Buccaneers vs Lions Free Pick, NFL Free Picks, NFL Predictions 10/20/25
- J.A. Cavalier
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
TAMPA BAY @ DETROIT (DET -5.5, 52.5)
NFL ODDS, NFL PREDICTIONS, NFL PREVIEWS
BUCCANEERS @ LIONS 10/20/25
For the first time, Tampa Bay won a game without making its fans wait until the very last second. Although they haven't blown anyone away, the Buccaneers have the best record in the NFC going into their Week 7 game on Monday night in Detroit.
Baker Mayfield might be holding a Most Valuable Player trophy if the season consisted of six games. Mayfield has led his team to a 5-1 record while throwing 12 touchdown passes and recording just one interception, despite significant injuries at the skill positions.
He will throw against Detroit's weakened secondary, which lost another important player when safety Brian Branch was suspended from the league for one game. During a postgame altercation on Sunday night, a frustrated Branch struck Kansas City receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in the head. Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, and Kerby Joseph are three other important defensive backs who either missed Thursday's practice or are on injured reserve.
Not all of Mayfield's top targets will be available again. Chris Godwin missed last week's 30-19 victory over San Francisco due to a fibula injury, and top rookie Emeka Egbuka has a hamstring strain. Due to foot and shoulder injuries, star running back Bucky Irving hasn't played since September 28. On Thursday, that trio did not practice. Nonetheless, Mike Evans' limited return to the practice field was a good development. A hamstring injury has kept the seasoned wide receiver out of the last three games.
Despite Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit's top pass rusher, recording 4.5 sacks, Mayfield led the Bucs to a 20-16 victory over the Lions last season at Ford Field.
Tampa Bay won its first four games by a combined total of nine points. The Chiefs defeated the Lions 30-17 last week, ending their four-game winning streak. Since going on a five-game losing streak in 2022, Detroit has not suffered consecutive losses.
Throughout their four-game winning streak, the Lions averaged 40.3 points per game. With 14 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a 75.9 percent completion rate, Jared Goff is off to another impressive start. He’s only been sacked nine times so far this season.
After recuperating from an ACL tear sustained late in the previous season, defensive tackle Alim McNeill may make his season debut. After missing the previous two games, offensive tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder), who was named to the Pro Bowl the previous season, had a limited practice on Thursday.
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DAVID MONTGOMERY ANYTIME TD
Montgomery has scored in 3 of 6 games this season for Detroit. He did not score last week, but he has some history against the Bucs. In the game played last year at Ford Field, Montgomery scored on a 1-yard run to give Detroit a 16-13 lead in the third quarter. Since the start of last season, Montgomery has scored at least one touchdown in 62 percent (13 of 21) of his games.me.