Backup QB Joe Reed (you can hear his album `The Lion in Me` on itunes) was in for the injured Greg Landry to play the Bucs (1-11) for the second time this season.  Detroit had just two weeks earlier stomped Tampa 28-0, but knew they could not live in the past, for they would have to earn a sweep of Tampa Bay, a team fresh off their first win of the season.

Both coaches can attest that this was an ugly game.  Uggggly.  The Tampa offense started off well, moving the ball inside the Detroit 10 yard line on their first two possessions of the game.  However, those drives netted 0 points, and thereafter the Buc offense curled up and went to sleep.  The Lions feature the 4th best passing defense in the league, and after those drives, they nearly shutdown Gary Huff`s many attempts to zero in on WR Morris Owens.  Huff `the Magic Dragon` finished the game 5/19 for 68 yards, and was picked for the second time this season by Lem Barney.

Meanwhile, it is not an exaggeration to say that Detroit had not two good drives resulting in their total of 14 points, but two good plays.  Both came in the third quarter, and both came off the legs of WR/RB JD Hill, who opened the scoring on a 43 yard run, later adding a second TD on the ground.  Hill is the first Lion running back all season to exceed the one-hundred yard mark- he went for 105 yards on 7 attempts.  It is safe to say that coach Cheapcatch had the reigns pulled taught on Joe Reed, as the backup QB only threw 6 passes, one downfield.  Reed completed 3 of those for an ultra-conservative 12 yards.

In all, the game was an eye sore, with many fans drifting off before halftime, while briefly awakening to witness Hill`s stellar third quarter.  In two games the Lions outscored Tampa 42-0.  It was definitely an ugly 14-0 win for Detroit, but when it comes to the standings there is no such category.  Just a win.  At this point that is what matters most to Detroit, as they are tied with the Vikings at (8-5) for the last playoff seed.  The Lions face the Packers next week in a must win game.