TAMPA — The Detroit Lions used three touchdown passes by Matt Stafford, two to All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson, to spoil Tampa Bay's season opener 27-20 at Raymond James Stadium.
Stafford completed 24 of 33 passes for 305 yards as the Lions built a two-touchdown lead in the second half, then held off a late Bucs rally for the win. The Bucs' only offensive touchdown came with 1:35 left in the game.
The Lions opened the scoring on the game's first drive, marching 76 yards to set up Jason Hanson's 23-yard field goal. Running back Jahvid Best gained 33 all-purpose yards in the drive, and Stafford connected on an 11-yard first down pass to Johnson. But the drive's big play came on a 20-yard end around to Nate Burleson to the Bucs 22. Detroit got as close as the Bucs 4 before the defense stiffened and forced the field goal.
The Bucs bounced right back, thanks to Sammie Stroughter's 78-yard kickoff return to the Lions 21. The Bucs gained only 1 yard in three plays, however, setting up Connor Barth's 38-yard kick to tie the score at 3-3.
Tampa Bay took its first lead of the game just three plays later when Stafford's pass bounced off the hands of former Bucs tight end Will Heller and was picked off by cornerback Aqib Talib, who missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. Talib ran untouched down the sideline 28 yards for the touchdown.
Detroit again mounted a strong drive on its next posssession, with Stafford completing passes of 16 yards to Maurice Morris, 11 yards to Burleson and 19 yards to tight end Brandon Pettigrew, moving the ball to the Bucs 14. But a short run and two incomplete passes again sent Hanson on the field, with his 28-yard kick pulling the Lions within 10-6.
The Lions regained the lead, again thanks to Stafford's strong passing. He opened the drive with a 22-yard pass to Johnson, added a pair of 8-yard connections to Pettigrew and Morris, then went back to Johnson for the 36-yard touchdown. Johnson got behind Talib down the right sideline and Stafford lobbed a perfect pass over the leaping Talib for the easy score and a 13-10 lead.
Detroit extended its lead to 20-10 on another sustained drive, marching 84 yards in 8 plays. Burleson picked up 29 yards on a third and six to keep the drive alive early, and Stafford added passes of 14 yards to Rashied Davis and 25 yards to Pettigrew before finding Scheffler for the 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:16 left in the first half.
The Bucs offense had some success with its 2-minute offense, driving to the Lions 13 to set up another Barth field goal as the first half expired. Josh Freeman completed 5 of 6 passes for 54 yards to start the drive, and Detroit was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for another 13 yards, allowing Barth's kick to cut the Lions lead to 20-13.
Detroit picked up where they left off to open the second half, this time going 70 yards in 11 plays, with Johnson again getting the touchdown. Talib was a victim twice in the drive, first getting flagged for illegal contact on a third down play that would have resulted in a Lions punt. And after Detroit marched to a first-and-goal at the 1, Talib was unable to outjump Johnson for the ball in the right corner of the end zone, extending the Lions lead to 27-13.
Tampa Bay attempted a late comeback. But Earnest Graham was stopped short on fourth-and-1 at the Lions 11 with 7:45 to play. And although Freeman led the Bucs on a late scoring drive -- hitting Mike Williams for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:35 to play -- the Lions recovered the ensuing onside kick to consume Tampa Bay's remaining timeouts, and the Bucs weren't able to put together a tying drive in the final 1:07.
Stafford completed 24 of 33 passes for 305 yards as the Lions built a two-touchdown lead in the second half, then held off a late Bucs rally for the win. The Bucs' only offensive touchdown came with 1:35 left in the game.
The Lions opened the scoring on the game's first drive, marching 76 yards to set up Jason Hanson's 23-yard field goal. Running back Jahvid Best gained 33 all-purpose yards in the drive, and Stafford connected on an 11-yard first down pass to Johnson. But the drive's big play came on a 20-yard end around to Nate Burleson to the Bucs 22. Detroit got as close as the Bucs 4 before the defense stiffened and forced the field goal.
The Bucs bounced right back, thanks to Sammie Stroughter's 78-yard kickoff return to the Lions 21. The Bucs gained only 1 yard in three plays, however, setting up Connor Barth's 38-yard kick to tie the score at 3-3.
Tampa Bay took its first lead of the game just three plays later when Stafford's pass bounced off the hands of former Bucs tight end Will Heller and was picked off by cornerback Aqib Talib, who missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. Talib ran untouched down the sideline 28 yards for the touchdown.
Detroit again mounted a strong drive on its next posssession, with Stafford completing passes of 16 yards to Maurice Morris, 11 yards to Burleson and 19 yards to tight end Brandon Pettigrew, moving the ball to the Bucs 14. But a short run and two incomplete passes again sent Hanson on the field, with his 28-yard kick pulling the Lions within 10-6.
The Lions regained the lead, again thanks to Stafford's strong passing. He opened the drive with a 22-yard pass to Johnson, added a pair of 8-yard connections to Pettigrew and Morris, then went back to Johnson for the 36-yard touchdown. Johnson got behind Talib down the right sideline and Stafford lobbed a perfect pass over the leaping Talib for the easy score and a 13-10 lead.
Detroit extended its lead to 20-10 on another sustained drive, marching 84 yards in 8 plays. Burleson picked up 29 yards on a third and six to keep the drive alive early, and Stafford added passes of 14 yards to Rashied Davis and 25 yards to Pettigrew before finding Scheffler for the 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:16 left in the first half.
The Bucs offense had some success with its 2-minute offense, driving to the Lions 13 to set up another Barth field goal as the first half expired. Josh Freeman completed 5 of 6 passes for 54 yards to start the drive, and Detroit was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for another 13 yards, allowing Barth's kick to cut the Lions lead to 20-13.
Detroit picked up where they left off to open the second half, this time going 70 yards in 11 plays, with Johnson again getting the touchdown. Talib was a victim twice in the drive, first getting flagged for illegal contact on a third down play that would have resulted in a Lions punt. And after Detroit marched to a first-and-goal at the 1, Talib was unable to outjump Johnson for the ball in the right corner of the end zone, extending the Lions lead to 27-13.
Tampa Bay attempted a late comeback. But Earnest Graham was stopped short on fourth-and-1 at the Lions 11 with 7:45 to play. And although Freeman led the Bucs on a late scoring drive -- hitting Mike Williams for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:35 to play -- the Lions recovered the ensuing onside kick to consume Tampa Bay's remaining timeouts, and the Bucs weren't able to put together a tying drive in the final 1:07.
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