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Buccaneers Wary Of Winless Lions, Familiar Faces

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By ANWAR RICHARDSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2008

TAMPA - It would be easy for the Bucs to overlook their road game at Detroit this Sunday.

Tampa Bay is 7-3, while Detroit is 0-10 and the NFL's only winless team. The Lions have been outscored 308-173 and are six losses away from finishing the season without a win. They lost 31-22 to Carolina on Sunday.

Detroit's desire not to match Tampa Bay's 0-14 mark in 1976 is one reason Bucs players and coaches believe their opponent's record is deceiving.

"The Detroit Lions, they'll know more about us than any team we play all year," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "They have a lot of our former coaches and players there. This will be a big game for them.

"They played Carolina hard. All I know is we have the Detroit Lions. They're a tough team to play in that dome [Ford Field]. I watched the Redskins game [25-17 on Oct 26]. I've watched them play in there. We're going to have to rally around the healthy men that we have and try to find a way to get our eighth win."

Detroit head coach Rod Marinelli and defensive coordinator Joe Barry are former Bucs assistants. The Lions' defense includes five former Bucs: tackle Chuck Darby, cornerback Brian Kelly, linebacker Ryan Nece, safety Kalvin Pearson and end Dewayne White.

Detroit has suffered major loses against Chicago (27 points), Jacksonville (24 points) and Green Bay (23 points), but Tampa Bay is more concerned about its recent struggles against the Lions.

Last season, Detroit defeated Tampa Bay, 23-16, while the Bucs narrowly defeated the Lions, 17-13, in 2005.

"We're playing the Detroit Lions. The record means nothing to us," Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks said. "The fact they've beaten us the last time we've traveled to Detroit, that means something to us. The record means they could easily be 10-0 if a couple of plays go a different way for them.

"The record means nothing to us and, as a leader, that is something we will be stressing with our football team, continuing to get better on the road."

Reporter Anwar S. Richardson can be reached at (813) 259-8425.

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