DETROIT – The Detroit Lions dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-9 on Monday Night Football behind stifling defense and stellar play from Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The game on Oct. 20, 2025, was filled with many storylines surrounding the Buccaneers’ offense and the Lions’ lack of players in the secondary due to injury, but Detroit dominated while improving to 5-2 as they head into their bye week.
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Quarterback Jared Goff completed 20-29 for 241 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
His favorite target of the night was St. Brown, who hauled in six receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown.
But the star of the show was Gibbs, who toted the rock 17 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns, including a 78-yard touchdown.
Gibbs also gained 82 yards on three receptions, with his longest reception gaining 30 yards in the process.
The Lions’ defense held Baker Mayfield to 228 yards on 50 pass attempts while completing one touchdown, a fumble, and an interception in the process.
1st quarter
The Lions received the ball to kick off the ESPN doubleheader, and on their first possession of the game, quarterback Jared Goff threw an incomplete pass to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
On second down, Goff connected with running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a 30-yard catch and run, moving the sticks past the Buccaneers’ 50-yard line.
Gibbs gained four yards combined on the next two plays before Tampa Bay committed an illegal touching play on third down and six to force an automatic first down.
He gained another three yards on first down before Goff hit St. Brown for a 27-yard catch and run for the first touchdown of the game.
Kicker Jake Bates capped off the Lions’ six-play 69-yard drive in 3:01 with an extra point to take a 7-0 lead.
The Buccaneers got called for holding on the massive kickoff return that was called back.
Running back Rachaad White gained five yards while lowering the boom on the first carry of the game.
The turf monster got quarterback Baker Mayfield, who eluded the Lions’ pass rush but fell to the ground for a one-yard loss on second down.
On third down, Mayfield hit wide receiver Sterling Sheppard for a gain of two yards, forcing a three-and-out.
Punt Returner Kalif Raymond called for a fair catch on the first punt of the game by punter Riley Dixon, which traveled 43 yards to the Lions’ 35-yard line.
The Lions got another chunk play as Goff connected with St. Brown for 24 yards on first down.
Running back David Montgomery got his first carry of the game, which went for one yard on first down.
Tight end Brock Wright got his first catch of the game for five yards before Goff got stripped-sacked for negative nine yards by Yaya Diaby, forcing a fumble recovered by defensive end Elijah Roberts.
With 7:42 to play in the quarter, Tampa Bay got called for a false start on tight end Cade Otton, moving the sticks back five yards.
Mayfield, on first down and 15, threw incomplete to a returning Mide Evans, who missed the last three games with a hamstring injury.
Otton gained eight yards on second down, setting up a third and seven.
White got tackled for a negative two yards by Jack Campbell, forcing another punt by Dixon, this time for 46 yards to the Lions’ 14-yard line.
The Lions started their third possession with 6:08 to play, and Goff handed the rock off to Gibbs for a three-yard run.
On second down, Goff hit St. Brown for another chunk play, this time for a 16-yard catch and run to Detroit’s 33-yard line.
Gibbs moved the sticks to the 37-yard line with a four-yard carry. He gained 10 yards on the next play before Goff used his wheels to gain six yards.
On second and four, Goff hit Gibbs for a 24-yard catch and run as Goff was surgical in the first quarter.
Gibbs lost three yards on first down as he got tackled in the backfield.
Wright grabbed his second catch of the quarter for four yards, setting up a third and nine from the Tampa Bay 22-yard line.
Goff connected with Raymond for a seven-yard reception, setting up a fourth and two, which fell incomplete when the ball fell to the endzone turf to rookie Isaac TeSlaa.
Starting at their 15-yard line, White gained one yard to end the quarter.
2nd quarter
Mayfield hit Evans for a 28-yard completion on second, but it was called incomplete. But Rock Ya-Sin got called for pass interference, moving the ball to the Buccaneers’ 40-yard line.
White gained two yards on first down before gaining three yards on his first catch of the game.
With the crowd going bananas, Mayfield got his pass batted in the air, which fell incomplete thanks to the big paw of Alim McNeill at the line of scrimmage.
Goff connected with Montgomery for a catch and run of 15 yards with a first-down screen play.
Montgomery lost two yards on first down as he got tackled in the backfield.
Offensive tackle Penei Sewell got called for a false start to move the sticks back to second and 17.
St. Brown moved the ball to the 45-yard line after Goff hit St. Brown for a 12-yard catch and run.
On third down and five, Goff got sacked by SirVocea Dennis for a loss of 12 yards, forcing the Lions’ first punt of the game by Jack Fox for 52 yards and returned by Kameron Johnson for 10 yards.
Down seven, Mayfield threw an incomplete pass, which fell incomplete between Evans, as Tampa Bay had two players in the area.
Goff hit Emeka Egbuka for six yards before Otton gained the first down for six yards.
