Detroit Lions Derrick Barnes Vowed to Avenge Missed Prescott Sack

Derrick Barnes' game-winning interception Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was nearly a month in the making. 

Four weeks earlier, he stood dejected after failing to complete what would've been a safety against the Dallas Cowboys. Rather than take quarterback Dak Prescott to the turf at AT&T Stadium, he glanced off the passer. 

As a result, Prescott maneuvered and tossed a 92-yard touchdown to CeeDee Lamb. 

Fast-forward to Sunday, and that mishap made Barnes' pick all the more sweeter. Speaking on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams Monday, he explained that the moment culminated his journey to avenge his Week 17 mistake. 

After facing backlash in the immediate aftermath of that moment, he was able to write his name in Lions' lore four weeks later in Sunday's Divisional Round win by punching the team's ticket to the NFC Championship game. 

"It's weird, because it's like, it's the first time it ever happened to me in my career where you get the DM's, you get the comments on your pictures and stuff," Barnes said. "It was like, wow, I've never went through this. I actually had to talk to the older guys, the veterans, Alex Anzalone, my best friend in the league. He was like, 'Man, that's how the game goes. So you've got to tune that noise out.'"

Barnes, whose newborn son was in attendance for Sunday's game, admitted that it was difficult to tune out some of the noise after the loss to Dallas. However, he was unwavering in his efforts to deliver a moment like he did against the Buccaneers. 

"I tried for so long, and I did, but it was all on my mind up until this week. I'm gonna make something that that makes me feel proud of myself. Not nobody else, I'm doing it for myself and my teammates and this organization." 

Sunday's interception came one play after a defensive miscommunication between he and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. After initially being frustrated with his linebacker, Hutchinson's emotions turned to jubilation when he saw Barnes come down with the game-winning takeaway.