Baker Mayfield knows the Lions defense just took a major hit that he can take advantage of
The Lions defense will be without a key player in the secondary.
Monday night’s tilt between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will feature a distinctly unique matchup when a beat-up Bucs receiver room takes on a depleted Lions secondary.
Everyone in Bucs Land knows about the situation with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan. While it’s looking like Evans and Egbuka will play, there’s still uncertainty, as they’re both game-time decisions. And if they do play, we don’t know just how healthy they’ll be.
Regardless, the Lions are down starting corner Terrion Arnold, starting safety Avonte Maddox, and then do-it-all defensive back Brian Branch is suspended. There was one more injury Dan Campbell and Co. were awaiting clarity on in the form of stud safety Kerby Joseph, and the team got its update Saturday afternoon.
Joseph is out, which is a brutal blow to the secondary. And Baker Mayfield knows just how big a loss it really is.
Mayfield is officially licking his chops after Saturday’s updates
“[It] starts with Kerby Joseph, he is just a true ballhawk all around in tape,” Mayfield told reporters Thursday when asked about his thoughts on the Lions’ secondary. “[It is] not just their secondary, but their linebackers do such a good job making it hard on you. Those guys have played a lot of ball together and you can really see that on tape. [I am] expecting a good challenge.
“Obviously, they are banged up in the secondary, but they have good linebackers; they can kind of play out of any personnel they want. Also expecting Alim McNeill back, who brings his own challenges as well.”
Well, I’m sure Mayfield’s eyes are as big as saucers at this point. Sure, the Bucs quarterback will remain humble and steadfast in his preparation and play, but man, Joseph being out is a huge loss in the Lions’ secondary. Mayfield will certainly be looking to exploit his absence.
Through six games, Joseph is tied for the league lead with three interceptions. Quarterbacks average a measly 74.5 rating when throwing his way, as he’s allowed five of nine targets to be completed for 62 yards and has four PBUs to go along with the INTs.
As Mayfield said, the guy is a total ballhawk. He’s had four interceptions in each of his first three seasons and led the NFL with nine picks in 2024. Missing that kind of ability in this game is absolutely huge since it’s shaping up to be a shootout.
Whichever team has the ball last and/or makes the fewest mistakes is likely to win, and not having Joseph around for those crucial interceptions, on top of the other absences, will make life hard for the Lions.
“I am not an analytics guy by any means, but when you look at turning the ball over on the road, especially in an environment like that, you just cannot have it,” said Mayfield. “It just gives them so much momentum; the crowd gets more involved. First and foremost, ball security is always the most important thing, especially on the road against a good opponent. That just means everybody is doing their job, whether it is pass protection, holding onto the ball as a running back, quarterback getting out on time at the right place, and tucking it when I need to.”
Still, this is the NFL. Players don’t make teams for no reason, and the Lions coaching staff is one of the NFL’s best despite losing both Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson this offseason. While this is a huge shift for the Bucs, Mayfield won’t go in guns blazing, and he shouldn’t. Just pick apart the depleted unit and take home a dub against the Lions in Motown for the second-straight year.
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