Being the better team doesn't always matter when it's preseason. Unless that team has motivation, which the Lions do here against the Buccaneers.

Detroit is 0-2 and didn't look good in its last game, a 30-17 home loss to the Giants as 3-point favorites last week.

The Lions need a victory. So does Matt Patricia, Detroit's first-year head coach. So the Lions are pointing to this game even more than the normal dress rehersal. Not only are the Lions going to play their starters for at least the first half, but they also scouted the Buccaneers. This is something they didn't do for their first two preseason games.

Matthew Stafford has looked good in camp. However, he's played only three series - 13 snaps - during preseason so far. He could play into the third quarter in this game. Patricia has made it clear this is the Lions' dress rehersal game and that he won't be playing his starters next week during the Lions' final preseason game.

Tampa Bay has nothing to prove. The Buccaneers are 2-0 winning both of their preseason games on the road. Tampa Bay has been horrible at home in preseason going 2-8 SU and ATS the past five years.

The Buccaneers have a cluster injury situation in their offensive line. They didn't have four of their top six offensive linemen practice Wednesday. Left tackle Donovan Smith definitely won't play due to a sprained knee. Jameis Winston has played in both preseason games throwing a combined 31 passes. The Bucs might want to limit his snaps here especially since Winston is suspened for the first two games of the regular season.