Buccaneers: Players to watch against the Lions in week 14
By Sean Eck
Who are the five Buccaneers to watch vs. the Lions in week 14?
This week the Buccaneers have to face a Lions team that is fighting for their playoff lives.
Detroit leads the all-time series 30-26 in the regular season, but the teams have split the series, 4-4, since division realignment in 2002. In the most recent matchup between the teams, Detroit won 34-17 in 2014.
Matthew Stafford appears to be on track to play as he practiced again on Thursday. Stafford has not missed a game since 2010, and that streak doesn’t seem to be in real jeopardy this week. The question is if the Buccaneers team can take advantage of a signal caller that will not be at 100%.
Both teams have some striking resemblances. The Buccaneers are 13th in total yardage per game averaging 349.7 while the Lions are fifteenth in the league averaging 337.1 per game. The passing offense the Buccaneers are fifth and the Lions sixth. For rushing offense the Buccaneers are 28th and the Lions 31st.
The similarities don’t end on the offensive side of the ball. The Bucs are 21st in points allowed while the Lions are 26th. Passing yards against the Bucs are 31st and the Lions 27th. Sacks the Buccaneers are 32nd and the Lions 24th.
Last week the Buccaneers faced the Packers, and both teams were very similar, perhaps the players to watch this week can make enough of a difference to get the Bucs a much-needed win.