On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions had a chance to tie the game, but Baker Mayfield’s interception on the drive’s second play sealed the victory.
Though a miracle to score a touchdown that required a successful two-point conversion would have been required, the Bucs might have had another opportunity if head coach Todd Bowles had called his final timeout as the Lions attempted to kneel out of the game.
Ford Field erupted in excitement when Detroit’s Derrick Barnes caught the interception, knowing that the Lions could simply run out the clock. But with 36 seconds remaining, quarterback Jared Goff snapped the ball on third-and-12.
When Goff finally snapped, there were plenty of seconds remaining on the play clock, so he didn’t have to. The Lions would have had to attempt a long field goal if the Bucs had used their last timeout.
What might have happened if the field goal had been made? The Bucs had one more opportunity to tie the game, but it could have been blocked or missed as well.
No matter how unlikely, it must happen in the playoffs.
However, because the Bucs entered the field to exchange pleasantries, we will never know what might have happened before the Lions advanced to the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.
After the game, Bowles gave an explanation of his decision to forgo 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,” he stated. “We weren’t going to survive that. No use in elaborating on what is obvious.”
