Lions' defensive masterclass performance highlighted by Alim McNeill's return

The Detroit Lions bounced back with a dominant 24-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. The Lions avenged one of their two losses in the regular season, and despite their injuries in the secondary, Detroit's defense was stout courtesy of an excellent game plan by defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.

Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeil was also hugely impactful in his first start since suffering an ACL injury last December. While he only recorded one assisted tackle, his ability to create pressure on Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was enough for the Lions to make key defensive stops throughout the game.

Having McNeil back on the defensive line is huge for the defense moving forward. Before his injury last December, McNeil was a key player for the Lions' defensive front, making 25 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 14 games played.

Alim McNeill makes an impact in his first game back

The Lions' defense put on a show from the start as they held the Buccaneers to three points in the first half and under 60 yards of total offense. The Lions' defense held Mayfield to complete 56 percent of his passes as he finished with 228 yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 28-of-50 passing in the game.

McNeill had two pressures on the night and finished up with a PFF grade of 81.2, which put him close to the top of Lions' defense for Week 7. His addition back to the D-line opened things up for the Lions' entire pass rush, and Mayfield barely had time to settle in against them.

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Despite missing nearly their entire second half, Sheppard and the Lions had an impressive defensive game plan to stop the Buccaneers' wide receivers. Cornerbacks Nick Whiteside and Rock Ya-Sin stepped up for the Lions in the secondary, combining for five passes defended.

What's next for the Lions heading into the bye week?

With the win, the Lions improve to 5-2 on the season heading into the bye week. Entering the bye week with momentum and a win is huge for the Lions, especially with the teams they'll play coming out of it.

The bye week also gives the Lions the perfect opportunity to heal and hopefully get some of their key defensive starters in the seconday for when they play the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 2. Following the first of two matchups against the Minnesota Vikings, the Lions will play the Washington Commanders on the road where they hope to avenge last season's heartbreaking loss in the NFC Divisional Round.

The Lions will also face the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, on the road on November 16, in what should be a battle between two top NFC teams.