Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Lions
October 21st, 2025
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
They call it Stormy Monday …
The Bucs were beaten decisively by the Lions in a 24-9 setback that was not unexpected. Detroit rarely loses back-to-back games under Dan Campbell and Tampa Bay was due for a letdown.
No big deal.
Then Mike Evans went down with a broken clavicle that could sideline him for the remainder of the regular season.
Very big deal.
Evans’ 1,000-yard streak will end after 11 seasons and, more importantly for the franchise, Baker Mayfield’s big-play target won’t contribute as the Bucs try to hold off the Falcons and the surging Panthers in the NFC South.
Unless Tampa Bay flops in the Big Easy, the Bucs will be 6-2 at the bye week. That would be a heck of a record considering all the injuries — and you have to figure Bucky Irving will be back for the New England matchup Nov. 9.
He can’t return soon enough because the Bucs couldn’t run worth a lick at Ford Field, falling behind 14-0 and asking Mayfield to throw 50 passes.
The Lions have Super Bowl aspirations of their own and they have the stars to get it done. Jahmyr Gibbs, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Aidan Hutchinson all made the NFL’s Top 100 list last season and the Bucs had no answers for Gibbs, who accounted for 136 yards on the ground and another 82 through the air.
Gibbs proved to be a very difficult matchup for a Bowles pass defense that has struggled bringing down running backs in the flat. St. Brown enjoyed a big opening quarter, Sewell was his usual stalwart at right tackle and the Bucs tried an array of blockers against Hutchinson, who came off the left edge with fury and a non-stop motor.
The officials didn’t do the Bucs any favors, but you can’t blame the zebras for Detroit’s 275-58 advantage in total yards before intermission.
Mayfield wasn’t sharp from the jump. When he had ample time, he missed open receivers, often throwing too high. He caught a break when Tristan Wirfs fell on Mayfield’s fumble, but the Bucs averaged only 3.9 yards per pass attempt compared to 6.5 yards for Jared Goff.
By the end of the game, Mayfield was barking at the officials. The truth is he didn’t play well and his targets didn’t help by ending up in the same general area on several occasions.
Detroit’s offense didn’t do much in the second half but the damage had already been done as Gibbs raced 78 yards for one score and twisted in from five yards out to put the Lions ahead 21-9 in the third quarter after Tez Johnson caught a 22-yard TD pass from Mayfield.
The loss ruined Tampa Bay’s 3-0 road mark and the Bucs will head to New Orleans on a short week. The winless Jets are the only team in the league with a worse record than the 1-6 Saints, so there are no excuses for a Tampa Bay team hoping to regroup following the bye week.
Here’s how the Lions rebounded from a disappointing evening in KC and sent the Bucs home in a foul mood.
Rough night for playcaller Josh Grizzard, writes Ira Kaufman.
* Don’t be fooled by the final score — the Buc defense played well enough to win this matchup. The Lions entered the game averaging 32 points, second in the league, and Tampa Bay’s offense kept handing the ball back to Detroit in the first half. How bad was it? The first seven possessions for the Bucs ended with five punts, a fumble and an interception.
* Second-year safety Tykee Smith continues to shine, registering a game-high 13 stops, a sack and two tackles for loss.
* Gibbs doesn’t need much room to make defenders look silly, but the Bucs had no gap integrity on a 78-yard run that put Detroit up 14-0. Take away that disastrous snap and the Lions would have averaged 2.8 yards per carry.
* The Lions owned a huge advantage in big plays. Six of Detroit’s snaps went for 24 yards or more, with Gibbs accounting for four of them. Tampa Bay’s only play that topped 22 yards was Mayfield’s 30-yard strike to rookie Emeka Egbuka, who caught only four of the 12 passes Mayfield sent his way.
* Bowles made an aggressive decision that backfired early in the fourth quarter with the Bucs trailing 21-9. Instead of ordering a punt, the Bucs let Mayfield face fourth-and-4 from his own 37. Officials initially ruled Cade Otton had stretched for a first down after a reception over the middle, but the call was reversed on replay. Four plays later, the Lions kicked a 58-yard FG to go up 15 points.
