Field. Detroit’s defense hadn’t managed a three-and-out on the opening drive of a game since Week 16 of last season.
For the Bucs, Detroit took out Mayfield’s ability to improvise outside the pocket. He has 158 rushing yards this season on 22 carries, frequently moving the chains with his legs when he’s forced to leave the pocket.
The Lions did well to collapse his space and not leave avenues to make secondary plays.
“Thought Detroit did a good job keeping him in the pocket and they kept him in the pocket and they got pressure from within,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “So that’s important. We got to block it better. We got to protect him better, but we got to get open downfield as well.”
Mayfield didn’t look as he did early in the season. The former No. 1 overall pick threw a season-high 50 times and only completed 28 passes for 228 yards, while adding an interception.
A lack of a ground game didn’t help matters for the Bucs as they averaged just 3.4 yards per attempt on 12 carries with a long of seven yards.
“We just got behind the chains,” left tackle Tristan Wirfs said. “I mean they’re good, good defense up front. Can’t let ourselves in that situation. It’s not going to make for a fun night.”
It forced the Bucs to throw more often and those secondary players were ready. Maulet had the lone pick, effectively ripping a pass out of the hands of Cade Otton late in the first half.
Nine players were credited with a pass defense, with Whiteside — a practice squad player until Oct. 11 — leading the way with three.
The unexpected defensive surge meant Monday night was not fun at all for the Bucs on their third trip to Detroit in the last three seasons, while the Lions enjoy another home victory at Ford Field.
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