It’s time for PewterReport.com’s 2-Point Conversion post-game column, which features two statements, two questions and two predictions based on the latest Bucs game. On Sunday, Tampa Bay had to battle the Saints – and the refs – in New Orleans and came out on the losing end, 31-24. Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans and the NFL’s leading sacker, Shaquil Barrett, were no-shows and Tampa Bay’s defense couldn’t stop Teddy Bridgewater and Michael Thomas, as the Bucs fell to 2-3 while the Saints improved to 3-1.
2 BIG STATEMENTS
STATEMENT 1: Refs Screw Bucs In Loss To Saints
It’s one thing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to have to beat the New Orleans Saints on the road in a pivotal NFC South game. It’s another thing for the Bucs to have to beat the referees, too.
On Sunday, the refs – with some horrible calls – and the Saints ganged up to beat the Bucs.
In the first half, the officials blew an obvious recovery by tight end Antony Auclair on a fumble on a Saints punt return. The officials said there was not a clear recovery, but replays showed that Auclair was not only the first player to pounce on the loose ball, but also the one to emerge from the pile with it. Bruce Arians challenged the play, but the call on the field stood, which upset the Bucs head coach.
“Didn’t it? That looked pretty good, didn’t it?” Arians said of Auclair’s fumble recovery. “[The ref said] it was a non-clear recovery. Baffling.
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