Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran 31 yards for a tiebreaking touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Detroit Lions went on to a 31-23 victory over the Tampa Buccaneers in the NFC playoffs on Sunday.

The score was 17-17 when Gibbs got loose for his touchdown run with 13:13 left to play. Quarterback Jared Goff’s second touchdown pass of the game put the Lions ahead 31-17 with 6:22 left.

Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans capped an eight-reception, 147-yard performance with a 16-yard touchdown catch with 4:37 remaining, and the Buccaneers got the football back with 1:59 to play. But Detroit linebacker Derrick Barnes intercepted quarterback Baker Mayfield with 1:33 left to seal the Lions’ first trip to the conference-championship game since 1991.

Gibbs became the first NFL rookie who played at Alabama to score two postseason touchdowns. Before this season, Green Bay Packers safety George Teague had been the only rookie who played for the Crimson Tide to score a touchdown in the NFL postseason.

After scoring on a 10-yard run on his first playoff carry last week, Gibbs did the work for his Sunday TD. After Tampa Bay had tied the game at 17-17, Gibbs started Detroit’s possession from its 25 with a 6-yard run on the final snap of the third quarter. Goff connected with Gibbs for a 12-yard gain to open the fourth quarter before going to wide receiver Josh Reynolds for 18 more. Gibbs then ran for 8 yards before covering the final 31 to the end zone to end the five-play series.

Gibbs ran for 74 yards and one touchdown on nine carries and caught four passes for 40 yards on Sunday.

In addition to Gibbs, five other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Tampa Bay-Detroit game:

· Lions defensive back Brian Branch (Alabama) tied for the Detroit lead with nine tackles, recorded one sack and made two tackles for loss.

· K.J. Britt (Oxford, Auburn) started at linebacker for the Buccaneers. Britt made a career-high 12 tackles and recorded one tackle for loss. Britt’s previous top single-game tackle total had been eight in a 29-25 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 10.

· Carlton Davis (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Davis made seven tackles.

· Jamel Dean (Auburn) started at cornerback for the Buccaneers. Dean made five tackles and broke up three passes. Dean left the game in the fourth quarter because of a back injury, and Detroit took advantage of his absence.

· Buccaneers cornerback Keenan Isaac (Midfield, Alabama State) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Buccaneers wide receiver Cephus Johnson III (Davidson, South Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Lions defensive tackle Brodric Martin (Northridge, North Alabama) was designated at a game-day inactive.

· Buccaneers guard Logan Stenberg (James Clemens) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Jameson Williams (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Lions. Williams had two receptions for 35 yards.

Detroit won the NFC North with a 12-5 record in the regular season and opened the playoffs with a 24-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 14.

Tampa Bay won the NFC South with a 9-8 record in the regular season and opened the playoffs with a 32-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

The Lions will play the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at 5:30 p.m. CST Jan. 28 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. FOX will televise the game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.