Lions reach NFC title match with 31-23 victory vs Buccaneers

Jared Goff had 2 TD passes, and the Detroit Lions defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 in a divisional-round postseason match at Ford Field in Detroit, MI, lifting the long-suffering organization into the NFC championship for the 1^st time in 32 years and just 2^nd time in team’s history.

On to the NFC title game.

With all of Detroit behind them.#NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/f4gFnwVq2E

— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024

Detroit (14-5) won 2 postseason matches in a campaign for the 1^st time since 1957, the last time they took home the NFL trophy. Their next playoff match will be in San Francisco, against the NFC’s top-seed 49ers, next weekend for a place in the Super Bowl – a match they have never been part of.

Detroit Lions Jahymr Gibbs in the WIN today:

– 9 Carries
– 74 Yards
– 8.2 YPC
– 1 TD
– 40 Yards Receiving
– 114 Total Yards pic.twitter.com/caKhXr2SZN

More on this topic:

Pickens slights Cleveland, blames defeat on snow, officials

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) January 21, 2024

Baker Mayfield threw 3 touchdown passes for the Bucs (10-9), including a 16-yard to Mike Evans that got the franchise within 1 score with almost 5 minutes left in the match. Tampa Bay received 1 last chance, but Baker threw a pick that LB Derrick Barnes intercepted, as that was Mayfield’s 2^nd pick of the day.

Y’all ever heard a roof pop off a building?@derrickbarnes21 | #AllGrit pic.twitter.com/KSFvFxKBH9

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 21, 2024