Did the failure to use timeouts in Detroit make the Bucs less inclined to concede against the Ravens?

After Monday night’s game, Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles offered several reasons for the decision to have wide receiver Chris Godwin still on the field during the final minute of a seemingly lost cause. The best – and, in fact, the only – explanation should be this: crazier things have happened.

The Bucs were down 10 points. A touchdown, a successful onside kick and a long completion could have set the stage for overtime.

Would it be likely? No. It would have been a lightning-in-a-mile scenario.

But lightning can’t hit the milk bottle unless it’s on the street.

And it’s no surprise the Buccaneers refuse to shout “uncle.” During a divisional round loss to end the 2023 season, the Lions mismanaged the clock, opening the door for the Bucs to use remaining timeouts in hopes of a missed field goal attempt (the drive started at Tampa’s 28, after an interception), to potentially score a touchdown and perhaps force overtime with a two-point conversion.

So the Bucs committed negligence by not putting the milk bottle out on the street. Last night, a truck ran over the milk bottle, courtesy of Godwin’s injury.

But that’s the real question, which needs to be answered game by game, team by team. When should a game be awarded? When (if ever) should key players be removed from a game that hasn’t completely conceded?

In January, against the Lions, the Bucs were very passive. Last night they were very aggressive. Still, it’s much easier to defend last night’s decision-making.