At halftime against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4, it looked like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were dead in the water, down 24-6. But, the Bucs scored on their second possession of the third quarter to bring it to 24-13, and then forced an Eagles punt.
Momentum was starting to shift, until it swung the opposite way once again thanks to a Bucky Irving fumble on Tampa Bay's own 22 yard line. It was a total gut punch, but what's even worse is watching yet another angle of the so-called fumble.
Based on this angle, it absolutely looks as though Irving's shin was down before the ball came loose. It isn't normally called for to blame a third quarter decision by the refs, especially in a game that seemed so one-sided. But this one? Oh, it definitely had a major impact.
Buccaneers fans have every right to riot after seeing this alternate angle on the Bucky Irving fumble
The Eagles would take over with prime field position and, in classic Philly fashion, they went on to score thanks to a tush push. That score put the Eagles up 31-13.
Now, we don't know what the Buccaneers' drive would have amounted to had Irving not fumbled. But, after a massive 77-yard touchdown from Emeka Egbuka on the previous drive, momentum was certainly on their side. The Buccaneers finally shifted the energy in this game.
And just like that, it was taken away thanks to a missed call. That "fumble" is going to go down as a stain on an otherwise-ridiculous performance from Irving, too, who became the first Bucs player ever to have 50-plus rushing yards and 100-plus receiving yards in a game.
Irving was the best player on that side of the ball in this game, and because of one slip-up by an official, his big day was tainted.
Say what you want about the Bucs still needing to score twice prior to that fumble, but the defense did their job. Philadelphia didn't have a single passing yard in the entire second half. You're telling me Tampa Bay couldn't have won this game?
Oh, they most certainly could have, had it not been for that single play that swung all of the momentum back in favor of the Eagles.
Chalk this one down as a "character loss" if there ever was such a thing. Bucs fans can't feel too down about the loss. This one wasn't entirely on them.