“The script at it again!” – Buccaneers failing to call timeout during final seconds in their playoff loss against the Lions has social media brewing conspiracy theories

On Monday, the Buccaneers suffered a brutal loss against the Lions in their divisional round game.

“The script at it again!” – Buccaneers failing to call timeout during final seconds in their playoff loss against the Lions has social media brewing conspiracy theories

Baker Mayfield (L) and Jared Goff (R) (Credits: Imago)

On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by their star quarterback, Baker Mayfield, suffered a brutal loss against the Detroit Lions in their divisional round game. A puzzling end to the game on the back of Todd Bowles‘ bizarre timeout decision has fans brewing conspiracy theories on social media.

The Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield threw an interception in the final minutes of the game, that eventually lost them the game. Mayfield threw the interception with 1:33 left in the game clock. What followed that interception was a confusing set of events.

YouTube video

Following the interception, the Lions decided to take a knee to run out the clock. However, instead of running out the clocks for a full 40 seconds between knees, the Lions rushed the process. By the time they took the knee for the third time, 36 seconds were on the clock and the Bucs could’ve used their final timeout to force the Lions to attempt a 49-yard field goal.

FS Video

If the Lions missed the field goal attempt, the Bucs would’ve got the ball back and they would’ve had 30-odd seconds to conduct a 60-odd drive. However, the Buccaneers’ head coach never called a time and let the clock run down to zeros. Later, in the post-game press conference, Bowles implied the opportunity was not worth bothering with. 

They already had the field goal lined up, and there would’ve been about 12 seconds left on the clock to end the ball game. We weren’t going to come back from that.
Todd Bowles told the reporters

However, fans weren’t buying his reason. With a Conference championship game on the line, many believed that the Bucs should’ve forced to the Lions to try the field goal by using their timeout.

Social media bamboozled by the Buccaneers’ failing to call a timeout

NFL fans on social media couldn’t believe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t take a timeout during the final seconds of their loss against the Lions on Sunday.

Baker Mayfield C.J. Gardner-Johnson Lions Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield had a great year with the Bucs (Credits: Imago)

Some fans brewed some conspiracy theories that the game was scripted for a Lions victory, while others bashed Todd Bowles over his bizarre decision. Check out some of the reactions attached below.

Nonetheless, the Buccaneers have been officially eliminated from the postseason contention. Baker Mayfield exceeded everyone’s expectations in the 2023 season and will likely return to Tampa Bay on a multi-year deal.

As for the Lions, they have advanced to the third round of the postseason, where they will face the NFC West champions, the San Francisco 49ers, for the right to compete in the Super Bowl.

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