In a rematch of last year’s NFC Divisional Round, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers upset the clearly favored Detroit Lions and took the upper hand, 20-16. As a game that figured to be one of the toughest ones in the season for the Bucs, the victory is a huge momentum boost for the team and will certainly be one that we look back on once the season is over. It’s still early in the season, but victories like these give a team the confidence boost to perform well throughout the rest of the schedule.
Here are some ways this victory over the Lions will impact the Bucs’ momentum as they continue to play out the season.
Buccaneers Win Over the Lions Will Impact Their Remaining Schedule
Suddenly, Everything Seems Easier
Just over nine months ago, the Lions eliminated the Buccaneers from the playoffs in a comfortable 31-23 win. The Buccaneers looked like a whole different team on Sunday, showing a great defensive display and keeping the Detroit offense in check, limiting them to 16 points in the game. They did score 10 in the third quarter but then proceeded to pitch a shutout in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
This suddenly puts the Buccaneers in first place in the NFC South along with the New Orleans Saints when everyone expected the division leader to be the Atlanta Falcons by this point in the season. If anything, this gives the team a big motivation boost as we proceed through the season and could result in more upsets down the road, especially considering how poorly some of the teams in their schedule have been playing lately.
Upgrades are Imminent
If the Bucs keep playing like they have, it could be time for the front office to make a decision and become buyers in the upcoming November 5 trade deadline. The issues that plagued the team in their Week 1 victory against the Washington Commanders are still lingering, and the management will have to address them in their quest for a potential playoff push again this year. Namely, the offensive line and ground offense need improvement which could be addressed with a couple of trades before the deadline.
If they do decide to buy, they must go all in. Pick up big names from struggling teams, even if it means trading away rookies with bright futures. Give the reborn quarterback Baker Mayfield more weapons to play with and let him continue to prove the haters wrong. It might seem like a risky play, but there’s a very real chance that this team could make it far in the playoffs with a little bit of help. The decision rests upon the Bucs front office, and they surely will be looking to return to their old glory and make this season a memorable one.
The Division Could Be Within Reach
As mentioned above, the Buccaneers share first place in the NFC South with the Saints. It’s still early, but with more upsets like these, the divisional title could be well within their reach. The Saints have been impressive so far in the season, scoring 91 total points in two games led by an inspired Derek Carr and a surprising Rashid Shaheed who has seen more volume than the team’s expected WR1, Chris Olave.
The same can’t be said for the Falcons, as they dropped what should’ve been a Week 1 one against the Pittsburgh Steelers but bounced back in Week 2 and barely scraped a victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. This is good news for the Bucs, as it shows signs of struggles from the Eagles going into their Week 4 matchup in Tampa Bay. It’ll be an extremely tough divisional race if the Saints don’t slow down and the Falcons turn things around and it could go to any of the three, but the Bucs are making a pretty good case right now.