ALLEN PARK — While this will be the second meeting this season between the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Bucs. The Lions are six-point favorites, but there is no such thing as a cakewalk in the NFL playoffs.
In Week 6, the Lions defeated the Bucs, 20-6, at Tampa Bay.
“This is a better team than where we faced them, but we’re better too,’’ Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday.
Since then both teams have evolved.
“It’s so long ago and they’re such a different team and so are we. … It’s different teams, it’s different time of the year, it’s a different location,’’ Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. “There’s a lot of differences there, but I know they’re a good team and a good defense.’’’
The Bucs finished the season hot, winning five of their last regular season games and then beat the Eagles, 32-9, to earn the chance to play in this divisional round.
In that first game — the start of a four-game losing streak Tampa Bay — the Lions defense held the Bucs to two field goals and their run game to just 46 yards. Goff was 30 of 44 for 353 yards with two touchdowns. The Lions were without Jahmyr Gibbs and had trouble running the ball.
“They’re good, really good. They were really good when we played them the first time and made it hard on us,’’ Goff said. “We’ll have our hands full, they’ve been playing well.’’
The Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years when they beat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Ford Field. Because the Packers upset the Cowboys, Detroit earned another home game.
‘It’s not dirty, it’s how we hit’
The Lions defense is physical and tough. They say it’s not dirty football, it’s how the Lions play.
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee tore his ACL as a result of a tackle from Lions safety Kerby Joseph in Detroit’s wildcard win on Sunday.
Kerby has been under some criticism around the NFL for the physical way he plays. Week ago he was also involved in a tackle that resulted in a torn ACL for Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson.
On ‘X’ Joseph defended himself saying the NFL doesn’t allow hitting up high so he had no choice.
Dan Campbell offered no apologies on Wednesday.
“That’s how we play football here, just keep your head up, see what you hit. That’ll always be what I tell Kerby, just keep your eyes up so you don’t hit on the crown of your helmet and you hit spine, you mess yourself up,’’ Campbell said. “He’s going for the thigh board and staying away from the head. That’s how we play defense here. It’s not dirty, it’s how we hit.’’
LaPorta coming along
Sam LaPorta, who hyperextended his knee in Week 18, healed enough to play against the Rams..
“I was impressed, he helped us. He was not 100 percent, but he helped us win that game,’’ Campbell said. “He did exactly what we needed him to do for that game and he’s coming along. He’s gotten better, he feels better than he did at this time last week. That’s encouragaing.’’
The rookie tight end had three catches on three targets — one for a touchdown.
Campbell said of course they wouldn’t have played him if there was a chance of further damage to his knee.
“For a young player who doesn’t know what this is and is not 100 percent, knew he could get this done and he could help us,’’ Campbell said. “That goes a long way, that’s not an easy thing for a young player.’’
UP NEXT: Buccaneers at Lions in divisional round, 3 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.
Lions Lowdown 