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Two of the NFC’s elite are set to meet in the Motor City, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Detroit Lions to kick off a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader.
The Lions enter Monday’s game with a 4-2 record and are looking to bounce back from a tough primetime loss on Sunday night to the Chiefs. The Buccaneers are 5-1 and continue to find ways to win, as four of their five wins have come by one score, though Week 6 was their first two-score win of the season.
Availability will be a major subplot of this matchup, as Detroit’s secondary will be without suspended safety Brian Branch, injured safety Kerby Joseph and injured cornerbacks Avonte Maddox and Terrion Arnold. Whether Tampa Bay can take advantage remains to be seen, as receivers Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans are on the mend from hamstring injuries, while Chris Godwin Jr. remains out.
While it’s still the first half of the season, Monday’s showdown could have major implications in the NFC standings down the season’s stretch run. The Sporting News is tracking live score updates and highlights from the first half of the “Monday Night Football” doubleheader.
STREAM: Watch Lions vs. Buccaneers live with the new ESPN app
Lions vs. Buccaneers score
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Lions vs. Buccaneers live updates, highlights from ‘Monday Night Football’
6:30 p.m.: Teams are on the field for warmups.
MNF wardrobe for the @Lions 🔥
TBvsDET– 7pm ET on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/uSWkf6xcBf— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2025
The Lions are wearing their alternate black uniforms for the contest.
5:59 p.m: Both teams have arrived for Monday Night Football.
A moment for the details@amonra_stbrown pic.twitter.com/sDX1ZRzLRG
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 20, 2025
The Lions look to bounce back from a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6.
5:35 p.m.: Tampa Bay has posted its inactives for tonight.
Inactives for MNF ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FrkMrC2n2N
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 20, 2025
Most notable is star running back Bucky Irving, who has been dealing with foot and shoulder injuries
5:12 p.m.: The Buccaneers are getting back two wide receivers for Monday night’s clash.
Both Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka have been cleared ahead of kickoff.
#Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) is good to go and will play tonight vs. the Lions after missing the last three games, sources tell @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/LjIKuLnyqk
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 20, 2025
Evans missed the past three games after injuring his hamstring against the New York Jets. Egbuka played limited snaps in Tampa Bay’s last game, a win against the 49ers.
#Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka will play tonight, despite a hamstring injury. Early last week, this appeared to be a long-shot. But a pregame workout went well, and now he’ll play. pic.twitter.com/CPVQoaP7LM
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 20, 2025
Where to watch Lions vs. Buccaneers
Lions vs. Buccaneers start time
- Date: Monday, Oct. 20
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET
The Buccaneers and Lions will be the first half of a “Monday Night Football” doubleheader during Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. Kickoff from Ford Field in Detroit is set for 7 p.m. ET.
What channel is Lions vs. Buccaneers on today?
- Date: Monday, Oct. 20
- TV: ABC, ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN app
This ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup will air nationally on ABC and ESPN.
Fans can also stream ‘Monday Night Football’ between the Buccaneers and the Lions on Fubo and the ESPN app. Fubo carries ESPN in its channel lineup and is offering a free trial.
Buccaneers schedule 2025
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Result |
| 1 | Sept. 7 | at Falcons | 1 p.m. | Buccaneers 23, Falcons 20 |
| 2 | Sept. 15 | at Texans | 7 p.m. | Buccaneers 20, Texans 19 |
| 3 | Sept. 21 | vs. Jets | 1 p.m. | Buccaneers 29, Jets 27 |
| 4 | Sept. 28 | vs. Eagles | 1 p.m. | Eagles 31, Buccaneers 25 |
| 5 | Oct. 5 | at Seahawks | 4:05 p.m. | Buccaneers 38, Seahawks 35 |
| 6 | Oct. 12 | vs. 49ers | 4:25 p.m. | Buccaneers 30, 49ers 19 |
| 7 | Oct. 20 | at Lions | 7 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, Fubo |
| 8 | Oct. 26 | at Saints | 4:05 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 9 | BYE | — | — | — |
| 10 | Nov. 9 | vs. Patriots | 1 p.m. | CBS, Fubo, Paramount+ |
| 11 | Nov. 16 | at Bills | 1 p.m. | CBS, Fubo, Paramount+ |
| 12 | Nov. 23 | at Rams | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, Fubo, Peacock |
| 13 | Nov. 30 | vs. Cardinals | 1 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 14 | Dec. 7 | vs. Saints | 1 p.m. | CBS, Fubo, Paramount+ |
| 15 | Dec. 11 | vs. Falcons | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video |
| 16 | Dec. 21 | at Panthers | 4:30 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 17 | Dec. 28 | at Dolphins | 1 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 18 | Jan. 4 | vs. Panthers | TBD | TBD |
Lions schedule 2025
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Result |
| 1 | Sept. 7 | at Packers | 4:25 p.m. | Packers 27, Lions 13 |
| 2 | Sept. 14 | vs. Bears | 1 p.m. | Lions 52, Bears 21 |
| 3 | Sept. 22 | at Ravens | 8:15 p.m. | Lions 38, Ravens 30 |
| 4 | Sept. 28 | vs. Browns | 1 p.m. | Lions 34, Browns 10 |
| 5 | Oct. 5 | at Bengals | 4:25 p.m. | Lions 37, Bengals 24 |
| 6 | Oct. 12 | at Chiefs | 8:20 p.m. | Chiefs 30, Lions 17 |
| 7 | Oct. 20 | vs. Buccaneers | 7 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, Fubo |
| 8 | BYE | — | — | — |
| 9 | Nov. 2 | vs. Vikings | 1 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 10 | Nov. 9 | at Commanders | 4:25 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 11 | Nov. 16 | at Eagles | 8:20 p.m. | NBC, Fubo, Peacock |
| 12 | Nov. 23 | vs. Giants | 1 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 13 | Nov. 27 | vs. Packers | 1 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 14 | Dec. 4 | vs. Cowboys | 8:15 p.m. | Amazon Prime Video |
| 15 | Dec. 14 | at Rams | 4:25 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
| 16 | Dec. 21 | vs. Steelers | 4:25 p.m. | CBS, Fubo, Paramount+ |
| 17 | Dec. 25 | at Vikings | 4:30 p.m. | Netflix |
| 18 | TBD | at Bears | TBD | TBD |
