DETROIT — The Detroit Lions (5-2) earned an important victory at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) Monday night at Ford Field. But late in the game and after the 24-9 result, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield took issue with how the game was officiated.
The Lions were the beneficiary of a strange double review following a challenge from coach Dan Campbell on a play that resulted in the Bucs turning the ball over on downs, after initially being ruled that Tampa Bay picked up a first down.
On the Bucs’ last drive, Mayfield also claimed that there was a missed defensive holding call that should’ve gone against the Lions.
All of those moments built up to Mayfield exchanging words with head referee John Hussey in a heated moment as he exited the field.
“Still pretty damn confused about the double review. A lot of things in that game that were a little questionable but a lot of frustration at the end of that, might be displaced on John Hussey in the moment,” Mayfield said postgame. “But I work my ass off and I put a lot into this game. So when things that I don’t see (as) being fair, I’m gonna let somebody know and that’s good, bad, indifferent.”
After the game, a pool report with NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth claimed it was an enhanced alternate view from a broadcast camera that prompted the second look and that Hussey had yet to see anything on the review monitor to that point due to issues with the referee’s official-to-official communication system.
Once he was brought back, the call on the field that Cade Otton had crossed the line to gain was reversed.
The situation drew ire from Mayfield and fans on social media that it appeared the Lions were getting help challenging for Otton not completing the catch — which was what was announced in the stadium — versus crossing the line to gain.
However, Butterworth said that Campbell challenged for the line to gain, while adding that even “when a team challenges or the replay official stops the game, by rule all reviewable aspects of the play are under review.”
“They seen another another view of it from a different angle and they came back and said it was short to gain,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said of the situation. “It was an interesting call after they made it, but at the same time, we got the ball back, so it didn’t cost us anything, but it did cost us time on the clock. But that didn’t win or lose the game.”
While it was certainly a crucial play in that it caused a turnover on downs, the game had long been in Detroit’s favor as the Lions never trailed during the matchup.
The Bucs only had 58 net yards of offense in the first half and struggled to every get in rhythm on offense. Extra look or not, the Lions had Tampa Bay’s number from early on and rode it to a big-time victory.
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