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NFL Monday Night Football Fans Respond To Detroit Lions’ Backup DBs Outshining Tampa Bay Buccaneers At Ford Field

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NFL Monday Night Football Fans Respond To Detroit Lions’ Backup DBs Outshining Tampa Bay Buccaneers At Ford Field

NFL-Hall-of-Fame-quarterback-turned-broadcaster Troy Aikman watched the Detroit Lions’ injury-riddled secondary put in “one of the best defensive performances I’ve ever seen.”

Facing hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield on Monday Night Football, the Lions entered the Week 7 matchup without all four of their starting defensive backs, cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed and safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

Replacing them were the likes of cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin and safeties Thomas Harper and Erick Hallett II, along with Arthur Maulet and former Div. II standout Nick Whiteside II.

At one point in the second quarter, Robertson created a punch-out fumble and Maulet wrestled away an interception on consecutive Bucs’ snaps, helping secure a 24-9 victory in the early showcase at Ford Field. The Houston Texans were scheduled to play at the Seattle Seahawks in the late game.

Whiteside also defended a pass on a 2-point conversion.

The unsung defenders limited the high-scoring Bucs to a season-low scoring output. They averaged 3.8 yards per play.

Offensively, the Lions’ were paced by their top rusher, Jahmyr Gibbs, who compiled 136 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. He also added three receptions for 82 yards.

NFL X (Twitter) Fans Respond

Lions’ fans – new and old – are rock stars …

NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders took a quick break before kick off Monday night …

Generally a slow starter, Lions quarterback Jared Goff capped an opening-possession touchdown drive by hitting Amon-Ra St. Brown on a 27-yard scoring pass. It was Goff’s second first-quarter TD pass over the past two seasons. He entered Monday with 20 second-quarter TD passes …

St. Brown created a bit of obscure team trivia Monday night …

The Bucs compiled just seven first-quarter plays, while the Lions collected seven first downs and a 7-0 lead. Early in the second quarter, the Lions enjoyed home-field advantage …

Gibbs showed off his power and speed during a 78-yard scoring burst …

Displaying the Lions’ defensive playmaking depth, Robertson created a second-quarter fumble …

On Mayfield’s next snap, Maulet, a nine-year veteran, executed is first pick off since 2023 and fourth of his career…

The Bucs managed just 58 first-half yards, but salvaged a field goal on the last play of the opening 30 minutes. Mayfield, who executed four fourth-quarter winning drives this season, guided his first extended drive to open the second half. Mayfield hit Tez Johnson on a 22-yard TD pass, cutting the Lions’ advantage to 14-9 after Whiteside defended the conversion …

Gibbs spins for a 5-yard TD run, giving the Lions a 21-9 lead with 4:10 left in the third quarter …

Lions kicker Jake Bates’ connected on a carreer-long 58-yard field goal that hit the inside of the upright and caromed through. He missed a 54-yarder during the first half …

Whiteside registered his third pass defense on Mayfield’s fourth-down pass, ending the Bucs’ last chance to mount a rally. They fell to 5-2, one game ahead of the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South …

Campbell talked ‘D’ after the game as the Lions improved to 5-2, good for second place in the NFC North …

Maulet enjoyed the post-game vid …

Final score: Lions 24, Buccaneers 9 …

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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