Lions defeat Buccaneers to make first NFC Championship Game since 1992

DETROIT, Mich. (WNEM) - For the first time in franchise history, the Detroit Lions hosted consecutive playoff games. After their victory in the Wild Card round against the L.A. Rams, the Lions hosted the NFC South Division Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In the early goings, both teams were trading jabs with field goals exchanged and plays on the defense. The Lions picked up 2 sacks in the 1st half and an interception by C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

The Lions would find the endzone first as Jared Goff connected with Josh Reynolds to put Detroit up 10-3 and that would’ve been the score going into halftime but Tampa Bay scored a late touchdown with 15 seconds left in the half. Baker Mayfield found his tight end Cade Otton on a 2-yard pass to tie it up 10-10 going into the 2nd half.

It would take a few drives but the Lions would have a shot to retake the leads as Dan Campbell would go for it on 4th down at the goalline. Jared Goff handed it off to Craig Reynolds and he punched it in to make it 17-10.

Even after the Bucs evened things up on the next drive, Jahmyr Gibbs would break off the biggest run of the day and run 31 yards into the endzone to make it 24-17 Lions.

After holding Tampa Bay to a 3-and-out, Detroit looked to have sealed the deal as Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown in the endzone to make it a 2-touchdown lead.

However the Buccaneers weren’t waiving the white flag. After converting a 4th and 14, Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans would make this a one score game. The Lions stopped a two point conversion so Detroit still led by 8.

The Lions burned some more clock but the final play would have to come from their defense as they punted it to the Bucs with 2 minutes to go.

Baker tried to find Otton over the middle but his pass was intercepted by Derrick Barnes and his first career pick iced the game for the Lions to win 31-23.

2 straight playoff wins for Detroit and the Lions now for the 1st time since 1992 are playing in the NFC Championship Game.

The Lions head to San Francisco to face the 49ers next Sunday at 6:30.