Dec 9, 2012; Tampa FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (24) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Eagles won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

If any Detroit Lions fans had found reason to watch the Pro Bowl, that may now be gone:

Great news: Vincent Jackson has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster! He’s replacing Calvin Johnson, who is unable to play due to injury.

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) January 15, 2013

Calvin Johnson had been named a starter to the Pro Bowl but will not play. He was routinely listed on the injury report during the season but did not miss a game.

As it stands now the Lions will not be represented in the game. Matthew Stafford and Ndamukong Suh were named alternates but neither has been named to the team as of today. They may get a chance when Super Bowl participants are replaced on the roster.

Vincent Jackson is now a three-time Pro Bowler, having set career-highs for receptions and receiving yards. He joins his Bucs teammate Gerald McCoy on the NFC roster.

We are all aware of the hype coming into the year, the expectations this team had after their first appearance in the playoffs in over a decade. With a star-studded offense, and a front seven that was projected to be one of the best in the league, this was supposed to be (and still could be) the year to take another step towards the upper-tier in the NFL.

September 16, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz watches warm ups before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

Yet, after four weeks, things could already be unraveling.

Now if you think back to last season, the 2011 Tampa Bay Bucs were in a similar position. After posting a 10-6 season in 2010, the Bucs were in a position to rattle off multiple postseason appearances because of the young talent they had acquired. A third-year quarterback, up-and-coming skill players and a talented, but inexperienced front seven were all going to be part of the core of what was expected to be contender for years to come.

For some reason, things fell apart. After a promising 4-2 start, the team came undone and lost its last 10 games to finish the season.

Again, this is far too early to consider this 2012 Detroit Lions season a failure. The team has only played four games, but it’s easy to see the previously-noted similarities in talent between this version of the Lions and the 2011 Bucs.

The difference? Jim Schwartz.

It was apparent last season that Raheem Morris had lost the locker room. In a league where games are incredibly close week in and week out, the 2011 Bucs lost eight of their final 10 games by double digits. They had completely quit on their head coach.

While Schwartz may not be the best head coach in the league, he has the respect of the roster. Tulloch, Burleson and KVB are just a few that have raved about Schwartz in interviews, and it’s evident that the players will compete each and every week, even if the team does not live up to expectations in 2012.

Add in the fact that this is still a roster filled with both youthful talent and skilled veterans, plus the additions of a few players (Delmas, Best, Greenwood) that have been on the shelf to start the year, and there is no reason to think they can’t put things together here in the next few weeks beginning in Philly.

Sep 16, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlinhas talks with Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano after the game at MetLife Stadium. New York Giants defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 41-34. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

One handshake was already a heavy topic leading into this week’s games and now we have another heading out of them.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive line got overly physical as Eli Manning took the final snap from the victory formation and Giants head coach Tom Coughlin let Bucs head coach Greg Schiano know just how upset he was about it.

Take a look at the heated exchange:

It is more than a little ironic this incident would take place just hours before Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh would lead their team in a rematch of last year’s game that concluded with a less than friendly greeting of their own. Schwartz and Harbaugh greeted each other without incident prior to this evening’s game.