The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered Detroit on Sunday with a chip on their shoulder. They needed to get a win to shake off the cobwebs from that playoff loss in January, and they did just that. The team had to perform completely, and they pulled on out despite some early headaches.
That is one large takeaway, but there are some minor ones to discuss as well.
The team has been dealing with injuries since before the season officially started. They need some sort of luck to go their way regarding health. If this team gets healthy sooner rather than later, then games against tough opponents won't be as close as this one was.
Perhaps that is a bonus takeaway? Here are the rest of them.
Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan were held to six catches combined. In their box score absence, Chris Godwin was the man left open and was able to break out for his 36th career 100-yard game. He was utilized in every facet of the game, allowing Baker Mayfield to make plays when he was given the chance. Teams can shit down two of the three, but there is always going to be one left to pick up the targets.
Baker Mayfield didn't have an explosive game like he did in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, but he still made plays. The offensive line was hurting, and despite the constant pressure, he could pull out a game-winning performance. He sealed the win by getting a critical touchdown late in the game on a pass play that broke into an 11-yard rushing touchdown.
Bucky Irving wasn't impressive in terms of box score, but those who watched the game should be proud of his performance. In both weeks, he made an impact. In Week 1, he ran the ball well, and in Week 2, he was able to step up and become a physical blocker. The offensive line struggled, but he was able to patch it as best he could.
The team lost Vita Vea on Sunday, and his return timetable has yet to be determined. The team was already missing Calijah Kancey and Antoine Winfield Jr., so to be missing the third of their big three on defense is less than ideal. They need to get healthy and quickly or else this team won't be able to cover up the missing pieces for long.
Todd Bowles was able to cover the missing pieces on defense extremely well against the Detroit Lions. Their offense is one of the best in the NFL and while they bent, they never broke. Todd Bowles is showing what he can do on defense with his schemes and he is one of the best in the NFL, no matter the roster.