Detroit Lions predictions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Is a playoff repeat in store?

Free Press sports writers share their Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game predictions for Sunday afternoon (1 p.m., Fox) in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season.

Dave Birkett

The Lions are just the fourth team in NFL history to open a season against two teams they played in the previous year’s playoffs, according to ESPN, and all three of their predecessors went on to reach the Super Bowl. There’s a lot of season left before that happens, but there’s no denying the Bucs will be out to avenge their two losses to the Lions in the past 11 months.

Tampa is a good team with a dangerous offense, and Todd Bowles is one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL. But he’ll have his work cut out for him Sunday given Tampa’s injury-derived shortcomings in the secondary. I don’t think this game turns into a blowout, like the oddsmakers project. If Tampa has any success running the ball, this game won’t be decided until late in the fourth quarter. But as long as Jared Goff avoids turnovers, the Lions will walk away with the tiebreaker edge over another NFC playoff contender. The pick: Lions 28, Bucs 24.

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Carlos Monarrez

If the Bucs weren’t decimated by injuries to their secondary, I would be tempted to pick them based off last week’s dominant 37-20 win over Washington. But that was in Tampa, Florida, and Ford Field ain’t Tampa. The Lions’ defense needs to clean up its tackling and will be challenged by the Bucs’ potent pass game, which will get its points. But Ben Johnson’s offense will be too much for a shorthanded Tampa secondary. The pick: Lions 36, Bucs 30.

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Jeff Seidel

My ears were still ringing on Monday morning after the Lions’ season-opening win. Why point that out? Because Ford Field has turned into an amazing home-field advantage. It’s wildly loud and crazy and this team feeds on it. Perhaps, you recognize the score in my prediction — the final score against the Buccaneers in the divisional round of the playoffs last January. One thing to remember: That game was tied entering the fourth quarter, 17-17. This game will be close again, but Lions pull away late. The pick: Lions 31, Buccaneers 24.

Watch Lions vs. Bucs live on Fox

Shawn Windsor

For the second week in a row, the Lions have to play a team they just beat. Baker Mayfield and Co. return looking for revenge just as Matthew Stafford did Sunday. The Bucs are missing folks in the defensive backfield, but their offense looked primed and pumped in Week 1. This will be a good test for the Lions revamped defense. Meanwhile, the offense starts to work out some of the kinks. The pick: Lions 27, Bucs 23.