ALLEN PARK, Mich — Ndamukong Suh has been a durable force in the interior of the Lions defensive line since his rookie season in 2010.

In five NFL seasons, he has 32 sacks, 33 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 14 passes defensed, but the 27-year-old doesn’t think he has reached his peak as a player.

“The universe is the limit,” he said Wednesday. “Still at this point, I think I have a lot growth. I wouldn’t say I’m happy, but I like some things that I’ve done in the past and things that I’ve done over the 12 games. But if I could go back through there’s definitely holes that I could pick up on and fill those in and play better.”

On Sunday, when the Lions (8-4) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-10), Suh will face the player to whom he’ll constantly be compared.

The Lions drafted Suh second overall out of Nebraska in 2010, and the Buccaneers selected fellow defensive tackle Gerald McCoy a pick later out of Oklahoma. McCoy has 27 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and 13 passes defensed, and his numbers would be better if he hadn’t missed 14 games — compared to Suh’s two — during his career.

Both the Lions and Buccaneers could have a problem Sunday if they don’t account for McCoy and Suh. Tampa Bay has allowed 33 sacks this year, tied for ninth most in the NFL, and the Lions have given up 35, tied for seventh.

The biggest difference between the players right now if their contract status. McCoy signed a seven-year, $95.2 million deal in September. Suh’s mega-deal will wait until he hits the free-agent market after the season.

Suh said he didn’t pay attention to McCoy’s negotiations and added “there’s no reason to compare” the two players. But McCoy hopes his fellow defensive tackle gets paid.

“He’s an awesome player and I wish him all of the best,” McCoy said. “I hope when his contract does comes up, he’s breaks the bank. He’s an awesome player, an All-Pro, Pro Bowl player. He was rookie of the year. He’s just a dominating force since he’s been in the league. Everything that’s coming to him, he deserves it.”

McCoy didn’t have any advice to pass along to Suh.

“He knows what he’s doing,” McCoy said. “He’s smart, he’s got a degree, he’s great with business, he’s great with his own marketing and he’s a smart guy. He don’t need my advice. He knows what he’s doing.”

As similar as the two are in terms of production and ferocity, their approach to preparation varies a bit. Suh said he doesn’t watch other top defensive tackles play, but McCoy does and is a fan of Suh.

“I honestly don’t get to watch him much,” Suh said. “Just knowing how he plays a little bit from the past and obviously playing with him at the Pro Bowl, he’s super explosive off the ball and he’s gets in the backfield very fast. He has great closing speed and makes plays.”

While several Lions mentioned McCoy’s explosiveness this week, McCoy said he wants people to think of him as a relentless player. That’s one of the things he notices watching Suh.

“He’s just a physical specimen, man,” McCoy said. “He’s a dominating presence, and he’s a relentless player. When you watch him, you can tell by how he plays he wants to physically impose his will on whoever he’s facing. If you’re in his way when he’s trying to get his job done, you’ve got some problems on your hands.”

SERIES HISTORY: 56th regular-season meeting. Lions lead series 29-26. The Buccaneers beat the Lions last year, 24-21, at Ford Field, the second of six losses in the final seven games to keep the Lions out of the playoffs.