Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Detroit Lions in ding-dong battle

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have edged out the Detroit Lions in a game of many lead-changes at Ford Field.

The Lions had a disastrous first drive and were forced to punt inside a minute, but they did manage to improve from that point as the Bucs only made two yards from their own first possession.

Lavonte David made a fine interception from Matthew Stafford's throw, from which the Bucs managed a score but only a field goal after the Lions defense tightened up to slow down the drive.

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In the second quarter the Lions were much stronger and took the lead after three minutes. Nate Burleson found some space and was picked out by Stafford for the first touchdown of the game.

Back came the Bucs with their very next drive. Mike Glennon threw a superb 47-yard pass to Vincent Jackson and finished off the drive with a touchdown pass to Tiquan Underwood.

The Vikings added another touchdown thanks to Joseph Fauria, who was found by Stafford, but just before the half Leonard Johnson intercepted and ran home for a 48-yard score to keep them three ahead at the break.

Both teams fancied their chances and the third quarter belonged to the hosts as they got themselves ahead with just 15 to play.

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After a short and unsuccessful drive from the Bucs, Stafford found Calvin Johnson deep in the middle with a fine throw for 21 yards that put him within range of the end zone, and he made no mistake in finding Brandon Pettigrew to change the lead once more.

Out of nowhere at the start of the fourth quarter, Glennon found Underwood with a 25-yard pass and the wide receiver did the rest to reel in an 85-yard touchdown to put the Bucs back ahead, but the hosts could not come back this time and fell to a narrow defeat.