Buccaneers vs. Lions 2013 final score: Late pick lifts Tampa Bay, 24-21

A fluky Matthew Stafford interception late in the fourth quarter gave Tampa Bay a third consecutive win.

by Jeff Gray

Nov 24, 2013, 9:17 PM UTC

Gregory Shamus

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The Detroit Lions looked to be in good position to tie or take the lead late against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, but were doomed by an odd interception in a 24-21 loss.

Trailing by three points, Matthew Stafford drove his team down to the 28-yard line with under a minute remaining and had the Lions in position for a game-tying field goal. On 3rd-and-12, a deep passed was knocked out of Calvin Johnson's hands and directly into the chest of Johnthan Banks, who held on for the interception to give the Bucs a third consecutive win.

Tampa Bay moves to 3-8 with the win, while the Lions drop to 6-5.

Nate Burleson opened the scoring for the Lions by grabbing a five-yard pass from Stafford to go up, 7-3. Burleson played well in his first game back from a broken arm, catching seven passes for 77 yards and the score. Burleson broke his arm in a car crash in September when he swerved off the road while trying to keep a pizza box from sliding off the passenger seat. He paid homage to the incident after the score, pretending to deliver the football into the stands.

Joseph Fauria got in on the celebration action when he busted out disco moves following his diving 10-yard touchdown dance in the second quarter, a score that put the Lions up, 14-10.

Mike Glennon hit Tiquan Underwood for a seven-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and Leonard Johnson nailed a 48-yard field goal just before halftime to give the Bucs a 17-14 lead heading into the intermission. Underwood would strike again at the beginning of the fourth quarter, going 85 yards for a touchdown reception.

The Lions went back on top seven minutes into the second half when Stafford hit Brandon Pettigrew with an 18-yard pass. Stafford threw three touchdowns, but also tossed four costly interceptions in the game.

Detroit trailed 24-21 when Danny Gorrer blocked a punt and set the Bucs up with the ball on the 11-yard line. The Lions defense would hold firm, and Rian Lindell missed a 35-yard field goal. Lindell would miss another big kick with four minutes remaining, pulling a 50-yard attempt just left of the goalpost.