Conspiracy Theory

October 21st, 2025

“Remember boys, Roger told us not to help the Bucs.”

Last week on the road against the Chiefs, the Lions were royally hosed when the zebras got a call, per Lions coach Dan Campbell, from NFL HQ in New York.

The Lions had just scored a touchdown. But New York called and ordered the zebras to throw a flag on Jared Goff for illegal motion — after the touchdown was scored.

The trick: Illegal motion is not a reviewable play.

Then, to rub salt in the wound, the NFL told the Lions to knock off their ball-punching ways on defense.

Simply put, Campbell had his Lions enraged. As Joe suspected, the 1984 49ers could have walked into Ford Field last night and the Lions were going to win. It was their Super Bowl.

And just to make sure the NFL didn’t want to make it look like they stole a game from the Lions in Kansas City, conspiracy theorists are convinced the NFL had the zebras last night give Detroit the benefit of the doubt.

Well, the guy/girl/people behind the football-only Twitter feed @_MLFootball put together clips of very suspicious plays that went in favor of the Lions. Whomever is behind this account thinks the Bucs got jobbed last night.

The one play that frustrates Joe, and it apparently frustrated Baker Mayfield at the end of the game, was when Mayfield clearly was tripped. No flag.

Feel free to look at the first play in question below and be sure to click on the spool of thread graphic to watch all the plays @_MLFootball broke down.

47 Responses to “Conspiracy Theory”

  1. HC Grover Says:

    They just lost. Needed 30 got 9.

  2. dbbuc711 Says:

    I gave been saying that same thing, tonight was the makeup ge for last week.

  3. dbbuc711 Says:

    Game

  4. Jack Burton Mercer Says:

    Some suspicious calls sure. A few went our way but probably 2 to 1 for the lions.

  5. adam from ny Says:

    the game was over from the start…detroit brought a different energy…while we showed up and played like we could afford to drop a game before new orleans, and the bye

  6. Hodad Says:

    They can call down on motion by Geoff last week, but they can’t call down when Mayfield is tripped? You can’t pick, and choose. That’s the problem with these reviews from the unknown man in the booth. There was no clear interception on the Otton play. Ties forever have gone to the receiver, yet they saw what to change the call on the field? Same with the no first down by Otton. It was not 100 percent clear he didn’t get the first down. The nose of the ball looked like it made the line to me. Both plays should’ve stuck to the call on the field. Why have refs making calls at all?

  7. Old Florida is GOAT Says:

    If they play this team again they lose. Lions are a more physical team and clearly live rent free.
    RIP Doug Martin

  8. heyjude Says:

    Officiating last night was blatantly biased. They really wanted the Lions to win.

  9. Josh Says:

    I agree — when my dad (who’s a Chiefs fan) messaged me after the Otten stolen catch interception and said, “I’m sorry, the Lions got screwed by the refs last week, and now they’re getting their make-up game,” I knew I wasn’t crazy.

    That said, as much as I love Baker Mayfield, this is exactly what keeps him out of the Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes “best in the league” conversation. He seems to have a few of these kinds of games every year. I don’t know why, but it’s just true.

    Even with the refs clearly playing favorites and calling nothing, if Baker could have made just four or five slightly better throws, the Bucs still win anyway.

  10. Gipper Says:

    Missed the big PI on Mike Evan’s injury play. That no call was huge.

  11. Christina Bucsbabe Says:

    There were several times I could’ve jumped through the TV and choke someone, with that said we need help on the O line asap! The field was terrible btw

  12. Conte Piscatelli Says:

    The officiating was horrible, but it didn’t help that Baker was primarily Baker as well. He was off all game with his throws. Next game. Take care of the Taints next week and then get healthy over the bye.

  13. TBBucFan Says:

    Mike had both arms nearly pinned and still nearly caught the ball. PI for certain. Baker was leg whipped. How did the referee not make that call? Especially that referee. All in, highly questionable officiating last night. Detroit was certainly the better team but they were begging to keep the Bucs in the game. Officiating wasn’t going to allow it.