* Mayfield threw 34 passes in the second half alone as Josh Grizzard abandoned a ground game that finished with only 41 yards. Yes, it was a lousy night for both the quarterback and the offensive coordinator.
* Another game and another pick for Jamel Dean. He has three on the season after intercepting only eight passes in his first 82 pro games.
* It was a disappointing evening for Sterling Shepard. Besides his fumble, Shepard gained only 25 yards on his seven catches. Rachaad White was also stymied as a target, with his four receptions generating only six yards.
* Riley Dixon did a nice job, placing four of his six punts inside the Lions 20-yard line.
* By all measures, the Bucs deserved to lose this one. It marked their fewest points since a 26-7 loss to Denver in Week 3 last year, but the Saints don’t have an Aidan Hutchchinson. What they have is the NFL’s 27th-ranked scoring defense, so Mayfield should rebound from his off night. Few Buc fans would complain about a 6-2 record at the break. This team needs to make that happen.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:30 am
Mike needs to retire he can’t stay healthy. Even when he is on the field he not a real threat anymore. It’s just time.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:36 am
Todd Bowles gets an F- for his teams preparation leading up to this abortion of a performance. How utterly embarrassing this was with the Lions top 4 corners/safeties out. Having said that you beat N.O. next wknd and they get to the bye week in pretty good shape. God help Bowles if his team loses that game.
You know and I know it’s very possible if not probable.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:50 am
Perfect recap.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:55 am
Did you type this just to see your name in pixels? ME13 was injured 20 or 30 yards downfield, behind the defense, with two hands on the ball. You might switch out gum for the paste you’ve been enjoying before writing your comment.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:07 am
Sorry for beating you this week in fantasy, Cosmo.
Great article as always!
October 21st, 2025 at 7:13 am
Defense: Can’t have Sirvocea Dennis as starting LB. too small, too slow.
Offense: Mayfield was pressured all night long. he never does well on monday night. Running game and recievers didn’t help.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:16 am
LVMYBUCS,
I agree, it might just be the time for Mike to hang it up. He’s become too fragile. He’s up in age now n just can’t sustain the hits he endured in his earlier years. I remember back in 2016 or 17 when we played the falcons n the defender blasted him out of bounds after making an all pro sideline catch. He popped right up as if it was nothing. Mike no longer can take the hits like he did years ago. Tez Johnson is still trying to learn the defense, once he master it, he will be a playmaker. Back to back weeks n he made another highlight play.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:25 am
Good job Sage.
No Baking with Grizz last night.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:30 am
It’s become all the fad to go for 2 and to go for it on 4th down… both were mistakes for the Bucs last night. 2 point conversions only hit 41% of the time last year, so to go for 2 early in a game makes no logical sense. 4th and 4 in your own territory with plenty of time left, punt the ball.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:32 am
All this Mike needs to retire stuff, is ridiculous. It’s just you guys not wanting to see him on the field when he’s not 2016 Mike Evans. He can retire whenever he’s good and ready. He’s earned that as the best wide receiver to ever play in Tampa bay.
October 21st, 2025 at 7:35 am
Thanks Todd for bringing Mike back too soon, again! Baltimore all over again. Except this time, Bowles ended Mike’s career. Clueless Todd strikes Again!
