Lions Bury Bucs, Maybe Wyche Victory Over Tampa Bay May Seal Fate For Veteran Coach

NFC Central title or not, the Detroit Lions are ready for the playoffs.

The NFL’s hottest team won its seventh straight game Saturday, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37-10 to remain in contention for the division title and a home game in the playoffs.

The Bucs (7-9) finished with a losing record for the 13th straight season amid speculation that they might be playing their last game under coach Sam Wyche as well as for the final time in Tampa.

It was the second straight rout for the Lions (10-6), who crushed Jacksonville 44-0 last week and haven’t lost since a Nov. 5 defeat at Atlanta that prompted owner William Clay Ford’s much-publicized “playoffs-or-else” ultimatum to coach Wayne Fontes.

Brett Perriman scored on a 91-yard reception, Tracy Scroggins returned a fumble 81 yards for a touchdown and Scott Mitchell threw for 352 yards and two TDs to pace the Lions in what Bucs fans fear might have been their team’s last game in Tampa.

Detroit clinched a playoff berth when Minnesota lost to San Francisco last Monday night. If Pittsburgh beats NFC Central leader Green Bay on Sunday, the Lions will win the division and host their first playoff game.

Regardless of the outcome of the Packers’ finale, the Lions feel good about the way they are playing and their chances of going a long way in the postseason.

“I told the team in the locker room two weeks ago that we can get to the Super Bowl,” Fontes said. “What we have to do is play hard, believe in ourselves and get some breaks. We’re not afraid to talk about it.”

Perriman and Herman Moore, the most prolific single-season receiving tandem in NFL history, each had 100-yard days. Perriman had five catches for 135 yards, while Moore caught 10 passes for 105 yards to set a league record for receptions in a season with 123.

“It feels good to know we’re clicking right now and we’re right where we want to be at this point of the season,” said Moore, who broke Cris Carter’s mark of 122 receptions for Minnesota last season.

“Going into postseason play, we couldn’t ask for a squad as healthy as it is and running on all cylinders.”

Lions 37, Buccaneers 10

Detroit 14 3 10 10 - 37

Tampa Bay 0 3 0 7 - 10

First quarter

Det-Morton 5 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 4:54.

Det-Scroggins 81 fumble return (Hanson kick), 10:38.

Second quarter

Det-FG Hanson 33, 9:58.

TB-FG Husted 27, 14:35.

Third quarter

Det-Perriman 91 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), :38.

Det-FG Hanson 39, 14:50.

Fourth quarter

Det-FG Hanson 45, 5:38.

TB-Ellison 1 run (Husted kick), 7:48.

Det-Mitchell 1 run (Hanson kick), 13:10.

A-50,049.

Det TB First downs 24 17 Rushes-yards 24-60 16-144 Passing 348 171 Punt Returns 1-0 1-8 Kickoff Returns 2-27 8-151 Interceptions Ret. 2-22 1-19 Comp-Att-Int 27-42-1 19-38-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-15 5-35 Punts 3-28 6-42 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-2 Penalties-Yards 6-55 11-103 Time of Possession 32:07 27:53

Individual statistics

RUSHINGDetroit, Sanders 18-48, Perriman 1-6, Rivers 2-4, Mitchell 3-2. Tampa Bay, Ellison 4-91, Rhett 12-53.

PASSINGDetroit, Mitchell 26-41-1-352, Sanders 1-1-0-11. Tampa Bay, Dilfer 8-11-1-100, Weldon 11-27-1-106.

RECEIVINGDetroit, Moore 10-105, Perriman 5-135, Sanders 5-39, Morton 4-64, Sloan 2-13, Holman 1-7. Tampa Bay, Hawkins 5-69, Harris 4-56, Harper 4-49, Armstrong 2-14, Copeland 1-10, Ellison 1-9, Rhett 1-5, L.Thomas 1-(minus 6).

MISSED FIELD GOALSNone.