  14. UGotRobbed Says:

    Officiating is really bad this year, and I think it’s biased towards a handful of teams! But stop crying about it and go out and kick the players butt across from you, and then it won’t matter!
    Have to say, both teams played with the character of their head coaches last night…firery opposed docile!

  15. Lunchmeat Says:

    And then, to top it off, . . .
    With twenty seconds to play, the Lions punt. Our guy fair catches the ball with thirteen seconds on the clock. I thought that that clock was not supposed to start until the next snap, change of possession, right? Sure, it didn’t matter, and both teams were meeting at midfield, but I have seen referees order the teams back to their sidelines to run that one last play. Has the rule changed, or did that referee not know the rule?

  16. Vanessa Anne Says:

    I’ve resisted the whole conspiracy theory thing.

    I’m still resisting, but last night does make it a little more difficult.

    The idea that a couple hundred NFL corporate suits, 32 team owners, a few hundred coaches, 32 officiating crews and 1600+ players could all be in on such a grand scheme is a bit far-fetched to me.

    It’s possible, but with that many people there’s too much of a chance someone accidentally spills the beans, or just gets disgusted and spills them on purpose.

    Still…

    Baker clearly got tripped (almost), and a ref was right there.

    Cade had possession of that pass, and I thought the tie goes to the offense.

    Cade missed that first down by no more than a couple of inches in my book. That could have gone either way, and given how the Lions had already been gifted a first down or two…

    Mike’s pass was a completion. At least from what I saw on the replays.

    We still would have lost last night even if the refs got everything right and called everything fair and square. The Lions played a more aggressive, better game than we did.

    Makes you wonder…

  17. JustOneGame Says:

    The worst call was the missed pass interference on the play Evans was injured. The dude not only was face guarding (illegal in the NFL) but literally tackled Mike before the ball even arrived.

    As bad as the officiating was the Lions were the more physical and dominant team. Baker was off and missed several throws. You can’t afford to miss wide open guys when they’re only getting wide open every so often.

    Gotta figure out for the Saints game, head into the bye at 6-2 and hopefully get some guys back for the last half of the season. Go Bucs!

  18. Chuckys Bucs Says:

    Not the refs. Baker was off all night and the injuries and age showed.

  19. rrsrq Says:

    Since when does a tied up ball with receiver and defender go to the defense, receivers make one handed catches all the time. Then the awful first down taken away by Otton and why didn’t the Bucs go fast? Conspiracy, Baker didn’t even try to run at all during the game, that’s not Baker

  20. Roscoe Says:

    As I read the comments it appears to me that many are asleep at the wheel. Corruption and deception easily triumphs over the lack of knowledge. RG and the NFL and the broadcast networks are laughing at the know-nothings all the way to the bank. The only way to ever (if possible) return honesty and fairness to the game is to stop paying to be ripped off. Turn off the TV and turn on the radio. Get your news here at JBF. Let the empty seats and lower merchandise sales and decline in TV ratings speak for you. Make your views known on forums such as this. You better believe these comments get noticed. If you don’t think you have the power to change things just look at NASCAR’s latest changes. They even admitted to making mistakes. From my perch only the NHL appears to remain true to the fans and game. The NFL OPENLY promotes gambling and the gullible beg for more. The evidence is right before your eyes. Complaints are seen and heard from all corners but the fanatics keep paying and watching.

  21. Miller5252 Says:

    They just didn’t show up again on a night game in prime time. I keep reading the D did their job and it was the offense that was to blame. Gibs had 215 all purpose yards and St. Brown had almost 80 yards receiving in the first 3 drives. The only D that really showed up was Detroit and they held a team to 9 points that has averaged 29 a game. The Bucs better pull it together to beat the Saints or it’s going to be one long week off. Come on Bowles, get this team to show up when it matters.

