Multiple players get career retribution in big Lions win over the Buccaneers, and the Lions just probably lost another guy

Today we spell retribution W-H-I-T-E-S-I-D-E

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Wow! Just, wow! This was not at all the way anyone thought this would go. It’s not like we thought the Detroit Lions couldn’t win this game. It’s just that with a patchwork defense and the Bucs’ explosive offense, it felt like a possible shootout. Instead, the Lions’ patchwork defense put on a show, and the Lions won 24-9.

Goff Report

I don’t know what Goff was doing on that second-quarter interception. He had St. Brown down there, but he was never in a position to catch it. Then the fumble was pretty bad, too. Other than those two gaffes, Goff had a pretty solid game, going 20-29 for 241 yards and a touchdown. Not bad.

Lions left way too much on the table in the first half

The Lions’ defense was absolutely stunning in the first half. The secondary was a ragtag group of misfits who went out there and played like career starters. Arthur Maulet had a nice pick, and Amik Robertson had that beautiful punch-out.

But the Lions could not take advantage of this performance as they should have. It should have been 35-0 at halftime. Kyle Allen should have been looking to play in the fourth quarter. But they just could not take advantage of it.

This has been their biggest weakness all season. You have to capitalize on these turnovers.

Alim McNeill immediately made his presence known

In his first game back, Alim McNeill came out swinging in the first half, literally. He had a big third-down swat that prevented what could have been an Emeka Egbuka touchdown in the first quarter. To go with that, he had three big pressures.

In the second half, he didn’t stop there. He kept doing his thing all night. Sadly, there was no big sack that made the crowd erupt. But this was a good game from him.

Kelvin Sheppard probably got a head coaching job on Monday night

You know what GMs and team owners love? A guy who can take a bunch of practice squad cats into a primetime game against one of the best teams in the league and then basically blank that team.

Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard called a great game, and you have to believe teams will consider him for head coaching jobs this offseason. This is what happens when you’re good. Teams try to steal what you have. The only possible saving grace is that teams may see it happening too fast for him.

Do you smell what The Rock is cooking?

Everyone looked down on Rock Ya-Sin as a possible threat to the Bucs’ offense, but he was just that early in the game. He was targeted five times in the first half and allowed one catch for six yards.

He also had two big pass breakups on Mike Evans, something that is not easy to do. In the second half, he dealt with some cramping issues, and it kept him out, but man, this was such a big game from the vet.

Nick Whiteside has his moment

This summer, we saw the Lions sign former San Antonio Brahmas cornerback Nick Whiteside out of the UFL. He took to the field and showed right away that he was not just another camp body. By the end of August, it felt like there was no way he wasn’t making this 53-man roster.

Then, the Lions surprisingly cut him. What was more surprising was that no other team added him. The Lions brought him back a few weeks ago, and on Monday night, he started his first NFL game and absolutely balled out with multiple pass breakups, and we’re talking big ones in the red zone on a drive that ultimately killed the Bucs’ night.

Super-Ra and Spider-Gibbs

What do Gibbs and St. Brown know? Is there some sort of DC and Marvel crossover that Gibbs and St. Brown teased after his 78-yard touchdown? Gibbs went full Spiderman, and St. Brown flew over him in Superman form. Are they working with Kevin Feige and James Gunn?

In all seriousness, these guys were the stars of the show for the Lions offense. Gibbs put up 218 yards and two touchdowns, and St. Brown put up 86 yards and a touchdown. What a game.

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