The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped their second game of the 2025 season on Monday night, falling to the Detroit Lions. Throughout the game, several officiating decisions against Tampa Bay drew controversy.
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was among those frustrated with the refs and didn’t mince words about some of the calls after the game.
Baker Mayfield On the Officiating After Losing to the Lions
The Buccaneers’ offense struggled throughout the night against Detroit. Heading into the game, Mayfield had been playing like an MVP contender, but he couldn’t find his rhythm, completing 28 of 50 passes for 228 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
In addition to the team’s offensive issues, it often felt like the officiating was working against Tampa Bay. At a crucial point in the game, the officiating crew, led by John Hussey, double-reviewed a challenge that ultimately ended a pivotal Buccaneers drive, one that could have helped them get back in the game.
While Mayfield didn’t have his best night, he still felt Tampa Bay could have won if a few calls had gone their way. After the game, he voiced his frustration with the officiating, calling out Hussey and what he described as unfair officiating.
“Still pretty damn confused about the double review. A lot of things in that game that were a little questionable,” Mayfield said. “A lot of frustration at the end of that. It might be displaced onto John Hussey in the moment, but I work my A** off and I put a lot into this game so when things I don’t deem are fair I’m going to let somebody know.”
It’s hard to place all the blame on the refs for Tampa Bay’s loss Monday night. The Buccaneers simply didn’t play well, with their offense ranking 31st in the league in Week 7 according to PFSN’s OFFi metric.
With that kind of offensive performance, it’s tough to win any game, but Mayfield does have a point about the officiating down the stretch.
Had Hussey and his crew not overturned what was initially ruled an unsuccessful challenge by Detroit, the Buccaneers might have cut the Lions’ lead to one score with plenty of time left. Instead, the officials gave Detroit the ball in excellent field position, leading to a Lions field goal.
Still, the Buccaneers’ overall performance wasn’t good enough to win the game, and in the end, that blame can’t be placed on the officials. It’s understandable why Mayfield is upset, but Tampa Bay should move on from the loss and regroup for its Week 8 matchup against the Saints.
