The Detroit Lions are looking to bounce back from a disappointing Sunday night loss, preparing to face the team with the NFC’s best record.
The Lions (4-2) are facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) on Monday Night Football at Ford Field in Detroit.
The game will be one of two Week 7 Monday night features in the NFL (the other game is between the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle), with Lions-Bucs kicking off at 7 p.m. ET with the TV channel on ABC and ESPN, and the stream on Fubo (free trial).
Detroit is coming off a 30-17 loss against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and will be without starting safeties Brian Branch (suspension) and Kerby Joseph. They’re also missing five of their top-six cornerbacks, with only Amik Robertson left standing.
The Lions are expected to bring back defensive tackle Alim McNeill, however, after he has spent the past nine months recovering from a torn ACL.
Watch Lions vs Buccaneers on Fubo
The Buccaneers have a 5-1 record, the best in the NFC, but are also facing some injuries heading into the Monday night game. The Bucs are down Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving, but could have Mike Evans back after missing three games with a hamstring injury. Rookie sensation Emeka Egbuka suffered a hamstring injury last week, but is a game-time decision.
Once cast off, quarterbacks Jared Goff and MVP favorite Baker Mayfield traveled similar roads to NFL success, and meet for the fourth time in three seasons (the Lions won twice in the 2023 season; the Bucs pulled a 20-16 upset in Detroit in Week 2 in 2024).
Here’s what you need to know about Lions-Bucs on Monday Night Football.
What time is Monday Night Football game for Lions vs Bucs?
The Lions will meet the Buccaneers at Ford Field on Monday, Oct. 20, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Lions channel for Monday Night Football vs Buccaneers
Detroit’s Monday Night Football game against Tampa Bay can be watched on both ABC and ESPN. There will be no ManningCast for this game on ESPN2, however
Watch Monday Night Football on Fubo
Monday Night Football announcers for Lions vs Bucs
With two Week 7 Monday Night Football games, ESPN is sending its A-team for the Lions-Buccaneers game.
Lions vs Bucs prediction, pick
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press: I think these are the two best teams in the NFC right now, not just by record but by the way both are playing football. Baker Mayfield has led the Bucs to four late-game comebacks and three wins against NFC playoff contenders. Jared Goff is captain of the NFL’s best offense, last week’s hiccups against Kansas City aside.
The Lions have lost to the two best teams on their schedule and are severely shorthanded in their secondary. Tampa has its own injury concerns at the offensive skill positions. I think the Bucs still will put up plenty of points, but playing at home, after a loss and with some extra motivation for Brian Branch, I think the Lions win a shootout and head into the bye in control of the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The pick: Lions 35, Buccaneers 31.
Lions vs Bucs odds and betting lines
The Lions are almost a touchdown favorite for Monday Night Football against the Buccaneers. The line has moved 1½ points in the Lions’ favor.
All odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday night.
Lions schedule 2025
Bucs schedule 2025
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What channel is Lions vs Buccaneers on Monday Night Football? Start time, TV, stream
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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