After Monday night’s game, Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles cited several reasons for the decision to keep receiver Chris Godwin on the field in the final minute of what appeared to be a lost cause. The best – and really only – explanation should be this: Crazier things have happened.

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

Was it likely? No. It would have been a lightning-in-a-bottle scenario.

But lightning cannot hit the milk bottle unless the milk bottle is on the street.

And it’s no surprise that the Buccaneers refused to call out “Uncle.” During a divisional round loss to conclude the 2023 season, the Lions grossly disregarded time, giving the Bucs the opportunity to use remaining timeouts and hope for a missed field goal attempt (the drive began at Tampa’s 28 after an interception ). , to potentially score a touchdown and potentially force overtime with a two-point conversion.

Then the Bucs committed malpractice by not putting the milk bottle on the street. Last night a truck ran over the milk bottle due to the Godwin injury.

But that’s the real question that needs to be answered game by game, team by team. When should a game be conceded? When (if ever) should key players be removed from a game that has not yet been fully conceded?

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