2024 Week 2: Buccaneers 20, Lions 16
One of the many upsets this week, and this might have been the most well earned. Tampa Bay went into the Lion's den and came out with a win. Detroit had two possessions late in this game and the TB defense stopped them.
===================================
QB Report:
- Baker Mayfield (12/19 for 185 yards, 1 TD/ 1 INT) is playing like the best QB in the league through the first 2 games, he would be the MVP if the season ended today.
- Baker is playing with some extra juice behind an awful O-line, his pocket mobility has been outstanding this season and can escape pressure as well as any other QB in the league. It’s like you’re watching Lamar Jackson behind the line of scrimmage that throws like Brett Favre.
- Jared Goff (34/55 for 307 yards, 2 INT) is flirting with being a top QB in the league as he tends to do, but he always has his gaffs. Goff is third in pass yards with 1 TD and 3 INT on the year… similar to Brock Purdy, he will start to get touchdowns soon enough.
RB Report:
- I believe I said this last week too, but Rachaad White (10-18-0, 1 catch for 5 yards) looks the best he has in his whole career. White started the game strong, hurt his groin, and when he came back in TB was just trying to run the clock out and leave Detroit with a win, making his numbers look worse.
- The media loves Bucky Irving (7-22-0) and the calls for him grow every week… it seems like the TB staff is aware of the skill difference between White and Bucky.
WR Report:
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (11-119/18) had a great game, his down performance Week 1 was just a blip as everyone had suspected.
- Chris Godwin (7-117-1/8) has been Baker’s top target this season. Godwin is working the slot more than he has in his career this season and it’s working very well. Teams will need to start doubling Godwin over Mike Evans (3-42-0/6), but then Evans will put up stats like Godwin.
D/ST Report:
- SirVocea Dennis (11 tackles) had another monster game this week, he is taking over in this banged up TB defense. In 6 quarters Dennis has 18 tackles.
- Aidan Hutchinson (5 tackles, 4.5 sacks) took advantage of the weak Tampa line and notched himself 4.5 sacks this game. He should have won NFC defensive player of the week honors.
image source: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-week-2-recap-tampa-bay-buccaneers-20-detroit-lions-16. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)