Todd Bowles looking on during game (left). Chris Godwin being carted off (right).Todd Bowles and Chris Godwin (Photos by Getty Images)
NFL fans are ripping on Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles for playing star wide receiver Chris Godwin in garbage time before the latter suffered a gruesome ankle injury in Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Todd Bowles opted to keep his starters on offense out with 1:34 remaining and his team down 41-31. Baker Mayfield completed a 21-yard pass to Godwin at the Tampa 39, who unfortunately suffered a horrific ankle injury on the play.

The 28-year-old Godwin was down for several minutes and had to be carted off. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bowles said after the game that Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle.

The Bucs also lost fellow superstar wideout Mike Evans in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Evans suffered the injury as he was falling to the ground after Mayfield missed him on a pass to the end zone.

Todd Bowles received immense criticism from fans for keeping Godwin in the game late, even though the Ravens had the game in the bag:

 

Todd Bowles received immense criticism from fans for keeping Godwin in the game late, even though the Ravens had the contest in the bag:

Godwin is the Buccaneers’ leading receiver with 50 receptions for 576 yards and five touchdowns. The Super Bowl 55 champion is in his contract year and could hit free agency for the first time in his career next March, so there’s a real possibility that he has already played his last game with Tampa.

Playoff Hopes For Todd Bowles & Buccaneers Now In Jeopardy

With Godwin and Evans injured, the Bucs’ playoff hopes suddenly took a significant blow. As good as Mayfield has been in Tampa, almost no QB can get through a tough schedule like the Bucs’ without their two superstar wide receivers.

If Tampa Bay loses to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Kirk Cousins’ squad will have swept the season series. And with a rash of injuries to go along with their miserable schedule, it’d be hard for the Bucs to sneak into the postseason.

VIDEOS: Fans Are Accusing The NFL Refs Of “Rigging” Ravens-Bucs MNF Game After Two Sketchy Calls Make It Clear Which Outcome They Prefer

Referee from Bucs-Ravens game.Referee from Bucs-Ravens game. (Photos via ESPN)
Football fans are teeing off on the NFL refs and accusing them of “rigging” the Baltimore Ravens-Tampa Bay Buccaneers after making two head-scratching calls that took touchdowns off the board for both clubs.

The first questionable by the NFL refs today took place in the first quarter, when Baker Mayfield’s touchdown strike to Chris Godwin was called back by a holding penalty on All-Pro offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs Jr:

That took seven off the board and forced the Buccaneers to settle for a field goal, taking a 10-0 lead instead of a more significant 14-0 lead.

The second controversial call by the NFL refs in this contest came in the second quarter, when Daniel Faalele was flagged for holding to take a Lamar Jackson rushing touchdown off the board:

 

Those two questionable calls have fans convinced that the refs are “rigging” the over/under for, which was set at 50.5:

The good news for the Ravens is that the questionable call against Faalele did no damage, as Justice Hill scored on an 18-yard touchdown reception anyway.

NFL Refs Were Flag-Happy In First Half Of Bucs vs. Ravens

Well, let’s just say that fans who are part of the “Let them play” crowd won’t be pleased with head official Alex Kemp and his crew tonight. A total of nine penalties (six against Baltimore, three against Tampa) were called for 90 yards over the first 30 minutes.