October 21st, 2025 at 7:47 am
The lions game to play aggressive and they pushed it. They tested whether the refs would let them get away with it and they did. They bullied our team bad. They came back from being shreked by the Chiefs and did the same to us. We did not play aggressive enough. We should have blitz Goff and taken a few more penalties. I hate to say it like that but look at it this way, one DC and HC has their players on the side line getting pumped up about big hits that are taking dudes out. The other sideline has a coach just sitting stoic. I’m not saying TB needs to be a rah rah type of guy but sometimes you need your players to get pumped about big hits. I saw the same thing with the Falcons vs the 49ers. Saleh and Raheem are pumping their dudes up to make big hits and absolutely truck dudes. We just aren’t seeing that with Todd Bowles. Then Baker is getting scared for his life due to the pass rush and is throwing erratically. White was the only one playing with some aggression, we should have ran the ball more, or even thrown Tucker in there. We didn’t wear out their line enough and make them play scared. Heck isn’t going to hurt Hutchinson, you need someone like White/Tucker to truck him on his back and make him thing twice about playing tough. That is just how it is as a man, and in this world in general. If you let someone walk all over you they will.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:08 am
Solid points, Ira. “Stormy Monday” for sure and under a noisy dome.
Very hopeful that Mike will be back. I can’t see him ending his awesome career due to injury.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:08 am
baker wasnt sharp and grizz abandoned the run…
defense played well enough to win this game…offense laid an egg…
get back to running the ball grizz
GO BUCS!!!!
October 21st, 2025 at 8:10 am
“Jeff Says:
October 21st, 2025 at 7:35 am
Thanks Todd for bringing Mike back too soon, again! Baltimore all over again. Except this time, Bowles ended Mike’s career. Clueless Todd strikes Again”
Dumb.
Mike’s previous injury had zero to do with how he went down. That would have happened had he not been coming back from injury.
I still think Todd Bowles is a mediocre head coach, at best (think Marvin Lewis) but this isn’t on him.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:33 am
When will “Lovie Smith Bowles” retire? Great job stopping the Lions running game!!!
October 21st, 2025 at 8:43 am
I’m with you Ira, 100%. With the offense, the OL had a bad game all the way across with the Lions’ DL dominating. From the very beginning, Bake was nervous in the pocket, I wonder if he trusted the OL against Hutch.
Trap game coming up. These division games aren’t to be taken lightly.
October 21st, 2025 at 8:48 am
Jeff Says:
October 21st, 2025 at 7:35 am
Thanks Todd for bringing Mike back too soon, again! Baltimore all over again. Except this time, Bowles ended Mike’s career. Clueless Todd strikes Again
Well it’s early yet, but that probably the stupidest thing I’ll see today
October 21st, 2025 at 8:51 am
How did Mike come back too soon?
He broke a bone.
He looked great on that play until he landed wrong.
October 21st, 2025 at 10:09 am
Detroit was ready, PO’ed (KC game), knew Bucs were the weaker team, and pushed it. Voila–game win. Good read, Ira. What I’m wanting to know is why did the Bucs get scheduled to play the Lions 2 years in a row in Detroit? Why not alternate a game to Tampa? I know gambling corruption runs rampant in this country. But this gutsy Bucs team laid an egg. They won’t next week. I have NO problems with 6-2 at the Bye. The season isn’t even half over, people!! 17-7=10 games left. That’s a lot of football to be played. Go Bucs!! Let NOLA (and the zebs) have it! 6-2 at the Bye!!!
October 21st, 2025 at 10:22 am
“Jeff Says:
October 21st, 2025 at 7:35 am
Thanks Todd for bringing Mike back too soon, again! Baltimore all over again. Except this time, Bowles ended Mike’s career. Clueless Todd strikes Again!”
How did this comment get approved? Did the Joes want us all to collectively laugh and ridicule somebody who can connect a bad hammy to a broken clavicle on a deep pass? Is this some kind of Psy-op? Or is there really an adult-aged Human being who is THIS mentally far-gone? I am honestly confused here.
Anyway. Terrible came from top to bottom. Defense was solid outside of anything involving Gibbs. Bucs have a real problem stopping fast RBs in the flat. Offense was simply flat and had no energy. Baker was off, if he hit some of those throws it might’ve been a different game. M1k3 injury, awful officiating and Doug’s passing were simply too much to overcome last night. On to the next one.
