The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could have actually gotten the ball back for one more shot against the Detroit Lions at the end of Sunday’s NFC divisional game, but head coach Todd Bowles did not bother using his final timeout to make it happen.
Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes intercepted Baker Mayfield with 1:33 left in the fourth quarter, but the Buccaneers did still have a timeout remaining. They held onto it initially, even when the Lions did not use the full 40-second play clock on their three kneeldowns. After Jared Goff’s final kneel-down to make it fourth down, there were still 36 seconds to go and the Buccaneers still had their timeout.
Had they used it, the Lions likely would have attempted a 49-yard field goal. If successful, it would have effectively ended the game. If not, the Buccaneers would have had about 30 seconds to go roughly 60 yards down by eight points.
After the game, however, coach Todd Bowles essentially said 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," Bowles explained. "We weren’t going to come back from that."
Bowles would have been correct about the lack of time had the Lions used the entire play clock on the final kneel-down, but for whatever reason, they did not. As shown on the TV broadcast, Goff’s final kneel came with about 37 seconds left and 14 seconds remaining on the play clock. Had Bowles called timeout at that moment, the Buccaneers would have had much more time than he suggested.
To be clear, a Buccaneer comeback was highly unlikely even with optimal game management. However, stranger things have happened and with a spot in the NFC Championship at stake, it is difficult to believe Bowles did not want to at least try for a miracle. It almost feels like he just assumed the Lions would manage the clock properly and checked out before it became apparent that they hadn’t.
Sunday’s game was not exactly a masterpiece in in-game management on either side, but the Lions prevailed on the day.
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