The most talked about moment following the Bucs’ 21-15 win over the Falcons was a late game penalty that sealed the game for Tampa Bay.

With 3:03 remaining in the game and the Bucs looking to close it out by converting a third-and-5 from the Falcons’ 47, Tom Brady was sacked by Grady Jarrett that presumably would’ve ended the drive. However, Jarrett was penalized for roughing the passer as he twisted and spun Brady to the ground.

In full transparency, it was a bad call by the referees. I’m not sure what else Jarrett could do there. It was a pivotal and deciding moment in the game as Atlanta had no more timeouts left. If the sack counted, the Bucs punt and the Falcons get the ball with more than two minutes to try and score a touchdown to win the game. But because of the penalty, the Bucs got an automatic first down and were able to run out the clock.

Bucs Lucked Out With Call

It was a very controversial penalty that caught the attention of everyone around the NFL for multiple reasons. One, because it was a bad call overall.

Two, because the Falcons should have been called for a pass interference on a throw to Scotty Miller just one play earlier, which would have never put the Bucs in that third down situation.

*Another note – go back two plays, the Bucs got another first down after a third down incompletion where Falcons corner A.J. Terrell was flagged for holding Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin. Looking at the replay, there wasn’t too much to see.

And finally, because a recent hit to Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovalioa on Thursday Night Football in Week 4 has caused for widespread discussion about concussion protocol and hits around the league.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Did the Bucs get the roughing the passer call because Brady is their quarterback? Todd Bowles answered it after the game.

“I don’t know. I saw that one being called,” Bowles said. “I saw it against Tua [Tagovailoa] when he got hit, and in the London game (Giants vs. Packers) this morning. I think they are starting to crack down on some of the things, slinging backs. I don’t know. Right now, the way they are calling [it], I think a lot of people would’ve gotten that call.”

Hit On Tua Possibly Has A Role In Bucs Game

The hit to Tagovalioa was a scary moment that everyone has seen by now. The Dolphins quarterback was sacked, and then was not able to move his arms as his fingers stayed in a crooked place. He was taken off in a stretcher and brought to a nearby hospital. Thankfully, he was able to fly home with the team.

That moment was even more publicized because Tagovalioa took a hit in the Dolphins’ previous game where he stumbled and had difficulty walking. The Dolphins said he had a back issue and was cleared by independent doctors even with much criticism over the process of how he was evaluated.

As the league looks into hits on the quarterback and concussion protocol in general, one could make the case that the NFL is putting an emphasis on officials to call lighter hits to passers as an overcorrection for the previous mistake of keeping Tagovalioa in the game.

“No, league safety is at an all-time high, as it should be,” Bowles said. “Anything close, we understand going into the ball game they’re going to call it.”

Brady was in the ear of the referees for most of the afternoon. That’s not out of the usual for any quarterback, though. Following the game, Brady spoke briefly about the big play that ultimately decided the game, saying it wasn’t his decision to make.

“I don’t throw the flags,” Brady said.

And he probably won’t expand much further than this comment.

One could say that the Bucs got away with one there. But once again, if the play on Miller gets called, it’s a different story. All that will say in the record books is that the Bucs beat the Falcons, 21-15, and have a 3-2 record with a 2-0 record atop the NFC South division.