By Larry Holder, Colton Pouncy and Mike Jones
It’s solely the second time in NFL historical past the place this assertion has been true: The Detroit Lions are one win away from a berth within the Tremendous Bowl.
The Lions pulled away within the fourth quarter after each groups flip-flopped scoring all through the primary three quarters as Detroit knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 within the NFC divisional spherical on Sunday at Ford Area.
Detroit will journey to face the San Francisco 49ers within the NFC Championship subsequent Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. The Niners toppled the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Saturday’s divisional spherical matchup.
This would be the Lions’ second NFC Championship Recreation look within the Tremendous Bowl period. Detroit fell to Washington within the 1991 season in its first look.
Rookie tailback Jahmyr Gibbs darted via the center of the offensive line, then took his minimize to the left for a 31-yard landing run with 13:13 left within the recreation to push the Lions forward 24-17. Then Detroit sealed it when Jared Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 9-yard TD go to make it 31-17 with 6:22 remaining.
Goff went 30-of-43 passing for 287 yards with two touchdowns leading to a 103.5 passer score.
Pure velocity from the rookie.
📺: #TBvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38ClOq pic.twitter.com/bWTS2vHkyr— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
The Bucs managed to chop the result in 31-23 on the subsequent possession when Baker Mayfield discovered Mike Evans for a 16-yard TD go on the 4:41 mark. The 2-point conversion try failed. Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes picked off Mayfield with 1:33 left, although, to thwart any comeback.
The Lions’ fourth-quarter scoring sequence erased the pattern from the primary 45 minutes.
Detroit’s Craig Reynolds punched in a 1-yard landing run on fourth right down to push Detroit up 17-10 with 3:48 remaining within the third quarter. Mayfield helped Tampa Bay tie it up on the following possession with a second game-tying TD by hitting Rachaad White on a display go for a 12-yard scoring connection.
Mayfield went 26-of-41 passing for 349 yards with three TDs and two interceptions for a 94.5 passer score. Evans hauled in eight receptions for 147 yards and one TD.
The back-and-forth scoring pattern began within the first half. Detroit broke a 3-3 tie when Goff hit Josh Reynolds on a crossing route for a 9-yard landing connection early within the second quarter.
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Then Evans added consecutive catches of 27 and 29 yards from Mayfield with lower than a minute left put the Bucs on the 2. Mayfield capped off a 92-yard drive by discovering Cade Otton on the subsequent play for a 2-yard TD seize to make it 10-10 heading into halftime.
4th and Aim? Lions are going for it.
📺: #TBvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38ClOq pic.twitter.com/x9nVpCrGhP— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
Lions followers, that is taking place!
The Lions are going to the NFC Championship. Sure, you learn that proper.
These Lions are one win away from a Tremendous Bowl look. They’re on this place as a result of they took care of enterprise towards the Buccaneers, making each play they wanted to. The offense put up 31 factors, preserving its foot on the gasoline pedal and capitalizing within the pink zone. The protection stored the Lions on this one till the offense was prepared, and made the game-sealing play through a Barnes interception. That was an entire win, within the playoffs, for this Lions crew. Detroit advances.
The Lions will face their largest take a look at but, touring to San Francisco to tackle the 49ers. It gained’t be straightforward going towards Christian McCaffrey and the NFC’s No. 1 seed, however these Lions consider they’ll play wherever, towards anybody, and win. We’ll see what they’ve in retailer subsequent week. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat author
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Tampa Bay’s valiant combat comes up quick
Tampa Bay put up a valiant combat, however within the fourth quarter simply couldn’t give you the stops wanted to overhaul the Lions. After which the Detroit protection stepped up massive with the interception to seal the sport. Detroit was simply the higher crew. This recreation — particularly within the second half — felt like a prize combat, however the Lions have been the marginally extra expert and barely extra proficient fighter and prevailed.
This one will sting for some time for Mayfield, however he delivered some very clutch performs below strain for the Bucs and gave them an opportunity till that ultimate possession. — Mike Jones, nationwide NFL author
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(Photograph: Gregory Shamus / Getty Photographs)