Detroit snapped an NFL-record 26-game road losing streak with a 23-20 overtime win, and Lions C Dominic Raiola said afterward, “We’re not going to be punks anymore.”
Raiola said of the Bucs, “Are they still in the playoff race? Are they getting ready to go make vacation plans now? I hope so.”
Said Lions WR Calvin Johnson, “We had a killer instinct on offense today. It was a totally different attitude out there today and it was great playing with those guys today. It was a big win for us.”
Johnson’s 152 receiving yards were the third-highest total of his NFL career. He now has 73 catches for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Said Bucs CB Ronde Barber of having to cover Johnson, “They have a ridiculously tough dude to deal with and we didn’t deal with him very well. No. 81 dominated us today.’'
Third-stringer Drew Stanton became the first Lions quarterback since Jon Kitna to win back-to-back starts, but he knows he’s headed back to the bench as soon as either of the guys ahead of him on the depth chart gets healthy.
What appeared to be a costly offside penalty against the Lions’ defense turned out to give their offense more time to tie the game at the end of regulation.
Said Bucs RB Cadillac Williams, “It’s hurtful. I haven’t been a part of a loss like this ever in my NFL career.”
An offensive pass interference penalty wiped off what could have been a game-winning touchdown catch by Kellen Winslow, but the Bucs said afterward that they weren’t about to blame the officials for the loss.