Amon-Ra St. Brown shares eye-opening take on Lions’ MNF defense
Once again, the Detroit Lions avoided back-to-back losses after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-9, at Ford Field on “Monday Night Football.”
The Lions have not lost two straight games in the regular season for nearly three years, as they bounced back from their defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, 30-17, in Week 6. They improved to 5-2.
Detroit set the tone on defense early, tallying an interception and a fumble in the first half to take a double-digit lead at the break, 14-3. They never looked back and cruised to the easy victory.
Amon-Ra St. Brown credited their defense for limiting the Buccaneers throughout the contest.
“They played great all game, they’re the reason why we won this game,” said St. Brown, who had six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown, in the postgame interview with NFL Network’s Stacey Dales.
“It was one of the best defensive performances I’ve been a part of. I feel like since being here in Detroit, we had a lot of guys down on defense, all the DBs, and they came out and played. They got turnovers, they were flying around, so hats off to them.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown reflected on Detroit’s dominant MNF victory with me…
“It was one of the best defensive performances I’ve been a part of…”
And in the wake of the Brian Branch suspension:
“We love each other – we play for each other…”@nflnetwork @NFLGameDay #OnePride pic.twitter.com/oHcUkTQqLx
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) October 21, 2025
The Lions held the Buccaneers, who lost Mike Evans to a collarbone injury , to just 251 total yards, including a measly 41 rushing yards. Detroit had 12 passes defended, with Baker Mayfield throwing 28-of-50.
It was also an emotional game for the Lions, who played without Brian Branch due to a one-game suspension over his unsportsmanlike conduct against the Chiefs.
St. Brown admitted that while they make mistakes, they always have each other’s backs.
“We love each other. We play for each other. You know, whoever it is. Guys make mistakes, it doesn’t matter. We’re here for each other,” added the three-time Pro Bowler.
“That’s what makes us special. We’re a tight group.”
The Lions, who will have a bye week, have now five consecutive games on “Monday Night Football.”
Brian Daboll Hints at Change To Important Position For Week 8 vs Eagles

The New York Giants can’t seem to find a kicker that can stay healthy or consistent enough to help them win.
So it may be veteran Younghoe Koo’s turn to placekick after Jude McAtamney missed two crucial extra points in the Giants’ 33-32 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
McAtamney took over the role previously held by veteran Graham Gano, who was placed on injured reserve after injuring himself in warmups before New York’s 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.
But McAtamney has missed three extra points in New York’s past two games, including his colossal wide-right kick after Jaxson Dart’s one-yard scramble put it ahead 32-30 with just 37 seconds left.
Denver kicker Wil Lutz nailed 39-yard field goal with no time on the clock to cap its 33-point fourth quarter and deal the Giants a devastating defeat.
The Giants (2-5) will take on the rival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Brian Daboll Is Considering A Kicking Change
The Giants have the worst extra-point percentage (76.5) of any team in the NFL and have had three different players attempt extra points. Punter Jamie Gillan also missed an extra point while filling in for Gano against the Chiefs.
So when asked if he had made a decision about McAtamney for the Eagles game, Daboll did not back up the second-year kicker who is 10 for 13 on extra points in his two seasons.
“We’ll see where that goes here throughout the week,” Daboll said.
The Giants have had well-deserved trust issues in McAtamney since he was elevated from the practice squad after Gano’s injury. They are tied for second in the NFL in fourth-down attempts (16) despite the fact their fourth-down conversion percentage (50.0) is tied for 22nd in the league.
Graham Gano Could Return For The Eagles Game
Though Koo is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history (85.8 percent, 17th all time), he could again fall victim to a numbers game since Gano is eligible to be activated after sitting out the requisite four games.
Still, Gano has left the Giants high and dry mid-game twice in as many seasons. His injury before the Chiefs game doomed New York from scoring more points in a winnable game — the injury cost the Giants at least seven points since they did not convert two fourth downs in reasonable field-goal range in the second half, plus Gillan’s missed extra point.
Gano also was injured early in the Giants’ three-point loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 2 in 2024. Gillan also missed an extra point in that game, plus New York failed on a pair of two-point conversion attempts.
The Giants added Koo to develop a kicking competition after Gano went down, but he has not yet suited up in a game for them. Koo, 31, was released by the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 19 after he missed a key 44-yard field goal in their three-point loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1.
Still, Koo has missed just seven extra points in his career and none since Week 2 of the 2023 season.