After winning their first playoff game in 32 years, the Detroit Lions were back at Ford Field on Sunday for yet another home playoff game. And for how organized Dan Campbell’s staff has been this season, the second half saw a stunning miss from the team’s video crew.
With the Buccaneers driving late in the third quarter, Baker Mayfield was forced out of the pocket on second down and desperately tried to throw the ball away as he fell to the ground. The officials ruled that Mayfield was able to get the ball out in time (and avoid intentional grounding). But replays would clearly show that Mayfield’s leg was down with the ball still in his hand.
Was Baker down here before he got the ball off? #TBvsDET pic.twitter.com/wswln9GaGc
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) January 21, 2024
Given that a sack there would have forced the Bucs into third-and-long, this was an obvious challenge situation for the Lions. The Bucs didn’t even rush to the line to get a play off quickly, and the Lions players were signaling for a challenge upon seeing the replay on the videoboard. But for some reason, Campbell kept the red flag in his pocket.
The very next play, Rachaad White would score a touchdown.
BAKER TO WHITE. Bucs answer back to even the score.
📺: #TBvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38BNYS pic.twitter.com/rpFyHbMv6H— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
The Lions managed to respond with a touchdown on the following drive, but NFL fans were still stunned by the decision to not challenge. Those mistakes can’t happen.
Baker was down😳😳the Bucs didn’t even go quickly after the play either…the Lions had plenty of time to challenge that. How do they not buzz down to Campbell & tell him to challenge???
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) January 21, 2024
Big, big missed call by the refs/challenge opportunity by the Lions’ staff on that would’ve been Baker sack.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 21, 2024
HOW DO YOU NOT CHALLENGE THAT DAN CAMPBELL.
BAKER WAS DOWN. THAT WAS A SACK.
THAT IS ONE OF THE WORST MISSES IN HISTORY!
— THE PREMIUM (@gamblers_dream) January 21, 2024
How do you not challenge Baker’s knee being down?
— Tyler Buecher (@TylerBuecher) January 21, 2024
Lions blew that. Baker was sacked. You have got to challenge it. You cannot afford those kinds of errors in judgment.
— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) January 21, 2024
Baker was down here.
Lions don’t challenge.
Bucs score on the next play.
Missed opp by the Lions coaching staff.#TBvsDET pic.twitter.com/fPbQBrfJRM
— Mike McDaniel (@MikMcDaniel) January 21, 2024
LIONS DIDNT CHALLENGE THAT😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/dAA9PGjGLz
— Tommy G (@Tommygreturns2) January 21, 2024
Next season, the Lions *have* to get someone new to be the replay guy. We were burned with egregiously bad challenges earlier in the year, and that was a game turning lack of challenge there.
— Scott Warheit (@swarheit) January 21, 2024
Wow. Tie game 17-17 starting 4th. Another impressive TD drive by Baker after Lions passed on a chance to challenge on play before the score. Lions Gotta be on top of that. There is no more game if you lose today. Hate your postgame memory to be answering questions about it pic.twitter.com/8BdYrOVYTN
— Matt Stewart (@MattStewartTV) January 21, 2024
