1997 Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC Wild Card Playoff

Sunday, December 28, 1997
Buccaneers were favored by 3
Over/Under: 38.5

[@zack6701]

26 years later these two teams would meet at Ford Field in the Divisional Round

[@drewkucek230]

26 Years Later They Will Face Each Other In The Divisional Round

[@KT2live]

Lions get revenge in their crib this time

[@AndreiKenshin24]

Two teams will be meet again in 2023 NFC Divisional Round.

[@Mark-xl1ze]

The Buccaneers' first playoff appearance since 1982, first playoff win (2nd overall at the time) since 1979 and Barry Sanders's last playoff game.

[@LemonTree9280]

Oh man, xmas break 1997, junior year of high school....i need a time machine

[@marcus813]

That's how you close your own stadium! This was the Bucs' final game at Houlihan's Stadium (née Tampa Stadium).

[@chrisaultman1]

It was so great to relive this! I was there and we were delirious. Chris Berman is a legend.

[@SportsFan2001]

The final playoff game at Tampa Stadium.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Anthony Parker with the Interception- he tormented the Lions when he was in Minnesota and even on another NFC Norris team, still haunting them

[@Mattnova_116]

Here's to the most improved NFL team of the 1997 season, folks the revitalized Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 👏

[@gluserty]

I've never seen the highlights of this game before, but I think Chris Berman was right, Trent Dilfer was really throwing smoke in this game.

[@zachrizzo6525]

Alstott is like “I’m the juggernaut, b*tch!”

[@tleoipl37]

We are here over 25 years later 😮

[@hezamachine]

They didn't show Reich accidentally spiking the ball on fourth down.

[@ericwicker7514]

Oh yeah. I remember that.

[@redpillfreedom6692]

Seems like such a Lions thing to do.

[@KyleCaughlin]

What would be the final playoff game for Barry Sanders

[@ericsimmons7920]

I think the Lions not having a good quarterback is why Barry Sanders never played in the Super Bowl what do you think?

[@redmustangredmustang]

2nd playoff win ever for the Bucs. It also showed that Barry other than the Cowboys 1991 playoff game, he didn't do a damn thing in the playoffs including this game.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

he actually had a huge game in the '93 playoff against Green Bay

[@cbod14]

Chris Kreager Chris I love Barry but he has been on the end of some real shellackings in the playoffs

[@thomastripp9002]

I believe that this was the game Barry Sanders knew it was his last playoff game, despite playing the following year. The Lions wasted his career. Part of me wishes he got traded to a team like the Dolphins or the 49ers

[@roguegust8832]

Easy for defenses to key in on Barry when you have bum ass Scott Mitchell as your QB.

[@cbod14]

Jonathan Dee The One And Only Bengals say hello

[@DennardC_27]

Berman was in rare form in this highlight 🤣

[@wildethang93]

ALLSTOTT UP THE GUT!

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

2:44 WTF was this playcall?!?!?!?!?

[@EdmacZ]

The NFC Central sent FOUR teams to the playoffs in 1997 (Sorry, Chicago).

[@simps1121]

Ah the days when NFL divisions were a lot of geographic nonsense, especially after years of expansion and relocation. The Bucs playing in the central with Detroit, Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota. The NFC west featuring the 'western' towns of St. Louis, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Atlanta. The NFC east with Arizona and Dallas. The Jags in the central with Cincy, Pitt, Baltimore, and Houston/Tennessee. Thankfully, the return of the Browns in 99 and expansion Texans and switching Seattle to the NFC mostly fixed things. Though, if they didn't care so much for historic rivalries, Miami could be moved to the AFC South, Baltimore to the East, and Indy to the North.

[@timothyedwards3623]

Won't happen but cowboys and panthers need to swap between NFC South and NFC East

[@EdmacZ]

Miami wanted to stay in the East to keep their rivalries with the Bills, Jets, and Patriots. Steelers/Colts every year would've been an intriguing series.

[@cbod14]

The famous Alstott up the gut run.

[@KT2live]

Lions get revenge 26 years later coming soon