TAMPA, Fla. — If the third exhibition game is supposed to be a sign of what’s to come in the regular season, then the Detroit Lions are in for a long, disappointing year.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers shredded the Lions’ first-team defense with three different quarterbacks Friday — the trio of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jameis Winston and Ryan Griffin — and Matthew Stafford and the starting offense didn't fare any better, though Jake Rudock rallied the Lions for a 33-30 win at Raymond James Stadium.
Stafford completed 9 of 18 passes for 113 yards and played into the third quarter, but led the Lions to just two field goals.