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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions: PFM Team Comparison

PFM rates the Detroit Lions higher than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers overall, with a clear advantage. The main reasons are the bigger big-play threat and the stronger coaching operation.

Current PFM Team Scores

TB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

78.7PFM Team Score#16 NFL
Clear edgeDET

Detroit Lions

86.7PFM Team Score#5 NFL
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions: Previous Meetings

Detroit Lions lead the recorded series 34–30 over 64 meetings.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers30 wins
Detroit Lions34 wins
Recorded meetings64

Regular season: 29–33–0  ·  Playoffs: 1–1–0 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers–Detroit Lions)

Recent Meetings

DateMatchupFinalWinner
Oct 20, 2025Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions9–24Detroit Lions
  1. Oct 20, 20252025 season
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway9 – 24Detroit LionsHome
    Detroit Lions won
Earlier meetings (9)
DateMatchupFinalWinner
Sep 15, 2024Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions20–16Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jan 21, 2024PlayoffsTampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions23–31Detroit Lions
Oct 15, 2023Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers20–6Detroit Lions
Dec 26, 2020Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions47–7Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dec 15, 2019Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions38–17Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dec 10, 2017Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers24–21Detroit Lions
Dec 7, 2014Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions17–34Detroit Lions
Nov 24, 2013Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions24–21Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sep 11, 2011Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers27–20Detroit Lions
  1. Sep 15, 20242024 season
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway20 – 16Detroit LionsHome
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers won
  2. Jan 21, 2024Playoffs
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway23 – 31Detroit LionsHome
    Detroit Lions won
  3. Oct 15, 20232023 season
    Detroit LionsAway20 – 6Tampa Bay BuccaneersHome
    Detroit Lions won
  4. Dec 26, 20202020 season
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway47 – 7Detroit LionsHome
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers won
  5. Dec 15, 20192019 season
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway38 – 17Detroit LionsHome
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers won
  6. Dec 10, 20172017 season
    Detroit LionsAway24 – 21Tampa Bay BuccaneersHome
    Detroit Lions won
  7. Dec 7, 20142014 season
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway17 – 34Detroit LionsHome
    Detroit Lions won
  8. Nov 24, 20132013 season
    Tampa Bay BuccaneersAway24 – 21Detroit LionsHome
    Tampa Bay Buccaneers won
  9. Sep 11, 20112011 season
    Detroit LionsAway27 – 20Tampa Bay BuccaneersHome
    Detroit Lions won
Swap Teams Clear Comparison
PFM JUDGMENT

Why PFM Rates the Detroit Lions Higher

The Detroit Lions have more ways to create a sudden scoring chance. That big-play ability can change field position before a defense settles in. Tampa Bay's strongest counterargument is Defense. The Buccaneers can lean on their defense more than the Lions can. That creates a better floor when the offense stalls or field position turns against the team.

Detroit also brings the stronger coaching operation. Detroit adds the deeper roster. That is enough to keep the Detroit Lions ahead.

TEAM DNA COMPARISON

Tampa Bay vs. Detroit Across the Core Pillars

The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.

TBTampa Bay Buccaneers
DETDetroit Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions Team DNA comparisonPFM category scores on a 0 to 100 scale. QB Stability: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.2, Detroit Lions 85.6, edge DET +7.4; Offense: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 80.1, Detroit Lions 88.8, edge DET +8.7; Defense: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 84.0, Detroit Lions 77.0, edge TB +7.0; Coaching Direction: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 76.6, Detroit Lions 86.4, edge DET +9.8; Roster Depth: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.7, Detroit Lions 83.3, edge DET +4.6. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team at a time.
Hover or tap a team to focus that profile. Use Show Both to bring the overlay back.
THE COUNTERARGUMENT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Best Argument

Defense is one of the clearest reasons the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sit higher. The unit gives the offense more chances to recover from a bad drive. The defense advantage is a real point in Tampa Bay's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Tampa Bay is that Detroit counters with the bigger big-play threat and the stronger coaching operation.

COMPLETE COMPARISON

Where Each Team Has the Edge

PFM Team Score

TB78.7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.7
DET86.7
Detroit Lions 86.7
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Overall NFL Rank

TB#16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #16
DET#5
Detroit Lions #5
Detroit Lions ranks higher

QB Stability

TB78.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.2
DET85.6
Detroit Lions 85.6
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Roster Strength

TB78.7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.7
DET83.3
Detroit Lions 83.3
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Coaching Direction

TB76.6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 76.6
DET86.4
Detroit Lions 86.4
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Recent Performance

TB78.4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.4
DET83.1
Detroit Lions 83.1
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Offense

TB80.1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 80.1
DET88.8
Detroit Lions 88.8
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Defense

TB84.0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 84.0
DET77.0
Detroit Lions 77.0
Clear Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge

Franchise Direction

TB75.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75.2
DET80.6
Detroit Lions 80.6
Clear Detroit Lions edge

Explosiveness

TB74.7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 74.7
DET85.4
Detroit Lions 85.4
Major Detroit Lions edge

Conference Rank

TB#8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #8
DET#3
Detroit Lions #3
Detroit Lions ranks higher

Division Rank

TB#1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #1
DET#1
Detroit Lions #1
Even rank

Outlook

TBIn the Playoff MixDETSuper Bowl Contender
Stronger outlook: Detroit Lions
SCHEDULE CONTEXT

Which Team Has the Tougher Road?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Remaining schedule rank: #26

Toughest stretch: Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers

Strongest opponents: Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens

Next five difficulty: 77.4

View Tampa Bay Buccaneers Road Ahead

Detroit Lions

Remaining schedule rank: #17

Toughest stretch: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears

Strongest opponents: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots

Next five difficulty: 78.3

View Detroit Lions Road Ahead

Detroit has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 17. The strongest opponents include Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and New England Patriots. Tampa Bay gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Detroit still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.

View the complete all-32 Road Ahead

Ratings and Schedule Freshness

PFM ratings updated November 10, 2026. Schedule data updated November 12, 2026.

How to Read This Comparison

PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.

PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.

See the complete PFM NFL Team Rankings and methodology.

Historical results: sources and coverage

Results shown: 1977–2025.

Historical scores: FiveThirtyEight (CC BY 4.0). Scores since 1999: nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Earlier meetings that have not been verified are excluded.

PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams