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Recap: Shorthanded Lions embarrassed by Bucs, as Stafford suffers another injury

This one was over before it started.

By Jeremy Reisman Updated
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Detroit Lions Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with no interim head coach Darrell Bevell. No defensive coordinator. No defensive position coaches, and an injury depleted of healthy or talented players. It went just about as well as you’d expect.

The game was over by the end of the first quarter, and it only got much, much worse from there. Matthew Stafford suffered an ankle injury after just two plays, the Lions defense only got stops once Tom Brady was out of the game at halftime, and everyone was pretty much tuned out by 2 p.m. ET.

Here’s how the Lions managed to lose 47-7 on a Saturday.

First quarter

The Detroit Lions defense took the field first, and they nearly got a three-and-out. Jahlani Tavai picked up a third-down sack, but Everson Griffen had jumped offsides. Tom Brady took advantage quickly, converting on third-and-4. Three plays later, he connected with Rob Gronkowski for a 33-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed. 6-0 Bucs.

The Lions were able to move the ball to midfield, but on a fourth-and-1, as the Lions lined up to go for it, Taylor Decker jumped offsides. Facing a fourth-and-6, interim interim coach Robert Prince decided to punt, and Jack Fox sent it 8 yards deep into the end zone for a touchback. Even worse for the Lions, Stafford suffered an ankle injury on this drive and was carted off.

It took Brady just four plays to extend his lead. First, he connected with Chris Godwin for 47 yards. Then he found Mike Evans for 27 and another score. 13-0 Bucs.

With Chase Daniel in the game, the Lions offense couldn’t muster anything significant. However, D’Andre Swift did this, which was pretty cool:

The Lions defense was finally able to force a punt after Everson Griffen notched a first-down sack. Nick Williams forced an incomplete pass on third down, forcing a Brady incompletion, and giving Detroit’s offense the ball back.

Second quarter

20-0 Bucs.

27-0 Bucs

34-0 Bucs.

Third quarter

D’Andre Swift fumbled on the very first offensive play.

40-0 Bucs.

Jamal Agnew did a good. 40-7 Buccaneers.

Back to your regularly scheduled blowout. 47-7 Buccaneers.

k bye.

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