October 21st, 2025 at 10:27 am
Bucs ran into a buzzsaw. Lions came for a fight and Bucs weren’t matching their intensity on offense. Every catch and play and yard was contested BY BACKUPS in the secondary. Baker wasn’t just off, he was horrendous. Indecisive, inaccurate. They’ll bounce back but that was tough to watch.
October 21st, 2025 at 10:30 am
we need to stop assuming we will win games. The Saints game could end up being any given Sunday game. Proceed with caution and plan accordingly.
October 21st, 2025 at 10:56 am
Mike piggybacking a defender and that defenders landing full weight on him is what caused his injury and nothing to do with a hamstring.
He had the catch until his clavicle snapped, and he had a concussion I might add
October 21st, 2025 at 11:23 am
Need to rephrase a line from Ira’s article. It should read, “When Tampa Bay flops in the Big Easy, the Bucs will be 5-3 at the bye week. ”
The Bucs are ruderless without a real head coach. Three coordinators working independently without oversight, guidance, wisdom, motivation, or corrective action regarding performance is what we have seen for four seasons now. Mediocrity is the ceiling with the current organization.
It looked like the Bucs offense thought they were going through a walk through scrimmage against a hyper-motivated Lions team. Nice prep job, Todd. Nothing we haven’t seen before. Vomitous.
October 21st, 2025 at 11:54 am
I’m not being fooled Ira you are. This defense did not play well enough to win. After that statement you mention all the explosive plays of 24 yards or more the Lions had. What? Who gave up those explosive plays? It was a fools defense. The Lions took the opening kickoff, and scored in what seemed like seconds. Big play, big play touchdown! Ira, that’s not winning defense. You’re giving them a pat on the back for giving up 24 instead of 30. That’s not how it works. Sad truth is both sides of the ball played bad last night. Don’t be fooled, this defense is not very good.
October 21st, 2025 at 11:56 am
tykee smith is a solid player. fast hits hard makes plays.
October 21st, 2025 at 12:06 pm
Love (sarcasm) how this board needs a whipping boy so they can hone their hatred. Some past whipping boys include Goedeke, Dean, and the constant Bowles. This yrs boy is SVD, who btw is 2nd on the team in tackles, tied for 2nd with David for TFL, has more sacks than Hall/Braswell/Jones. Granted, he misses some coverages and overshoots some tackles, but the guy is flying to the ball. Meanwhile, your all world golden boy, AWJ, has been fairly average for the highest paid S in the game, being outperformed by 1st yr S Tykee and rookie Parrish (oh yeah, AND Dennis) in tackles/tfl/sacks/pd but I guess he gets a pass because every 4th game or so, he makes a necessary tackle or a freak forced fumble.
Todd did not lose that game. His defense held a team averaging 30 ppg to 24 pt. He coached aggressively. And, I seriously doubt Todd had anything to do with ME13’s return.
Stop being pathetic hoard mentality minions and try some critical thinking beyond an AI search. That game was lost by Baker and poor officiating
October 21st, 2025 at 1:09 pm
ChiBuc:
I’m not sure you watch the same game we did.
They went after him hard and all the teams do because he’s soft and just doesn’t have the size. I saw AWJ CALL HIM OUT A FEW TIMES FOR BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE.(but antoine does it politely without destroying the guy). Watch the film again … he’s not ready to be a starting middle linebacker. maybe a back up
October 21st, 2025 at 1:14 pm
all the Todd bowles haters, let it go. The team’s defense is playing masterfully.
We don’t have all the pieces we need. A better edge rush, better cornerback, and a new middle linebacker. But the defense kept the bucs in the game and shut down Jared Goff on third down multiple times.
The big plays they got were just because our secondary is not fast enough or strong enough. Not Todd’s fault.
