Todd Bowles Sends Message to Referees After Antoine Winfield Jr.’s “Robbed” Touchdown
Even after the win, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles made it clear he wasn’t pleased with everything that transpired during Sunday’s 23-3 win over the New Orleans Saints.
As Pro Football Network noted, his anger was directed towards the officials.
After the game, Bowles didn’t mince words when asked about a second-quarter play that wiped away what appeared to be a defensive touchdown by Antoine Winfield Jr.
“I’m still pissed off over some of it,” Bowles told reporters. “That’s tough sledding. He did a hell of a job today getting the ball out, and we’ve got to do something. We’ll discuss that with the league and go from there.”
The play in question saw Winfield make a textbook strip of Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, scoop the loose ball, and sprint into the end zone for a touchdown.
But before the All-Pro safety could celebrate, officials blew the play dead, ruling that Shaheed was down by contact, a decision Bowles says was later explained to him as an “erroneous whistle.”
“As soon as he hit him, he stripped him,” Bowles said. “So I got no answers for that.”
While the fumble counted and the Bucs still retained possession of the ball, the early whistle erased what would’ve been a momentum-shifting defensive touchdown.
Bowles Voices Frustration Over Controversial Ruling
The controversial sequence unfolded midway through the second quarter with Tampa Bay holding a 7-0 lead.
On a short pass over the middle, Shaheed was wrapped up by Winfield, who cleanly jarred the ball loose before the receiver hit the turf.
The fumble bounced forward, and Winfield scooped it up in stride, returning it 40 yards for a touchdown.
Instead, an official’s quick whistle stopped the play and by NFL rule, any play blown dead cannot be reviewed or overturned, even when the whistle is determined to have been in error.
Bowles made it clear he intends to follow up with the league office about the officiating crew’s explanation. “He said it was an erroneous whistle,” Bowles reiterated. “We’ll talk to the league about that.”
Bucs Defense Dominates
Even with the missed call, the Buccaneers’ defense made sure the outcome was never in doubt.
Tampa Bay held the Saints to just three points while also forcing four turnovers, including a pick six.
It was a dominant defensive performance from Bowles’ squad.
A big part of that success came from Winfield who continued his stellar play this season as he finished with six tackles, one forced fumble, and a pass breakup.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense did just enough to complement the unbelievable defensive performance.
For Bowles, the message was clear: while officiating errors happen, his team isn’t letting them become excuses. “We can’t control the whistle,” Bowles said. “We just have to keep playing football.”
Their dominant defensive effort lifted Tampa Bay to a 6-2 record and a two game lead in the NFC South.
The Buccaneers now enter their bye week sitting as the current No. 3 seed in the NFC.
Steelers Sign Aaron Rodgers’ Former WR
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers made sure they helped out quarterback Aaron Rodgers, giving him a wide reicever he has great rapport with.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported that the wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling plans to sign with the Steelers and reunite with Rodgers.
Steelers Host Marquez Valdes-Scantling for Workout
Valdes-Scantling worked out for the Steelers on Oct. 27, just a day after they lost 35-25 to the Packers at Acrisure Stadium in Week 8.
The workout went well, which allows Valdes-Scantling to join the Steelers and have a chance for more great moments with Rodgers.
Fowler reported that Valdes-Scantling will likely start on the practice squad and that it's not known when he'll join the Steelers, due to travel logistics.
Rodgers and Valdes-Scantling Share Great Connection
The Packers took Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round in the 2018 NFL Draft out of USF and he spent his first four seasons in the NFL catching passes from Rodgers.
Valdes-Scantling caught 123 passes for 2,153 yards, 17.5 average yards per reception, and 13 touchdowns during his time in Green Bay.
His best season with Rodgers came in 2020, starting 12 of 16 games and making 33 catches for 690 yards and six touchdowns, both career-highs. His 20.9 yards per reception led the NFL that season
Valdes-Scantling Moves around the NFL
Valdes-Scantling signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 24, 2022.
He spent two seasons with the Chiefs, making 63 catches for 1,002 yards, 15.9 yards per reception, and three touchdowns in 33 games.
Valdes-Scantling won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs, including catching a touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, a 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
His best season with the Chiefs and MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes came in 2022, where he made a career-high 42 catches for 687 yards, 16.4 yards per reception, and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs released him after the 2023 season and he spent 2024 with both the Buffalo Bills and the New Orleans Saints, playing in 14 games combined. He had 17 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns with the Saints in eight starts.
He signed with the 49ers practice squad on Aug. 27, but a calf injury landed him on injured reserve on Oct. 17 and the 49ers released him the day after.
How the Steelers Wide Receiver Corps Looks Now
The Steelers currently have six wide receivers on the 53-man active roster, which includes DK Metcalf, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, Ke'Shawn Williams and Roman Wilson.
Adding Valdes-Scantling gives them a veteran presence on a roster with either younger wide outs or older, but less productive ones.
It also allows Rodgers a wide receiver that he has worked with before, which should make for a more effective offense overall.
