The Atlanta Falcons picked up a huge 36-30 win on Thursday Night Football over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but it didn’t come without controversy.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers picked off Kirk Cousins and had the opportunity to run out the clock and win the game. They handed the ball off to rookie Bucky Irving, who clearly had his facemask pulled by a Falcons defender.
No facemask penalty was called, instead the Bucs were called for holding. The penalty and no-call on the face-mask took the Buccaneers out of field goal range.
That missed facemask penalty was a massive no-call. Should’ve been offsetting penalties. Took the Bucs out of field goal range. Brutal.
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) October 4, 2024
absolutely clear & obvious but not flagged face mask
very well could be difference in the game
good job refs pic.twitter.com/255tHWWOfc
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 4, 2024
The Bucs ended up punting back to the Falcons, who went down the field and kicked a game-tying 47-yard field goal at the end of regulation. They received the ball first to start the overtime and Kirk Cousins led a game-winning drive capped off by a KhaDarel Hodge touchdown.
