Bucs vs. Lions injury report, odds, spread: Matthew Stafford expected to play; Ronald Jones, Detroit interim coach Darrell Bevell out

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch a playoff spot Saturday with a win at Detroit in the first of three NFL games that day, and the Bucs may catch a major break. While the Lions will have battered quarterback Matthew Stafford in the lineup, they will be without interim head coach Darrell Bevell (made official on Thursday morning) and nearly the entire defensive staff due to COVID-19 protocols. The Bucs, who are not expected to have top running back Ronald Jones, are up to 9.5-point favorites on the NFL odds at William Hill Sportsbook -- up from an opening of -7.5.

The Lions, who of course fired Coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn several weeks ago, shut down their facility Tuesday because two members of the organization tested positive, although they weren't players. Whomever those positive people were, Bevell and almost all of the team's defensive staff members are reportedly considered close contacts – including coordinator Cory Undlin.

Also keep in mind that Bevell fired special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs on Monday because Coombs called a "rogue" fake punt in last Sunday's loss at Tennessee. So, the Lions will be almost comically short-handed from a coaching standpoint with the quick turnaround for Saturday regarding COVID protocols.

Bevell says he and the affected coaches will likely have to remain quarantined at a local hotel through Christmas. Wide receivers coach Robert Prince will fill in for Bevell on game day and QBs coach Sean Ryan will call offensive plays. 

Stafford is playing through broken ribs, but the team has no plans to shut him down and the former No. 1 overall pick is expected to play. Stafford has thrown for multiple touchdowns just once over the last five games and he's obviously one hit from leaving the game (then again, so is every QB). Chase Daniel is his backup.

Jones, meanwhile, missed last week's huge comeback win vs. Atlanta first due to finger surgery and then because he landed on the COVID-19 list, so he's not expected for Saturday. Leonard Fournette would be the featured back, and he ran for two short scores against the Falcons.

Even if the Bucs were to somehow lose this game, and they are 7-0 this season vs. teams currently below .500, they would clinch a playoff spot Sunday if Chicago is upset in Jacksonville – which seems very unlikely vs. the tanking Jaguars. 

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