GameDay Tampa Bay

October 20th, 2025

Game 7

Bucs (5-1) at Lions (4-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m.

TV: BSPN (also WFTS-TV Channel 28, locally) with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge.

Streaming: NFL+, BSPN+, BSPN App. (Geographic restrictions may apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game will also be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 226 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed) as well as SiriusXM NFL Radio Channel 88 (Westwood One radio network feed).

Weather: This game will be played in a soulless dome, known better as Ford Field. But for Bucs fans tailgaiting in downtown Detroit, it won’t be a bad day in Michigan for late-October. Per AccuWeather.com, expect sunny skies with temperatures in the low 60s in the mid- and late-afternoon hours. It will be cold leaving tonight, however, with the temperature expected to be 51 by game’s end.

Odds: Per Hard Rock Bet, Bucs +5.5 (+225); over/under 53.

Referees: John Hussey and his gang will work tonight’s game. Sadly, Hussey’s outfit is flag-happy, per Sharp Football Analysis. They call an inordinate amount of pre-snap penalties, specifically false starts and illegal formations. Some 43 percent of the total number of Hussey’s flags are for false starts or holding. And half of the Bucs’ penalties this season have been false starts or holding. So look for a lot of these flags on the Bucs. While Hussey’s gang also likes to throw flags for unsportsmanlike conduct or taunting, they tend to look the other way when defenders blast the quarterback, which is refreshing.

Injuries: Bucs — Out: WR Chris Godwin (fibula), OG Luke Haggard (shoulder), RB Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder), RB Josh Williams (concussion). Questionable: QB Teddy Bridgewater (illness), ILB Lavonte David (knee/rib), WR Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), WR Mike Evans (hamstring). Lions — Out: S Kerby Joseph (knee), DB Avonte Maddox (hamstring), RB Sione Vaki (groin), CB Terrion Arnold (shoulder). Questionable: T Taylor Decker (shoulder), DT D.J. Reader (back), DL Alim McNeill (knee). (The NFL does not include players on injury reports who are not on a team’s active 53-man roster. Players on injured reserve or the practice squad are not on a team’s active 53-man roster.)

Outlook: This could be the swing game of the season. Just imagine if the Bucs can beat the Lions: The Bucs will absolutely be in the driver’s seat for home field advantage through the playoffs. And with just the slimy Saints to play before the bye, the Bucs will have but one loss through the first half of the season. Not even the drunkest Bucs fan on the cusp of a happy ending could have dreamed the Bucs might only have one loss before the bye. To beat the Lions would be just bonkers to think about. And, alas, Joe lives in the real world. “This Joe” just doesn’t think a win is in the stars tonight. The Lions got hosed by the NFL last week and to rub salt in the wound, the NFL warned them about punching balls out. Footballs from opposing ballcarriers, that is. The Lions are going to come into this game all p!ssed off and Joe fears they will take it out on the Bucs. Remember: The Bucs punked the Lions and stole a win last year in Detroit. Trust Joe, Dan Campbell hasn’t forgotten and Joe is sure he has reminded his team of that game a few times the past few days.  The only way “this Joe” can see this game being a win for the Bucs is if the Bucs have at least three turnovers, including one pick-six and/or a scoop-and-score. All the injuries the Bucs have combined with the rage the Lions will be in is a toxic mix for the Bucs tonight.

Fun facts: The Bucs have won five of their first six games this season, the sixth time in franchise history they have pulled that off. … Bucs QB Baker Mayfield aims for his fourth game in a row with 250 yards passing and two touchdown throws. … RB Rachaad White is fourth among running backs since 2022 in receptions (180) and fifth in receiving yards (1,317). … WR Kameron Johnson led the Bucs in receiving last week with 64 yards and his first career touchdown. … TE Cade Otton had a season-high 5 catches for 51 yards. Looks for his third-straight game with at least 50 receiving yards. … ILB Lavonte David has five tackles-for-loss this season, his 14th straight with at least five tackles-for-loss. … ILB SirVocea Dennis looks for his fourth-straight game with at least seven tackles. … OLB YaYa Diaby had two sacks last week against San Francisco. His only other multi-sack game was also against San Francisco. … CB Jamel Dean had 10 tackles last year against the Lions. … Lions QB Jared Goff leads the NFL in completion percentage (75.9) and touchdown passes (14). … RB Jahmyr Gibbs has at least 50 scrimmage yards in 23 straight games. … WR Amon-Ra St. Brown led the Lions with 9 catches last week, his 26th-career game with 8 or more catches. That is the second-most by a player in his first five seasons in the NFL. … TE Sam LaPorta aims for his third game in a row with 5 or more catches, 50 or more receiving yards and a touchdown catch. … DE Aidan Hutchinson has a streak of four straight games with a forced fumble. He is also on a four-game streak with a sack. Last year against the Bucs, Hutchinson went wilding with 4.5 sacks. … LB Alex Anzalone had a season-high 12 tackles last week. … S Kerby Joseph has a pick in each of his last two home games.

