Lions hold off Buccaneers to reach first NFC championship game in 32 years…

The Detroit Lions secured a historic victory by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 in the divisional-round playoff game on Sunday. This win marked a significant milestone for the franchise as they advanced to the NFC championship for the first time in 32 years and only the second time in their history. Quarterback Jared Goff played a crucial role, throwing two touchdown passes during the game.

In this remarkable postseason journey, the Lions, with a record of 14-5, achieved the feat of winning two playoff games in a season for the first time since 1957, the same year they clinched the NFL title. The turning point in the game came in the fourth quarter when Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for a tiebreaking 31-yard touchdown, creating a pivotal moment in the Lions’ success. Goff further solidified their lead with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown with 6:22 remaining.

Despite a resilient effort from Baker Mayfield, who threw three touchdown passes for the Buccaneers, including a 16-yard connection with Mike Evans in the closing minutes, the Lions managed to hold on to their lead. The victory was celebrated by the Lions, marking a significant achievement in their playoff history.