DETROIT >> Baker Mayfield took one step back, planted his left foot and took off for a zig-zagging, 11-yard touchdown run that gave Tampa Bay the lead for good in a playoff rematch.
Mayfield had an 11-yard TD on a designed run one snap after converting a third down with another 11-yard run late in the third quarter, and the Buccaneers beat the Lions 20-16 on Sunday in a playoff rematch.
“I wasn’t expecting to get to the end zone from that far out, but I made a couple guys miss,” Mayfield said after the longest touchdown run of his career.
Tampa Bay (2-0) fell behind only once in the closely contested game, and it stopped Detroit (1-1) when it had two chances to drive for a go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes.
The Lions turned it over on downs at the Bucs 6 with 53 seconds left and again at their 26 with 2 seconds left.
Lions coach Dan Campbell lamented a mistake he made in the first half, causing confusion for his offense and special teams that had both units on the field. That drew a flag that ran off the clock and took away an opportunity to kick a short field goal and pull within four points.
“I asked this team to improve and they improved, but the coach cost them the game,” Campbell said. “It is a massive error on my part. I messed up.”
If Detroit made that field goal, it potentially would’ve been a kick away from winning the game in the fourth quarter.
“It was fortunate for us,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said.
Detroit QB Jared Goff threw two interceptions and got a break when defenders dropped two other passes that could have been picked off.
Goff finished 34 of 55 for 307 yards, and the offense he leads was 1 of 7 in the red zone.
Mayfield, meanwhile, was efficient through the air by completing 12 of 19 passes for 185 yards, with an interception.