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The Tampa Bay Bucs-Detroit Lions ended in bizarre fashion due to some clock mismanagement by the Bucs.
While up 8 points on third down and with 35 seconds left on the clock, the Lions decided to kneel the ball on an early snap to run out the clock. Fans immediately noticed that the Bucs had a timeout remaining and could have stopped the clock which would forced the Lions to kick a 45-yard-field goal on 4th down.
This is the craziest thing I've ever seen in football. I don't know what's dumber. The Lions snap it early or the Bucs not using the last timeout to try to win the game. pic.twitter.com/pvVbe55gp7
— Adam Moelis (@adammoelis) January 21, 2024
This is one of the strangest things I’ve seen to end a game. The #Bucs not using their last timeout which could have forced a long fg with 35 seconds left. If he misses you have the ball at the 40 with 25-30 seconds left. #Lions pic.twitter.com/JO5DEb8R2z
— Eric Ristow (@ericristow) January 21, 2024
NFL fans were confused as to why the Bucs didn’t use their last time
“Why didn’t the Bucs call a timeout when the Lions took a knee on 3rd down with 35 seconds left? Who knows what could have happened? Lions would have had to kick a field goal. Maybe they miss or it’s blocked? Way crazier things have happened then driving the field in 30 seconds…” said one fan.
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
Why’d the Bucs eat their timeout??
— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) January 21, 2024
Here’s Todd Bowles’ explanation for not taking the timeout.
“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,”
Here’s Todd Bowles on why he didn’t call his last time out with 36 seconds left on Detroit’s 4th down kneel: pic.twitter.com/bzOZduSa2a
— River Wells (@riverhwells) January 21, 2024
Bucs fans were not happy with Bowles’ answer.
What a loser. Make them kick it. Maybe they miss it or you block it. Play to win.
— Ethan Greenberg (@TheEman22) January 21, 2024