The Lions are heading to their first NFC championship in 32 years

In a divisional-round playoff game, the Detroit Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 behind two touchdown passes by Jared Goff. This lifted the long-suffering franchise into the NFC championship for the first time in 32 years and just the second time in franchise history.

For the first time since 1957, the last year they won the NFL title, the Lions won both playoff games in the same season. This was the first time in their history. Next Sunday, they will play San Francisco, the top seed in the NFC, for a spot in the Super Bowl, a game that they have never played before.

On three consecutive possessions, the Lions scored touchdowns on long touchdown drives led by Goff, who finished 30 of 43 for 287 yards. St. Brown had eight catches for 77 yards, including the touchdown catch that capped a 10-play, 89-yard drive. In the regular season, Tampa Bay didn't have to face Jahmyr Gibbs, an electric rookie. But today he had 74 yards rushing on nine carries and four receptions for 40 yards.

Baker Mayfield threw three touchdown passes for Tampa Bay and completed 26 of 41 passes for 349 yards. Despite this, he threw two interceptions, one intercepted by linebacker Derrick Barnes which ended the comeback.

“I envisioned we would have a chance to compete with the big boys, and that’s where we’re at,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said about the win.