5 Detroit Lions who must shine in Week 2 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, the Detroit Lions do what good teams do when they don't play their best. They found a way to win, with a defense that tightened up in the red zone and a statement-making drive to win the game in overtime on the back of some hard running from David Montgomery.

Week 2 brings a second straight rematch from last year's playoffs to open the season for the Lions, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come back to Ford Field. The Buccaneers are also 1-0, after a 37-20 season-opening win over the Washington Commanders. Tampa Bay did what it was supposed to in Week 1, handling an inferior team pretty easily.

There some out there who are picking the Buccaneers to win on Sunday, or at minimum cover what does feel like a hefty spread (Lions -7.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook as of this writing, odds subject to change).

If the Lions are going to win Sunday and go to 2-0 on the season, these five players will probably have something to say about it in a notable way.

5 Lions players who must shine in Week 2 vs. Tampa Bay

5. LB Derrick Barnes

Sunday's rematch brings memories of Barnes' game-clinching interception in last year's playoff game against Tampa Bay. But he's focused on what's ahead, and in Week 1 he was a versatile factor in the Lions' solid defensive performance.

Whatever his role looks like this week-he has hinted at more snaps as an edge rusher with Marcus Davenport dealing with a groin injury and now listed as doubtful for the game-Barnes is a critical piece of the Lions' defense. It's also fair to say his impact may not fully show up on the stat sheet. But it would be nice to see an impactful play or two again, even it requires a more detailed viewing of his work and his name is not called out by game announcers in the immediate moment.