Lions security C.J. Gardner-Johnson has by no means been afraid to speak trash to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers beginning quarterback, whether or not it is Tom Brady or present starter Baker Mayfield. He has now walked the stroll after speaking his speak about each quarterbacks, one thing he did early in Detroit’s 31-23 victory that despatched them on to their first NFC Championship recreation for the reason that 1991 season.
Gardner-Johnson famously talked plenty of smack to Brady whereas he was part of the NFC South rival New Orleans Saints protection, and he backed up his trash discuss by intercepting him twice of their 5 profession conferences.
He talked trash about Mayfield final week, downplaying the Buccaneers quarterback’s skills whereas discussing the Rams receiving duo of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
“This group (of Rams WRs) in all probability is likely one of the higher teams we carried out confronted all 12 months, moreover that Tampa group,” Gardner-Johnson mentioned, via the Detroit Free Press. “Should you give that Tampa group a great quarterback, that is a terrific group. [Mike] Evans, [Chris] Godwin, [Russell] Gage, that is a terrific group. I performed towards them for actual.”
Mayfield clapped again with a witty reply at his weekly media availability previous to the sport.
“I do not suppose he is actually watched movie, as a result of he talked about Russell Gage,” Mayfield mentioned, via Sports Illustrated. “We love Russell, however Russell did not play a snap all 12 months for us. He have to be going off preseason stuff that the media was speaking about…. (Gardner-Johnson) did not play in our first recreation, so I am excited to see him. I feel he is a very good participant. He has been for some time. He is been an impactful man on each crew he is been on. He is a great participant, however, yeah, he is acquired to perform a little extra movie research.”
Gardner-Johnson did miss the 2 groups’ Week 6 matchup, a recreation the Lions gained 20-6, marking the fewest factors the Buccaneers have scored in a recreation this season. It was the one recreation through which Mayfield had extra interceptions (one) than passing touchdowns (none).
On the Buccaneers first possession of the sport in Sunday’s divisional-round recreation in Detroit, Gardner-Johnson introduced his presence to Mayfield. The Lions security capitalized on a go deflecting off of Professional Bowl receiver Mike Evans’ palms and into the air by corralling the soccer for an interception.
Gardner-Johnson was pushed out of bounds alongside the Buccaneers sideline on the tail finish of his 12-yard return, and he made positive to flip the intercepted soccer again to Mayfield as he jogged away. Gardner-Johnson was additional validated when the Lions acquired the final chortle too after linebacker Derrick Barnes hauled Mayfield’s second choose of the day on his closing throw.