  22. Aaron Says:

    With everything that happened if Baker just hits a wide open Tez Johnson for a TD it’s a 1 score game with 5min to play.

    In any case, the Lions are very good regular season football team. I wish our team could play with that energy and be that physical. Hat tip to the better team – onward and upwards.

    Go Bucs!!!

  23. St.Pete Salty Buc Says:

    Mayfield cryed about the tripping, the field goal and over and under threw guys all night. This one is on MVP front runner Mayfield and the atrocious run defense. Our main strengths became our weakness last night. The BUCS got beat from beginning to end! Move on to New Orleans and let’s be 6-2 at the bye. GO BUCS! Heal up Big Mike. 👍

  24. Paratrooper Buc Says:

    Play so good that you win, regardless of the refs. Yes the refs made calls for the Lions or didn’t make calls that would help us, you still got to play better than the refs influence on the game.

  25. Alanbucsfan Says:

    When did Dan Campbell become a replay official?

  26. Tucker Says:

    Definitely were some bad calls but Baker missed a lot of plays almost looked like they dont practice timing was off for sure

  27. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I haven’t seen such blatant crooked calls since we were in the NFC North playing the Packers. Actually, last night was worse.

  28. 813bucboi Says:

    yeah refs were horrible last night….

    on to the next one!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!

  29. Ha-Ha-Ha Says:

    Denver it was the reason I voted no in the “will the Bucs win” poll.

  30. Bosch Says:

    Poor quality and biased officiating is a serious drag on the quality of the NFL product.

  31. Buckit Says:

    Turns out Vegas was right.

  32. Billy Bucco Says:

    Honestly, couple the officiating with the uptick in injuries and it’s just a bad product.
    I have no desire to even watch.
    Someway, somehow, I hope the NFL gets what is coming there way eventually.
    They have a license to print money and they can’t get it right.
    Infuriating.

  33. orlbucfan Says:

    I didn’t listen to the game last night. Bucs Radio was broadcasting it (for a welcomed change). Good comment, @Roscoe. I agree 100%. The Detroit Lions are one of the ‘original 12’ teams that served as the base of the developing NFL. They have NEVER been in a SB. Yeah, you read that right. Bucs are a much, much younger franchise, and have already won the 2 SBs they were in. This will most likely be Motown’s year. I’m always howling about the refs; but the injuries, a greenhorn OC (4th in 5 seasons), and an off-night for Bake all contributed. I’m really sorry to hear about Big ME13’s injuries; and of course, it sounds like a zeb’s nose was stuck in it. EE2 also played like the rookie he is. We’re going to lose some games. So, Bucs will regroup and NOLA better look out. What’s wrong with 6-2 going into the much-needed Bye Week?

  34. Mobucs Says:

    Conspiracy is one thing; collusion, another. Collusion requires no grand scheme or even communication; it simply means “playing together.” It may acquire a pattern, but it’s just when a particular outcome is advantageous to several independent actors. In Monday Night Football, broadcasters, advertisers, the league, and others all benefit when the stadium fans are all frenzied and delirious.
    Great TV! The excitement is contagious to all media folk. And what is more exhilarating to the home fans than having a power from on high reverse a judgment to their great advantage? When else will the average guys is striped suits receive a standing ovation from a packed house?

  35. Oscar Says:

    Josh, what kind of game did Josh Allen just have against the Falcons! I bet you didn’t even see that whole game.

  36. Josh Says:

    Oscar, it’s called consistency. Josh Allen had a bad game, but he still won MVP last year. Mahomes—you didn’t even have the cahones to comment on his multiple rings. Baker Mayfield does this every year—look it up. There’s literally a cycle of Baker Mayfield memes, bro.

    I love Baker; he’s my favorite QB and was when he was with the Browns. I respect a gunslinger like Favre, but unfortunately, Baker does this crap every single year.