Wide receiver Tez Johnson stopped running on a deep route from Mayfield, which fell incomplete before running back Sean Tucker gained four yards on second down, moving the ball to the 50-yard line.
On third down and six, Mayfield hit Evans, who got one foot in bounds after he was forced out by Ya-Sin, forcing another punt with 7:42 to play.
Dixon punted the ball to the Lions’ 13-yard line for 37 yards.
The punt was Dixon’s fourth of the game, averaging 41 yards with his longest going 45 yards.
Detroit opened the drive with a false start on the 10-year veteran offensive tackle Taylor Decker.
On first down and 15, Gibbs turned a negative play into a great gain, but the play was called back by Raymond for a block in the back.
Gibbs should have gotten a facemask call as cornerback Antoine Winfield Jr. grabbed his helmet, but the officials thought otherwise.
With the ball moved back to the six-yard line, Gibbs gained three yards.
Super Bowl champion Lavonte David got injured on the play, and an injury timeout was called.
The Lions played the Gibbs run once again on the scoreboard as Winfield Jr. had his hands on the speedster’s facemask, drawing more ire from the fans.
On second down and 14, Goff hit Raymond for a gain of eight yards, setting up third down and six.
Goff threw an incomplete pass to Raymond, but cornerback Jamel Dean got called for illegal contact on St. Brown.
Gibbs exploded down the middle of the field for a 78-yard touchdown, untouched, gaining 106 rushing yards in the game.
Bates knocked in the extra point to take a 14-0 lead.
White gained five yards on first down before Mayfield connected with Evans for a big play, until Ya-Sin tackled him to the turf, popping the ball out.
Evans lay on the field for a few minutes before the team medics walked off the field.
On third down and five, Mayfield got sacked by linebacker Derrick Barnes for six yards.
Dixon punted again, this time for 52 yards to the Detroit 14-yard line.
Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was teaching a master class on stopping the opposing team’s offense as the Lions were rolling.
Montgomery gained three yards on the next play, setting up a second and seven.
Jameson Williams got called for an offensive pass interference, moving the ball back to the Lions’ nine-yard line.
Goff threw an incomplete pass to St. Brown before Goff got his screen pass batted in the air on third down and 15.
Fox booted the ball 66 yards, which was returned for 13 yards to the 38-yard line.
Cornerback Amik Robertson punched the ball out, which was recovered by Aidan Hutchinson.
Montgomery gained six yards on first down before losing one yard on second down before the two-minute warning.
Goff threw low and incomplete to Williams, setting up a Bates 54-yard field goal attempt from Bates that went wide left.
Mayfield hit Otton for a four-yard catch that was almost intercepted by cornerback Arthur Maulet, who looked like he picked the ball off as both players went to the ground.
After a review, Maulet did get the call for an interception with 1:46 to play in the half.
Gibbs gained one yard on first down as the clock ticked down in the quarter.
With the clock running and all three timeouts, on second and nine, Goff hit St. Brown for a gain of eight yards before running out of bounds.
St. Brown had five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Goff quarterback sneaked to gain the first down on second and one.
After calling their first timeout of the half, Goff got sacked for a nine-yard loss by safety Tykee Smith, forcing the Lions to call their second timeout of the half.
Goff threw an interception to Dean, who returned it for 14 yards, moving the ball to the Tampa Bay 43-yard line.
Mayfield hit Sheppard for 11 yards before connecting with Johnson to the 35-yard line for 11 yards.
With a timeout called, kicker Chase McLaughlin knocked in a 53-yarder to end the quarter 14-3.
The Lions put up 275 yards of total offense while Tampa Bay managed a measly 58, but they get the ball to open the second half with the ball.
3rd quarter
White got the ball after the second half kickoff and gained three yards before Egbuka gained 18 yards on his second catch of the game, moving the chains to the Lions’ 46-yard line.
White gained seven yards on first before Mayfield threw incomplete to Egbuka near the endzone.
Sheppard caught a three-yard catch to move the sticks before White gained one yard on first down.
On second and 10, offensive tackle Charlie Heck got called for a false start.
Mayfield threw an incomplete pass as the ball was batted down on second down and 14.
He threw an incomplete pass to Johnson before Johnson gained 12 yards. White gained four yards on fourth and two to move the sticks.
Mayfield dumped the ball to running back Sean Tucker to the Detroit 22-yard line for two yards.
On a fantastic run after the catch by Johnson for 22 yards, he spun into the endzone to cut the lead to 14-9, before going for two, which was batted away by Nick Whiteside.
Gibbs rushed the ball for five yards after receiving the kickoff, setting up a second and five.
Tight end Sam LaPorta got his first catch of the game for three yards.
On third down and two, Goff connected with Wright for 14 yards. It was his third catch of the game, tallying 23 yards on all three targets.
On first down and 10, Gibbs was able to gain 15 yards, boosting his total to 127 carries on 13 carries.
