NFL Exec Explains Why Buccaneers-Lions Replay Was Overturned After ‘Second Look’

There was a strange moment during the Detroit Lions’ 24-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday in which officials initially ruled Cade Otton picked up a first down only for them to change their mind with a “second look.”Â

NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth explained to a pool reporter after the game that “an enhanced view on the broadcast camera” is why the call was changed.

“We did look at the spot,” he said. “We were trying to mirror angles together. Later in the process we received an enhanced view from broadcast that showed that when the knee was down, the ball was short of the line to gain. We were having issues with the referee’s O2O (official-to-official communication system), which is why he was brought back to the monitor.”

It was a key moment in the fourth quarter considering it was a fourth-down attempt for Tampa Bay facing a 21-9 deficit.

Had it been ruled a first down, Baker Mayfield and Co. would have been near midfield with a chance to cut the lead to a single score. However, the Lions parlayed the short field after the fourth–down stop into a field goal to extend the lead to 15.

Those were the final points of the game.

It was a frustrating moment in a frustrating game for the Buccaneers. Not only did they lose, but the offense failed to establish a rhythm throughout the contest in front of a raucous Detroit crowd.

What’s more, star wide receiver Mike Evans also suffered a broken collarbone, which head coach Todd Bowles told reporters will sideline him for the majority of the season.

Mayfield was also upset with the officiating.

“Third-down defensive holding call that wasn’t called, also still pretty damn confused about the double review,” he told reporters. “A lot of things in that game that were a little questionable. Lot of frustration at the end of that, might be displaced onto John Hussey in the moment. I work my ass off and put a lot into this game, so when things that I don’t see (as) fair, I’m going to let somebody know.”

Tampa Bay is still 5-2 on the season and in a solid position to make the playoffs, but Monday’s contest was a costly one.

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