The Detroit Lions are one step closer to their first Super Bowl appearance. The Lions faced a resilient Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in the NFL Divisional Round on Sunday and came out with a 31-23 win to advance to the NFC Championship.
This is the first time since the 1991 season that the Lions reached the NFC Championship game and only the second time in franchise history. The Lions won four NFL championships, but they all came before the Super Bowl era.
The Bucs went toe to with the Lions throughout the first three quarters, and it seemed like they could come up with another upset after previously eliminating the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild card. However, the Lions stepped it up in the fourth quarter, scoring two quick touchdowns to make it 17-31
Tampa Bay gave themselves a chance by putting six points on the board with a 75-yard touchdown drive that also included a failed two-point conversion. The Bucs got the ball back with 1:59 left on the clock, but their final drive ended after two plays thanks to an interception by Lions’ linebacker Derrick Barnes.
The Lions will now travel to Levi’s Stadium next Sunday to face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.
