In their second playoff game, they faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have a record of 9-8. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions have a record of 12-5. Compared to the Lion’s records from last season (9-8), they have grown immensely as a team. Having star rookies like TE Sam Laporta, LB Jack Campbell, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, and DB Brian Branch has pushed a rising team and struggling organization to become a playoff team and one of the nation’s favorites.
The game had a pivotal early play, as safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson intercepted Baker Mayfield on the Buc’s first offensive drive.
In this particular game, we saw amazing performances from Amonrah St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and of course Jared Goff. Furthermore, many role players had some great plays that heavily contributed to the flow of the team and their play.
A player who hasn’t seen the field much, Ifeatu Melifonwu sacked Baker Mayfield twice, once in the first quarter and next with Reeves-Maybin in the fourth quarter. Following a mediocre first half, the former star U of M player turned up the pressure in the 3rd quarter, his 8th sack in the last 4 games.
Additionally, third-string player Craig Reynolds also had a fourth and one touchdown, which shows the depth of the team and overall belief in every player on this 53-man roster. On January 21, 2023, The Lions won their second playoff game in a row after not winning one in thirty years. The Lions have been known to be the “laughing stock” of the NFL. A once-starved fanbase has seen their passion materialize into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
The passion of the fans and team were as high as the stakes of the game with it coming to a strong end on the Lions’ behalf. Jahmyr Gibbs had a wonderful 31-yard touchdown leading him to end the game with 114 yards. Amonrah St. Brown and Jared Goff have proven time and time again to be an amazing duo on the field. Goff found St. Brown in the end zone to put the game out of reach for the Bucs, giving the Lions a 14-point lead. Lastly, LB Derrick Barnes brought the game to an astonishing end as he picked off the ball on the Buc’s final drive.
This game brought the spotlight to many lesser-known positional players, also giving space for foundational players who have waited to experience a Lions success story come into play. Not only affecting the players, head coach Dan Campbell received NFC Coach of the Year shortly after the win. The Lions’ rapid success story is not only attributed to the players and coach but also to key employees throughout the organization. The second playoff win showed the Lions to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
Sources:
https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2023-first-half-rookie-report-card
LUCIA MAHER
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