Table of Contents
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions have had up-and-down periods of their franchises, but believe it or not, the two teams have met in a playoff matchup before.
The Bucs and the Lions squared off on Dec. 28, 1997 in a Wild Card matchup at Tampa Stadium. Tampa Bay had won the NFC Central that year at 10-6 and hosted Detroit at 9-7, who had earned the fifth seed as a Wild Card spot. The game was the last game ever played at Tampa Stadium.
The Bucs dominated the game for most of the proceedings, scoring 13 unanswered points in the first half. The Bucs won the game 20-10, with quarterback Trent Dilfer throwing a touchdown pass to Horace Copeland and running back Mike Alstott finding the end zone as well.
Here are a few shots from that game and the celebrations that followed:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Horace Copeland
TAMPA, UNITED STATES: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Horace Copeland celebrates his second quarter touchdown against…
TAMPA, UNITED STATES: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Horace Copeland celebrates his second quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions in their 28 December NFC Wild Card playoff game at Houlihan Stadium in Tampa, FL. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Robert SULLIVAN (Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn run
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn runs through the Detroit…
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Warrick Dunn runs through the Detroit Lions defense during first half action 28 December in their NFC Wild Card playoff game at Houlihan Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo credit should read CALVIN KNIGHT/AFP via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike Alstott (R)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike Alstott (R) is congratulated by…
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike Alstott (R) is congratulated by quarterback Trent Dilfer after his 31-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of their NFC Wild Card game against the Detroit Lions 28 December at Houlihan Stadium in Tampa, FL. The Buccaneers won the game 20-10 and will face the Green Bay Packers in the next round of the playoffs. (Photo credit should read CALVIN KNIGHT/AFP via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike Alstott (R)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike Alstott (R) jumps into the…
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 28: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike Alstott (R) jumps into the arms of teammate Frank Middleton 28 December after they defeated the Detroit Lions in their Wild Card Play-off game at Houlihan Stadium in Tampa. The Bucs won 20-10 and will face the Green Bay Packers next week. (Photo credit should read CALVIN KNIGHT/AFP via Getty Images)
