The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) face the Detroit Lions (4-2) tonight in the first of two Week 7 Monday Night Football matchups.
Tampa Bay enters with the best record in the NFC, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who’s thrown for 1,539 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just one interception through six games. The Buccaneers have relied heavily on yards after catch (698 YAC — 2nd in NFL) to move the ball efficiently even with a depleted receiving corps.
Mayfield has thown for over 250 yards in each of the last three games for two touchowns. The odds of that are higher now that Mike Evans makes his return after being sidelined for nearly a month. Rookie RB Bucky Irving is out, further thinning Tampa Bay’s offensive depth.
Detroit, meanwhile, looks to rebound from last week’s 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and avoid consecutive regular-season defeats for the first time in three years. The Lions’ defense ranks 10th overall (308.2 yards allowed per game) but is missing several key defensive backs, including suspended safety Brian Branch.
Offensively, Detroit remains among the league’s most balanced teams — averaging 31.8 points per game and ranking 8th in rushing offense (averaging 128.7 yards per game). Quarterback Jared Goff has thrown for 1,390 yards and 14 TDs this season and an astounding a 75.9% completion rate.
4 Things to Watch
Lions’ secondary vs. Buccaneers’ passing game
Detroit enters short-handed in the defensive backfield, with Brian Branch suspended and multiple corners limited. Mayfield’s quick release and Tampa Bay’s elite YAC production could exploit mismatches if Evans returns.
Tampa Bay’s receiver injuries and depth test
Even with Evans back, the Buccaneers remain without several rotational targets. That puts more pressure on Mayfield and the offensive line to sustain drives against Detroit’s strong front seven.
Detroit’s run game and tempo control
The Lions average 125.8 rushing yards per game and face a Tampa Bay defense allowing just 88.2 yards on the ground. If Detroit can establish the run early, it can dictate tempo and keep Mayfield off the field.
Turnover battle & fourth-quarter execution
Both teams have thrived in close games this season. The Lions are +4 in turnover margin, while Tampa Bay has only one giveaway since Week 3. Expect a tight finish decided by late-game poise and clock management.
Injury Report
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB Bucky Irving
WR Chris Godwin Jr.
RB Josh Williams
CB Kindle Vildor
S Sebastian Castro
DL C.J. Brewer
OL Luke Haggard
Detroit Lions
CB Terrion Arnold
DL Quinton Jefferson
S Kerby Joseph
CB Avonte Maddox
S Jammie Robinson
RB Sione Vaki
DL Mekhi Wingo
Predictions
Tampa Bay arrives with momentum and poise in late-game situations. But Detroit’s home field and offensive balance give them a strong chance. Expect a close, high-scoring affair, with the Lions edging it at home.
Projected Final Score: Lions 27, Buccaneers 24
How to Watch Buccaneers vs. Lions
Kickoff for tonight’s Monday Night Football game between the Buccaneers and Lions is set for 7:00 PM Eastern at Ford Field in Detroit.
The game airs live nationally on ABC with a simulcast on ESPN. So you can tune in for free on your local ABC affiliate via antenna. ABC is also available at no additional cost through most cable, satellite, and live streaming packages.
It also streams live on the ABC and ESPN apps and websites.
For the cord-cutters out there without an active livestreaming plan, you can watch the game for free by taking advantage of free trials from DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo TV, or YouTube TV.
YouTube TV even offers a 20-minute free preview, without having to register for a trial — if you just want to catch part of the game.
If you’re in the market for a live TV streaming package, Sling Select start at $19.99/month and offers ABC, as well as NBC and FOX, in select markets, along with the NFL Network and FS1.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
Date: Monday, October 20, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI
TV: ABC, ESPN
Streaming: ABC and ESPN apps and websites, NFL+
Editorial Disclaimer:The news articles published on this website are not owned or created by us directly. We aggregate and publish news content using publicly available news feeds, and each article includes a source credit or link to the original publisher at the bottom of the post.
If any website or content owner finds that their material has been included here and does not wish for their content to appear on our platform, please contact us at [email protected] . Upon receiving your request, we will promptly remove your site from our content feed and database.
We value and respect the rights of all content creators and strive to ensure proper attribution for every piece of content shared.