Bucs timeout controversy had very reasonable explanation

By not using his timeout after the first kneeldown, Bowles was letting the Lions know he had conceded. Bowles even said after the game that Detroit already had a fairly easy field goal lined up, so he did not think using the timeout for the potential of getting the ball back with a few seconds left in the game was worthwhile.

The argument against Bowles’ decision is that the Bucs could have stopped the clock with around 10 seconds left on fourth down even if the Lions took a knee three times. That simplifies things way too much. Had the Bucs used their timeout after the Lions kneeled on first down, Detroit probably then would have kneeled again or run a couple of safe plays. Each play would have taken a few seconds, plus the Lions would have been able to use the full 40-second play clock each time.

Many fans wanted to crucify Bowles for not using the timeout, but there’s a good chance the Bucs would not have gotten the ball back even if he did. Dan Campbell was also questioned for having Goff kneel with so much time left when the Buccaneers still had a timeout, but it was understood that Bowles had conceded. People can say what they like about the optics of Bowles conceding a game his team still had a slim chance at competing in, but the whole situation was completely overblown.