There weren’t many individuals who predicted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions can be one of many ultimate eight groups this season. However their divisional-round assembly is not the one shocking factor concerning the sport.
The Buccaneers-Lions divisional spherical playoff matchup has made historical past forward of its 3 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday.
The common ticket worth on the secondary marketplace for the sport is $1,186, which is greater than any divisional-round playoff sport ever, per NBC Sports activities.
Each groups have embodied an underdog mentality this 12 months and have confirmed to be precisely that.
Final weekend, Tampa Bay pulled off a large upset, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9. Detroit gained its first postseason sport in over 30 years, breaking the NFL’s longest playoff drought.
Nevertheless, one of many two groups’ Cinderella story will finish on Sunday.
The Buccaneers are coming into the sport permitting the sixth-fewest factors per sport (19.1) within the league. However the greater story could be the resurgence of QB Baker Mayfield.
The previous No. 1 total choose in 2018 has thrown for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns. It has been fairly the turnaround after enjoying for 4 completely different groups and eight head coaches over the previous six years.
The Lions, then again, head into the sport with the third-best offense in complete yards per sport (394.8) and fifth finest in factors per sport (27.1).
QB Jared Goff has equally turned his profession round in Detroit, passing for 9,013 yards, 59 touchdowns and 19 interceptions the previous two seasons.
Mayfield vs. Goff is seemingly must-see TV, and one shall be within the NFC Championship sport. Who would’ve thought?
If the Buccaneers-Lions sport does reside as much as expectations, it is going to be price each penny to look at for Lions followers who’ve been starved of playoff soccer for 30-plus years. In fact, a win would assist with that too.