October 21st, 2025 at 1:20 pm
Tykee is a whole lot more than just a “solid” player. HE’s a HELLUVA Football Player. As soon as he was announced moving to Safety, I said then, that the Bucs had THE BEST “Safety-Tandum” in the entire LEAGUE. The problem with that statement being… I thought that Tykee would be the ‘second best’ Safety on the team. He is the FIRST. His stat-line last night, looked exactly like Junior’s would’ve been now, TWO-seasons ago. Winfield Junior has been mostly ‘invisible’ this season, and it has now been way past time, to call HIM OUT. He literally, SAVED Todd’s JOB two seasons ago, like Coen did last season. He just has not looked good. On the Chubb run, and on the Gibbs last night… He played them both, horribly. It’s like he’s lost. Uninterested. No emotion. No fire. Just VERY quiet. Invisible. I expected HIM to have a BIG season and to play a HUGE role on this defense. He has NOT.
October 21st, 2025 at 1:23 pm
He’s just been a JAG out there, all season. Just another guy.
October 21st, 2025 at 1:24 pm
Gambling is ruining the NFL. Officials are way too biased and inaccurate to the point of absurdity now.
October 21st, 2025 at 2:56 pm
ira you nailed it as usual
October 21st, 2025 at 3:33 pm
when we beat the aints, squid mouth will say we only beat a 1 loss team!!!!
this fish brain is clueless!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 21st, 2025 at 4:55 pm
@BucsNBucks:
Im not saying SVD is the 2nd coming LVD, but for a guy playing, what, his 20th regular season game AND has the responsibilities of the green dot, COME ON, he is not the worst on that Def. I was at that game. The noise was brutal, and everyone in that bldg (fans inc) were intent on winning. The Bucs D played hard, idgaf what you say. They played on short fields all night and gave the offense a chance. You want talk soft, talk Reddick, he cannot shed a block. SVD does seem undersized, but he slices and has energy.
Did you see that last Gibbs TD? Sewell seal clubbed SVD and AWJ watched instead of flying in. Granted I did not have the reply you did nor the insight (sarcasm) of Troy, but Baker was throwing widow-makers all night long. Our backup Oline struggled with their DL and I suspect it was the noise. They seemed slow getting their feet under them.
There is no real blame to go around (except refs), they played hard, but got hit harder.
Remember last yr we beat philly n det? Who won the SB? It’s not how you start the race, it’s where you finish.
October 21st, 2025 at 6:31 pm
Ira … I keep waiting for someone to comment that our OLine sucked last night. Mayfield was under constant pressure, and Detroit’s DLine did a great job of keeping him ‘contained’. But it still comes down to our ‘makeshift’ OLine not getting the job done.
Maybe next time it’ll be ‘Ira Kaufman’s 11 Takeaways’?
October 21st, 2025 at 7:22 pm
The only think wrong with the Bucs ground game was Grizzard’s failure to utilize it.
The Bucs averaged 3.6 yards per carry on only 5 runs in the first half; the Bucs only tried to run on 20.8% of their first half plays when the league averages about 40-60 run to pass. No reason to abandon the run when they averaged 3.6 yard per run in the first half and only tried two runs in the same drive once with both tries on first downs.
The Bucs increased their run percentage to a near normal 36.3 % on their first drive in the second half. They averaged 3.75 yards per carry on that drive and scored their only touchdown. Running worked!
But, after that, the Bucs only ran on three more plays in the second half.
On their 18 play drive that started with over ten minutes left on the fourth quarter, the Bucs threw 9 incompletions and recovered their own sack fumble, but they did not run the ball on a single play before turning the ball over on downs after 18 plays.
Running 18 plays without a rush attempt is dumb, losing football when you average 3.75 yards running the ball 36.4% of plays on their only touchdown drive of the half and of the game; the only drive in which the Bucs even attempted to run the football at something like a league normal rate.
October 21st, 2025 at 9:37 pm
Ira refs didn’t make us play bad but they didn’t call a fair game and missed several calls and overturning the otton interception call was complete BS. Unacceptable officating that needs to be addressed by the nfl and not just for this gane. Every radio and TV show has addressed this and stated the refs were horrible come on.