Buccaneers vs. Lions Bold Prediction: Jared Goff Strikes Gold Against Tampa Bay
Last week, the Washington Commanders had more offensive success against Tampa Bay than the final score suggested. Can Detroit take advantage of the same vulnerabilities?
Last week, the Washington Commanders were overpowered by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 37-20 loss. Despite the departure of former offensive coordinator Dave Canales to the Carolina Panthers as head coach, Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense didn’t seem to miss a beat.
However, Washington’s offensive performance was better than the final score suggests. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, in his first start, threw for 184 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He was more effective on the ground, rushing for 88 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts. His day could have been even more productive if not for three fumbles, two of which were lost.
Analyzing Washington’s offensive distribution shows an opportunity for Detroit.
More than 75 percent of their passing yards came from running backs and tight ends. Along with Daniels’ rushing yards and attempts, this highlights a vulnerable Buccaneers linebacking unit that the Lions could exploit with their short passing game.
After a lackluster start to the season with just one touchdown and one interception, Jared Goff will be looking to bounce back against the Buccaneers.
The stats from last week don’t reflect that the Rams defense dropped at least one potential interception. While Goff wasn’t at his best, his mistakes primarily came on deep or outside throws, which aren’t his usual strength.
This performance came against a Rams defense that adjusted its passing game to make up for the absence of Aaron Donald. Although Goff had more time in the pocket, he was forced to throw into a tightly defended middle and was challenged to go deep.
In contrast, the Buccaneers defense didn’t appear as strong in Week 1. The Commanders were able to move the ball effectively using the short game, which bodes well for the Lions. This likely means more targets for Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery. After struggling to get the ball to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the opener, we could also see more quick screen passes to St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
Overall, this is promising for the Lions’ offense. Few teams can match up with Detroit’s top playmakers when they have space to work with, and against Tampa Bay, they’ll have plenty of it. This should lead to more than just matching Washington’s 20 points, as the game is expected to turn into a high-scoring shootout with the Buccaneers’ potent offense. For Goff, this could result in 3 or more passing touchdowns, a feat he accomplished three times last season.
