Week 7's edition of Monday Night Football didn't quite go the way Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans had hoped it would. After a difficult first half, the Bucs showed a little sign of life late in the game. But, when the Detroit Lions got the ball back after a failed fourth down attempt by Tampa Bay, it was at that point that things started to look a bit one-sided.
The play which saw the Buccaneers turn the ball over on downs was as controversial as they come. Baker Mayfield hit tight end Cade Otton, who proceeded to launch himself toward the first down marker. As Otton stretched to try and move the chains, the ball came out, but it was still ruled a catch and a first down.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell ultimately challenged the actual catch itself, not the spot. Following the challenge, officials overturned the play -- except they didn't overturn the catch. Instead, the officiating crew overturned the spot of the ball, called it short and thus, the Bucs forfeited possession.
Todd Bowles was livid after the Bucs were on the losing end of a bizarrely-called challenge
After the ruling by the officials, head coach Todd Bowles was seen on the sideline, absolutely furious.
"THAT WASN'T THE CALL!" Bowles screamed.
Bowles was absolutely right. The Lions specifically challenged whether or not Otton caught the football.
Now, for those who might have been pointing out the fact that the Bucs recovered what would have been a fumble by Otton, here's the catch: on fourth downs, only the runner can advance a fumble. So, in a way, I suppose you could say Campbell was trying to make an all-encompassing challenge by going against the catch itself.
Had the pass been ruled incomplete, the Lions still get the ball. By the officials getting a second look at the fact that it was, indeed, a catch, they also had an opportunity to take a second look at the spot of the ball.
Fair or unfair, this is how it all ended up going in the Lions' favor. Even though Campbell challenged one thing, it was another aspect which bit the Buccaneers in the end, regardless.
From an objective fan's perspective, sure, this was worth a challenge. But, from Bowles and the Bucs' point of view, the officials found a way to hand this call to Detroit.