Sunday’s NFC Divisional Round game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions featured one of the most inexplicable endings to a game in NFL history. The Lions made two crucial errors, which were somehow trumped by the Buccaneers.
Leading by eight, Detroit linebacker Derrick Barnes intercepted a Baker Mayfield pass to effectively put the game on ice. Only, there was still some work to be done. The Lions’ possession started with 1:33 and the Buccaneers had a time-out. So, Tampa had the chance to force Detroit into a fourth-down decision with about 10 seconds remaining. Then things got weird — and weirder.
On second down, the Lions snapped the ball with roughly 16 seconds remaining on the play clock. On third down, they snapped it with about 14 seconds. So, 36 seconds remained after Jared Goff took a knee on third down. If the Buccaneers had used their time-out, they would have forced Michael Badgley into a field goal attempt of roughly 50 yards.
Instead, Tampa coach Todd Bowles opted to let the remaining time tick off.
Did the Buccaneers really decide to leave a time-out in their pocket rather than force the Lions to kick a field goal? pic.twitter.com/NCrcSsKJs2
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) January 21, 2024
In no way are we suggesting that the Buccaneers had a great chance to win. But even if the Lions didn’t snap it too early, they couldn’t have quite run the clock out. A Badgley field goal could get blocked and returned. With more than 30 seconds left, any Badgley miss would have given the Buccaneers the ball at around the 40 yard-line. Yes, they would have still needed to go roughly 60 yards in 30 seconds without a time-out. But that feels like that’s worth trying — especially in the playoffs.
The football world was highly critical of Bowles for his weird decision.
Why’d the Bucs eat their timeout??
— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) January 21, 2024
why didn't Tampa call timeout with 35 seconds left and make them kick a field goal?
— Greg Reinhart (@GregReinhart) January 21, 2024
Can someone explain why Tampa doesn't call a timeout with 30 seconds left there??
— A. Beezy (@ABeezy) January 21, 2024
Ok I was so focused on calling the game and reading the chat that I didn't see that Detroit snapped it way too quickly on the kneeldowns and Tampa didn't call timeout
What the heck was that
— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) January 21, 2024
Am I losing my mind? Did Tampa not actually have a timeout? Why would they not use it?
— Spencer Michaelis (@smichaelis234) January 21, 2024
🚨🚨🚨HOW DID NO BUCS PERSONNEL CATCH THIS 🚨🚨🚨
Lions snapped the ball on 3rd down with 37 seconds left.
Bucs could’ve called timeout and stopped the game on 4th down and had around 30 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/hzlnUCpJ0M
— Fantasy Fanatics (@FFB_Fanatics) January 21, 2024
Buccaneers had a timeout left, which would’ve forced the Lions to kick a 47 yard field goal.
If the Lions miss, Bucs have 34 seconds to drive 69 yards. (nice)
The Buccaneers just accepted defeat? That’s insane.
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 21, 2024
