Lions’ HC Praises Defensive Backups for Rising to Meet the Moment in Primetime Win Over Bucs

Detroit was down four of their starters in the secondary, but the reserves held a humming Tampa Bay offense to just 9 points on Monday Night Football.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 20: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is tackled by Al-Quadin Muhammad #96 and Tyrus Wheat #99 of the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter of the game at Ford Field on October 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions had a skeleton crew on defense Monday, but it didn’t seem to matter.

The Lions were down four of their starters in the secondary. But the reserves came to play on Monday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who had the best record in the NFC going into Monday’s matchup. Head coach Dan Campbell was surprised the defense held the Bucs to just 9 points but commended the players and defensive coaching staff for putting together a winning game plan.

“Good to get a win, get back in the win column,” Campbell said at his postgame press conference after the Lions’ 24-9 win. “[D]efense played lights out. I give a lot of credit to [defensive coordinator] Kelvin Sheppard [for] the plan to go in against these guys, knowing what we were getting ready to face ... [Defensive assistant and safeties coach] Jim O'Neil, [defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach] DeShea Townsend, had those guys ready to go, and I think they competed, they challenged, and our front came alive, the [linebackers] played really big for us, those three in the middle. So it was just an outstanding defensive performance.”

The Lions were without starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring strain; Terrion Arnold, who is dealing with a shoulder injury; and Avonte Maddox, who is also dealing with a hamstring issue. Safety Kerby Joseph was out with a knee injury. Versatile defensive back Brian Branch was serving a suspension for fighting with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after the Lions’ loss to the Chiefs last week.

With corner Amik Robertson as the lone starter, Detroit relied on journeyman corners Rock Ya-Sin, Arthur Maulet, and Tre Flowers; along with former UFL star Nick Whiteside. At safety, third-year pro Erick Hallett and second-year pro Thomas Harper stepped up, along with practice squad safety Loren Strickland.

The Lions’ D held Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield to 28 of 50 passing for 228 yards and 1 touchdown. Hallett and linebacker Jack Campbell led the team with 8 tackles apiece; Maulet had 5 tackles, a pass defended, and an interception; Ya-Sin had 4 tackles and 2 pass defenses; Robertson had 3 tackles and a PD; Whiteside had two tackles and 3 batted passes; and Strickland had 2 tackles.

Campbell said the next-man-up mentality was paramount, and while he didn’t expect perfection, he was still impressed with how the back end of the defense rose to the occasion.

“I love the fact the game did not feel too big for some of those guys,” he said. “You know, it’s Harper’s first start, really Hallett’s first start, and I thought it wasn’t too big for them. They got in there and competed and that’s great ...We put Amik on an island a little bit and I thought he really answered the bell. We put our linebackers on the island a little bit, answered the bell. I was proud of all those guys. I mean, it was really good.”

Campbell said he was optimistic that his defense would challenge Mayfield, but that they would also be challenged: Mayfield is currently ranked 6th in the NFL in passing yards; and tied for 6th in passing touchdowns.

“I had confidence,” he said. “Now, I didn’t think nine points ...I don’t know where that ranks for all the games in this week. That’s probably number one, or close to it, I don’t know ...but I knew we'd hold our own. But it’s a testament to what they did.”

Campbell may have been surprised by the final score, but he was not surprised by the scheme coached by first-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Sheppard—who spent four seasons as a linebackers coach under then-DC Aaron Glenn before being promoted to the position following Glenn’s departure—has grown into his role and developed a rapport with both his players and staff, Campbell said.

The win puts the Lions back into the middle of the playoff conversation, and caused the Buccaneers to slip back a game after leading the NFC through six weeks. Behind the Green Bay Packers—who teeter on the edge of first place at 4-1-1—there are six teams vying for second place in the conference, all with 5-2 records: The Lions and Bucs, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams.