Bucs At Lions Could Be A Tale Of The Tape Game
May 25th, 2026
Pivotal game Week 11 at Detroit.
When the plastic pellets of the turf at Ford Field settle down following the Bucs-Lions game in Detroit in Week 11, fans should have a pretty good idea where the Bucs stand with the big boys of the NFC.
For Dan Pompei of The Athletic, this game will be a gauge, as it often is. It seems like each year these two teams, coached by two close friends, lock horns. The winner often has a strong season.
The loser? Not so much.
The Lions have been a measuring stick for the Bucs in recent years and could be again this season. They meet Nov. 22 in Detroit, and the schedule-makers did the Bucs a favor because the Bucs are coming off a bye while the Lions are coming off a game in Munich against the Patriots. The Bucs have lost three of four to the Lions in the last three seasons, including a divisional playoff game in 2024 but have attempted to tilt the rivalry by signing former Lions Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad and A’Shawn Robinson. The game begins the stretch of the season that will define the 2026 Buccaneers.
Evidence of how the outcome of a Bucs-Lions game tips the future? The best Bucs team since Bucco Bruce Arians retired came in 2024, when the Bucs traveled to Detroit and survived with a win in probably the most physical game the Bucs played all season.
While the Bucs were upset in the wild card round against Washington, the Bucs did win 10 games, the most since they won 13 in 2021, Arians’ last season.
The tricky part for Joe is Todd Bowles being 1-3 in his four years in games following a bye week. In 2024, the Bucs hammered the lowly Giants in MetLife Stadium 30-6 after enjoying a bye week. Post-bye losses came to the Browns (2022), Lions (2023) and Patriots (2025).
May 25th, 2026 at 6:30 am
Both teams have the same approximate talent levels. Coaching is another story (although we still don’t know what the Lions offense will look like with a new offensive coordinator). Tell me who is injured on the Bucs and who is injured on the Lions in week 11 and I’ll tell you who will win the game.
May 25th, 2026 at 6:37 am
That’s the case for any game between relatively even opponents. At least the extenuating circumstances around this game favor the Bucs a bit It’s almost the direct opposite of the Dallas game in that regard though both are away.
May 25th, 2026 at 6:42 am
I think the 2024 season crash and burn against the Co-manders cast a pall over this team and the only remedy is a solid full season effort. In ’24, after week 11 we went 7-1. Last season’s post 11 effort is a thing to forget. Better right the pirate ship or we will be staring over. Go Baker — we need you right now to have the career season.
May 25th, 2026 at 7:02 am
The Bucs weakness has been the defense and a lack of a pass rush. Blitzes leave the secondary vulnerable. The defensive line must improve. That’s on Todd Bowles Bowles. Fix it or be fired.
Glad to see the Bucs draft players with attitudes like Bain Jr. Attitude and a disruptive rush that forces offenses to get rid of the ball before the play develops like their Super Bowl run, is critical for Todd Bowles and the Bucs.
May 25th, 2026 at 10:54 am
It’s confusing how Bowles can get this team ready for the opening game of the season but not the opening game of the second half of the season.
May 25th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Just like we will come out strong early in the season you can bet the house that Dan’s team will run circles around Todd’s.
May 25th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Detroit is a very physical team. The Bucs, not so much.
To succeed in ‘26 we need to see an attitude — a personality — transplant. Force. Power. Meanness.
May 25th, 2026 at 4:15 pm
Ohhh, I think we’ve probably gotten a tad more physical…but I’m kinda worried about our corners.
May 25th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
@Anthony: isn’t that true. Maybe this year.
May 25th, 2026 at 4:29 pm
A great question for Joe to ask Bowles! Why the poor record after a bye? What will you do differently this year coach?”
May 25th, 2026 at 6:34 pm
This is already a loss. Campbell is vastly superior to Bowels.
Literally zero point in even worrying about it now. Chalk it up to a loss.
Todd will make the same boring excuses but the result will be the same.
The Glazer kids love the culture Todd provides. Results are meaningless.
“They’re sticking with Bowles!!!” – Ira Kaufman with absolute glee The silliness continues with you stating over and over “with absolute glee.” Not reality. –Joe
May 25th, 2026 at 9:13 pm
Thank you Joe. Let’s be honest him and a few others are not in reality and that’s what happens when your a saints fan. Bye mob go back to the tomb you crawled out from
May 26th, 2026 at 7:28 am
Let’s all be very honest with each other and ourselves. The coaching scale here heavily favors the lions. Its not talent…you could put Bowles on either sideline and that team would lose.