Gibbs gained three yards on the next play, outgaining the Buccaneers in total yards by himself.
He had a 28-yard catch and run before running the ball for a five-yard touchdown to take a 21-9 lead as Bates hit the extra point.
Gibbs had 58 yards on that drive as Detroit drove the ball 73 yards in seven plays while chewing up 4:10 in the quarter.
Kameron Johnson returned Bates’ 65-yard kickoff to the Tampa Bay 21-yard line for 21 yards.
Mayfield hit White for no gain on first down, but on second and 10, he gained seven yards, setting up a third and three.
A pass to Egbuka fell incomplete on third and three as Ya-Sin grabbed the back of his leg while walking off the field.
Goff threw an incomplete pass on first down to open the drive before Montgomery gained two yards, setting up a third and eight on their own 32-yard line.
LaPorta gained nine yards to move the sticks before Montgomery gained five yards to the Detroit 46-yard line.
The Pro Bowl tight end caught a three-yard pass before Montgomery gained one yard, setting up a fourth and one to end the quarter.
4th quarter
Gibbs gained the tough first down before Raymond picked up two yards on first down.
Montgomery gained two yards, setting up a third and six with 13:20 to play.
Goff threw an incomplete pass in the direction of St. Brown, setting up for Fox’s third punt of the game, which was fair caught at the 11-yard line.
Mayfield hit Otton on a 20-yard catch and run to open the fourth-quarter drive.
Egbuka had the next pass fly over his head. It was his sixth target of the game, catching two for 22 yards.
He caught his third pass of the game on the next play for six yards, setting up a third down and four.
Mayfield threw to Egbuka again, but the pass got broken up, setting up for a fourth and four at the Tampa Bay 37.
With the game theoretically on the line, Mayfield connected with Otton, who stretched and got the first down, but fumbled, which was recovered and covered by former Michigan Wolverines guard Ben Bredeson.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell challenged the play, and after a second look, Detroit got the stop, leading 21-9 with 11:31 to play in the game.
Detroit got the ball and had Goff toss the ball to Gibbs for no gain. After the play, linebacker Haason Reddick lay injured on the field holding his left leg.
Goff took a sack for no gain on the play, setting up third and 10 from the Tampa Bay 40-yard line.
He threw an incomplete pass in the direction of Williams, setting up for a 58-yard field attempt from Bates, who banked it in off the right goal post to take a 24-9 lead.
Mayfield hit Otton for 13 yards to move the chains before throwing incomplete on the next play.
On second down and 10, Mayfield hit Otton for an eight-yard catch and run.
Maulet got injured on the play, making for another player in the secondary potentially lost for the game.
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White gained two yards on the next play to move the sticks.
With a fresh set of downs, Mayfield overthrew Tez Johnson, but Thomas Harper nearly picked it off.
Hutchinson drew an offensive penalty but the Lions declined it, so on third and 10 Mayfield connected with Tez Johnson for a first down.
On first down, White rushed for three yards before Mayfield fumbled and was recovered by lineman Thomas Wheat.
On third down and five, Campbell challenged the line to gain, which was unsuccessful, costing a timeout.
With 7:17 to play, on third and five, Mayfield threw incomplete as Hutchinson nearly got a sack on the play.
With the game on the line, again, in a 15-point game, Mayfield hit Otton for seven yards to move the sticks.
Shepard gained two yards before Mayfield missed badly to a wide-open Tez Johnson for a touchdown.
On third and eight, Mayfield hit Shepard for three yards, setting up another fourth down. Erick Hallett made his eighth tackle of the game.
Maulet got called for pass interference, picking up an automatic first down by Tampa Bay.
Mayfield tossed it to Shepard for a two-yard gain but shortarmed a potential touchdown to Egbuka as the pass was blocked down in the endzone.
Jack Campbell swatted the ball down in the endzone before the Lions deflected the next play to cause a turnover on downs.
Montgomery rushed the ball for a one-yard gain, causing a timeout by the Buccaneers with 4:18 to play.
He got tackled for a two-yard gain, causing another timeout for Tampa Bay, their second of the half.
Goff hit St. Brown at the line of scrimmage for a one-yard loss, forcing Tampa Bay to take their last timeout of the game.
Fox punted for the fourth time, this time down to the Tampa Bay 22 but was returned for 11 yards.
Mayfield hit Egbuka for a 30-yard catch and run before throwing incomplete to Otton.
On second and 10, Wheat got his first sack of the season, a loss of 11 yards.
Mayfield threw incomplete once again, forcing a fourth down and 21 with 2:38 to play.
Mayfield connected with Ryan Miller for his first reception of the game for 14 yards but the pass was short the line to gain, forcing another turnover on downs.
Montgomery took the snap for no gain to the 34-yard line as the clock hit the two-minute warning.
The Lions ran the ball two more times before punting the ball back to Tampa Bay who knelt to kneell the game with 19 seconds left.