Fact or Fiction: Buccaneers Present Trap Game for Lions
The Detroit Lions have started the 2023 season strong, with a 4-1 record. As a result, every one of their games has the chance to be a marquee one moving forward.
Their latest challenge is a Week 6 matchup with the Tampa Buccaneers, which have started the season 3-1 and are coming off their bye week.
With their early season success, it's hard to justify labeling this matchup with Tampa Bay as a trap game. Behind Baker Mayfield's success and a stifling defense, the Buccaneers have managed to reach first place early in the season.
Mayfield has been playing some of his best football through his team's first four games. After struggles with turnovers last season, he's taken much better care of the ball in 2023, with seven touchdowns against two interceptions.
His ability to take care of the ball and utilize his mobility present a unique challenge for the opportunistic Lions defense. Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn want the unit to generate turnovers, but Mayfield has been good about not giving the ball away.
With Mike Evans fully healthy and Chris Godwin in the fold, the Lions will be tasked with slowing down a talented group of Buccaneers wideouts.
“I think they’re even different than what Seattle was, and those were good receivers. But, Evans is a guy 'AG' and myself are both very familiar with, being in that division for as long as we were. But, he’s a true jump ball guy," Campbell said. "He’s got enough speed to get downfield, but then with that length, reach, he’s got radar. So, he can locate these balls that are back shoulder, high, jump. Baker will throw it. If it even feels like it’s a one-on-one, he’ll lay it out there and give the guy a chance to go make a play. That’s huge."
Godwin appears to be returning to the form he displayed prior to his ACL injury in 2021. He's compiled 21 catches for 255 yards in four games so far this season.
"And then Godwin’s playing – to me, Godwin is back to what Godwin was before his injury, like you can see it. This guy is – he’s back to playing really good football and he’s playing a little more outside, which I think suits him well," Campbell added. "He’s versatile, he’s tough. He’s tough in the run game, too. So, the one-two punch of those guys, it’s something, we’re going to have to be able to challenge these guys. We can’t just let them run down the field.”
Despite the threat posed by Tampa Bay's receivers, Detroit’s coaching staff has confidence in how its defense competes and executes.
“Our guys are competitive, man. Cam (Sutton) and Jerry (Jacobs) on him, I like it, I do. But, I think it’s all encompassing. Got a challenge there, but we also, we’ve got to continue to do what we’ve been doing," Campbell said.
Mayfield's trajectory early in the campaign is reminiscent of the arc Jared Goff took in the second half of the Lions' 2022 campaign. Time will tell if Mayfield's success is sustainable, but the Buccaneers have schemed around his strengths and have unlocked the best version of his talents.
Defensively, the pass rush presents an array of problems for the Lions. Detroit will be without Jonah Jackson, who has been ruled out after suffering an injury in Week 5.
Among the top contributors to that unit is Vita Vea, who has emerged as a top defensive tackle since being picked No. 12 overall in 2018.
The area where the Lions will be at a major deficiency is with injuries. Detroit already ruled out seven players on Friday, with the potential for more.
In all, I don't expect Sunday's game to be a trap game for the Lions. Dan Campbell is regarded as a strong game-planner, and refuses to allow his team to get complacent. As a result, the Lions will be more than ready for the challenge that Tampa Bay presents.