  37. El hefe Says:

    The Play where Dean was 5 yards off maybe 10 yards off and then the receiver just ran into him. Yeah that seems like one of the flags that they shouldn’t have thrown. Now that we talking about it the mike catch that he got injured on no flag tf baker being tripped no flag face mask of baker being pulled no flag every time Dan Campbell call to the refs their decision went the opposite way. Cade got robbed twice.

  38. Aqualung Says:

    9 points. Wasn’t going to be any different.

  39. gp Says:

    Seems a little ironic that the Lions fans were chanting “refs you suck” in the middle of the game, don’t you think?

    I’ve said it several times before. I’ve been watching for going on 50 years now, and I can count the ‘FAIRLY’ called games with fingers left over!
    I can’t say that the Bucs are completely singled out but, that’s over 750 games and less than ten that I could (with generosity to the refs) say that were fairly called.
    There is ABSOLUTELY a bias against the Bucs within the officiating community.
    Whether the officials are making money on it or not, the “gambling” community is quite aware of it.

  40. gp Says:

    ***Well, the guy/girl/people behind the football-only Twitter feed @_MLFootball put together clips of very suspicious plays that went in favor of the Lions.
    *****************************************************************
    I clicked the link and the only “Bucs” clip was of EE kneeling next to Mike after his injury. You seemed to infer that there was a collection of bad calls, was it scrubbed?

  41. Roscoe Says:

    orlbucfan Says:
    October 21st, 2025 at 9:27 am ;The Detroit Lions are one of the ‘original 12’ teams that served as the base of the developing NFL. They have NEVER been in a SB.
    ^^^^^
    Good point. And don’t overlook the grand scheme of things and the state of Michigan.

    Just like NASCAR and “green, white, checkers”. If it’s not your turn to win they just extend the race.

    How convenient for TB12 to show up in Tampa, of all places, and win his 7th ring during the pandemonium of the pandemic.

    Do we think Roger will let the Bucs have another SB anytime soon ?

  42. mg Says:

    Vegas bookmakers will start having an over/under line on how many phone calls from New York happen per game.

  43. nate1976 Says:

    don’t get me wrong clearly the lions were the beater team last night with that being . baker being tripped ,defender draped all over Evans before the ball got there Otton not giving the tie on the catch and after second look call clearly terrible officiating Todd needs to complain an accept the fine but he won’t he’ll just accept it no fight thats why i’m so proud of Mayfield to call it out

  44. gp Says:

    @ nate
    The Glazers need to send a very public complaint to Goodell and all the NFL suits.
    The refs, and the NFL need to be publicly embarrassed.

  45. Roscoe Says:

    gp Says:
    October 21st, 2025 at 3:10 pm
    @ nate
    The Glazers need to send a very public complaint to Goodell and all the NFL suits.
    The refs, and the NFL need to be publicly embarrassed.
    ^^^^^
    You’re missing the point gp. The Glazers may or may not have an opinion to express. They are part of the system. I suspect that regardless of their views of the problem such a very public complaint would lead to holes in the pirate ship hull.

  46. gp Says:

    Roscoe
    There is a reason that I don’t place bets(or buy NFL or Nike logo’d gear) and it falls squarely on the fact that the refs ‘fix’ games.
    I guess big money(not I) doesn’t give a damn about the fans.
    Making a very public noise about it ‘might’ get someone else’s attention though.
    Fraud is fraud.

  47. Roscoe Says:

    gp…. I fully agree. The only way this situation will change is if the NFL and teams begin to lose big money by way of decreased ticket and merchandise sales, the TV ratings fall, and public discourse during events with team owners, officials and players. A drop in Nike stocks and earnings would also help. Big money certainly knows how to take advantage of the less informed. They are working a con on those that can least afford to lose any money and prying it away from those with expendable income by offering the “benefits” of status and perception.

 

Leave a Reply