Bucs Didn’t Use Final Timeout to Get Ball Back in Loss to Lions, and Fans Were Totally Baffled

NFL fans were bewildered when the Bucs decided not to use their last timeout at the end of the Lions game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles has some explaining to do.

In the Bucs’ 31–23 divisional round playoff loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Bowles had the opportunity to call a timeout at the end of the game and get the ball back for one more drive.

Baker Mayfield’s fourth-quarter interception still left 1:33 on the clock, which meant the Bucs could prevent the Lions from kneeling down to ice the game by using their third and final timeout.

When Jared Goff knelt for the third time, 36 seconds remained on the clock. Down one score, Tampa Bay could have called a timeout to force the Lions to either kick a field goal, punt or kneel again. If the Lions missed the 49-yard field goal, the Bucs would have gotten the ball back for a shot at a game-tying drive, perhaps a Hail Mary attempt.

Todd Bowles not using the Buccaneers’ final timeout versus the Lions puzzled many fans and media :: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

Bowles tried to justify his decision not to go for it in the postgame media session.

“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 said. “We weren’t going to come back from that.“

Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) disagreed.

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

Is NBC graphic wrong or did Bucs really have a timeout? Goff took 3rd down snap with more than 30 seconds left.

— Tim Cowlishaw (@TimCowlishaw) January 21, 2024

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...

— Nate Boyer (@NateBoyer37) January 21, 2024

Why’d the Bucs eat their timeout??

— Scott Hanson (@ScottHanson) January 21, 2024

Why did Todd Bowles end the game with a timeout in his pocket in a one-score game? If he called TO after third down ad Goff's third kneel down, about 28 seconds would have been on clock with ball at Bucs 30. That would have forced Dan Campbell to make a decision: kick FG, punt or…

— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) January 21, 2024

Why did the Bucs not call a timeout with 30 seconds left and make them kick the FG?

— TJ Pittinger (@TJ_Pittinger) January 21, 2024

Congratulations to the Lions! Also, I am absolutely baffled that Todd Bowles never used his last timeout...especially when the Lions were snapping the ball with plenty of time on the clock. The Bucs absolutely could have gotten the ball back and tried a Hail Mary.

— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) January 21, 2024

Why did Goff take the knees at 15 on the play clock?

Why didn’t Bowles call his timeout after the 3rd down knee with :36?

Why did the Bucs give up?

They could’ve forced the Lions into a 50-yd FG WITH :35 left and they just quit in a one possession game?

— Marc Carman (@MarcCarmanSr) January 21, 2024

Hello, one of the committee members checking in, am i crazy/bad at math or could the Bucs have forced the Lions to kick the ball back to them with about 30 seconds left? And they just, didnt take the timeout? I'll hang up and listen

— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) January 21, 2024