Baker Mayfield Criticizes Officials During and After Buccaneers’ Loss to Lions on ‘MNF’
Baker Mayfield didn’t mince words regarding the officiating during and after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ disheartening 24-9 defeat against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. The Buccaneers’ quarterback was visibly frustrated, engaging in a heated discussion with NFL official John Hussey following Tampa Bay’s final offensive drive. Mayfield later elaborated on his exchange with Hussey and shared his candid thoughts on the performance of the officiating crew throughout the game.
"A third down defensive holding call that wasn’t called, and also still pretty damn confused about the double review," Mayfield stated, holding nothing back. "A lot of things in that game that were a little questionable … I work my ass off, and I put a lot into this game, so when [calls are made] that I don’t think are deemed fair, I’m going to let somebody know."
The "double review" Mayfield alluded to occurred early in the fourth quarter. Mayfield completed a short four-yard pass to tight end Cade Otton on a crucial fourth-and-4 play. Initially, the officials upheld the ruling that Otton had secured the catch and the subsequent first down after the Lions challenged the play. However, in a perplexing turn of events, Hussey was summoned back to the monitor and ultimately reversed the call, granting possession to the Lions and reinstating Detroit’s timeout. This decision left many scratching their heads, as the initial ruling seemed to be supported by the available evidence.
This wasn’t the only overturned play involving Mayfield and Otton during the game. Late in the first half, officials overturned a three-yard completion to Otton, instead ruling that Mayfield’s pass had been intercepted by Arthur Maulet. This call also sparked debate, as the rule typically dictates that possession should be awarded to the offensive player in situations where possession is deemed 50-50.
While it’s undeniable that the Buccaneers found themselves on the unfavorable end of several close calls on Monday night, attributing the loss solely to officiating would be an oversimplification. The Lions demonstrated superior performance on both sides of the ball, particularly in the running game. Detroit amassed 164 rushing yards, with Jahmyr Gibbs leading the charge with 136 yards and two touchdowns. In stark contrast, the Buccaneers struggled to establish their ground game, managing only 41 rushing yards on 12 carries. This disparity in rushing performance contributed to the Buccaneers spending the majority of the game playing from behind, hindering their offensive rhythm.
Adding to the Buccaneers’ woes, they suffered a significant loss with wide receiver Mike Evans sustaining a broken collarbone during the second quarter. This injury is expected to sideline Evans for a significant portion of the remaining regular season games, further diminishing the team’s offensive firepower. Evans has been a consistent and reliable target for Mayfield throughout the season, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt.
The Buccaneers’ loss to the Lions was a culmination of factors, including questionable officiating, a dominant performance by the Lions’ rushing attack, and the unfortunate injury to Mike Evans. While Mayfield’s frustration with the officiating is understandable, it’s crucial for the Buccaneers to regroup, address their shortcomings, and focus on improving their performance in the remaining games of the season. They need to establish a more effective running game, minimize turnovers, and find ways to compensate for the loss of Evans. The road ahead will be challenging, but the Buccaneers have the talent and experience to overcome these obstacles and compete for a playoff berth. The coaching staff will need to make adjustments to the offensive strategy and identify players who can step up and fill the void left by Evans’ injury. The defense will also need to improve its ability to contain opposing running games and create more turnovers.
