Controversial call on Kellen Winslow not an excuse

TAMPA - TE Kellen Winslow and the Buccaneers thought they had a go-ahead touchdown six minutes into the fourth quarter until a yellow flag made them see red.

Winslow wasn't talking after the game, but not because he had no quarrel with the officials after a devastating 23-20 overtime setback to the Detroit Lions.

"I saw two guys locked up,'' QB Josh Freeman said. "I saw Kellen make a catch and obviously the refs saw something I didn't. That was a big moment in the game.''

Winslow and S C.C. Brown were locked up in the end zone on a third-and-goal snap from the 2-yard line. Brown never turned around as Freeman escaped pressure and lofted a completion to Winslow in the right corner for an apparent 21-17 advantage.

But officials ruled Winslow pushed off and the offensive pass interference penalty eventually forced Tampa Bay to settle for Connor Barth's tying field goal.

"It's up to the ref's discretion to make those calls,'' Bucs CB Ronde Barber said. "They were both jostling for it and it could have been a no-call. But those are excuses we won't live by.''

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(tbo.com)