23 Responses to “GameDay Tampa Bay”

  1. Nicholas Carlson Says:

    Tez!

  2. HC Grover Says:

    Hate NFL tv schemes. I live in no mans land for tv feeds. I can watch about half the games. But radio and JBF is almost as good.

  3. HC Grover Says:

    I have sunday ticket but am blocked for all Buc Games. They claim I am in area but I can not get any stations on tv antennae. I do get to watch some of he rival games like Stainks, Panters and Chicks though. Will not renew. i get rdio on my old GE Super Radio out of Tampa. Then I watch the JBF comments….Almost more fun.

  4. Lt. Dan Says:

    “…Bucs fan on the cusp of a happy ending” Hahahaha!!!

  5. Bucsfan Says:

    Go BUCS!

    Joe Buck, Troy Aikman Blow

  6. DungyDance Says:

    The “Outlook” paragraph in this article is missing the key metric of how much air time we will get to see Laura Rutledge. Must be an oversight.

  7. 813bucboi Says:

    6-1!!!!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!!!!!

  8. BakerFan Says:

    Who is going to be the backup QB to the backup QB. Bridgewater has one responsibility, be available.

  9. View from 132 Says:

    That dude is pretty.

  10. Anyhony Says:

    Great video with Tez. I hope Heck isn’t too jumpy, reading about these Refs and the false starts has me paranoid as……..Heck.

  11. Michael Says:

    HC Grover Says: I have sunday ticket but am blocked for all Buc Games. How far are you out that you can’t get an antenna signal from Tampa? Go Bucs!

  12. TheBucsAnthem Says:

    Baker’s gonna lay a rotten egg infront of a national audience tonight! 😵

  13. Woodman Says:

    If you have internet Grover you need to get a Superbox with this you get anything and everything it is all steamed but there is nothing you don’t get PPV,PAY CHANNEL , ALL SPORTS and all legal.

  14. Upstate NY BUC Says:

    Well guys and gals, I see a shoot-out my-self!! Our defense (late pick six) will do just enough to hold the Lions off, 37-24 Bucs!! Let’s do it!!!

  15. Durango 95 Says:

    Got to hand it to Joe. Once again. Man has fine taste in the ladies. The young woman gracing the top of this page is one highly alluring lioness.

    JBF knows its target demo well.

  16. Jmarkbuc Says:

    Grover

    For like 6.99 a month you can get NFL plus from nfl.com. And watch all local games. You have to watch it on a phone or a tablet though.

  17. heyjude Says:

    Oh no, “flag-happy” refs. Ugh! Worry about Hutchinson. Keep Jared from completions. The Bucs can win this under their dome.

    Love the Baker video! Go Bucs!

  18. LawrenceDawsey Says:

    Dodu sports streaming download it in play store and you can watch the game. Just have to get through one add and maybe some buffering but it works

  19. Timbucs2 Says:

    Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Egbuka is “good to go” for tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go Bucs!

  20. Ultra ClodHopper Says:

    Tez is a good actor. I didn’t know that was a written skit until Shep showed his lack of acting skills lol

  21. Fred McNeil Says:

    Well, Joe…long about Labor Day I would have agreed that the BUCS were likely to lose this game. Now I see a win. Either way I can guarantee an exciting game. Go BUCS!

  22. Rod Munch Says:

    I like that Tez’s nickname now is MVP, that’s great.

  23. Joe Says:

    The “Outlook” paragraph in this article is missing the key metric of how much air time we will get to see Laura Rutledge.

    Answer: Not enough!

 

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