Bucs overcome a dreadfully poor missed call to write their own ending in win over Texans
Tampa Bay got hosed on a crucial no-call, but they rose above it.
Sometimes missed calls happen. It’s easy to say calls, or missed calls, don’t affect the game, and that’s often true, but some are far more impactful than others.
One such officiating gaffe took place in a crucial moment of Tampa Bay’s 20-19 win over Houston on Monday night. The Bucs were leading 14-13 and were punting from their own 29-yard line. Riley Dixon got the ball away, and Texans punt returner Jaylin Noel fielded it at his own 21. He cut upfield and returned the punt 53 yards to the Bucs’ 26-yard line.
The only problem is that it shouldn’t have been allowed to happen.
The officials picked up a flag that should have been enforced for a clear block in the back on Bucs’ CB Josh Hayes
Houston CB Tremon Smith has his hands on the “2” of Hayes, jersey, and can be seen clearly extending his arms forward through Hayes’ back. The result was Hayes flying past the punter returner, which is exactly what the penalty is designed to punish.
It’s an amazing miss, particularly considering it happened right where the ball was. Instead of getting the ball at Bucs’ 26, Houston would have been back around their own 10-yard line, which would have put them in a tough spot for a potential game-winning drive.
Instead, Houston wasted little time getting into the end zone. After a one-yard gain, Nick Chubb busted through off tackle and rumbled 25 yards for the go ahead score with a little over 2 minutes remaining.
However, the Bucs managed to prove that “ball don’t lie” and wrote their own ending. Mayfield engineered an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was propelled by a Houdini-esque escape job and scramble for 12 yards on 4th and 10. Rachaad White bowled across the goal line with 6 seconds left to secure the win for Tampa Bay.
Bad calls happen, but it’s a shame when it contributes to a team losing a game. Fortunately for Tampa Bay, they didn’t let that happen on Monday.
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