Following the Detroit Lions’ commanding 24–9 Monday Night Football win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, social media quickly erupted with familiar debates about officiating. Some fans claimed the referees favored Detroit — a notion head coach Dan Campbell quickly shut down.
“Every time we win, people say the refs helped us,” Campbell said after the game. “Maybe they didn’t even watch it. We don’t need favoritism to win — saying that ignores the effort this group puts in. Those calls weren’t favoritism; they were 50–50 moments, and we were just the team that executed better.”
Ironically, several crucial plays actually went against Detroit, suggesting that if anything, the officiating leaned toward Tampa Bay. The Lions overcame four controversial calls that could have changed the game’s momentum — yet still dominated from start to finish.
One notable moment came late in the third quarter when Aidan Hutchinson was blatantly held by Tristan Wirfs on a critical third down, but no flag was thrown, allowing Tampa Bay to convert and eventually kick a field goal. In the fourth, a botched spot and delayed whistle on a Baker Mayfield scramble gifted the Bucs an undeserved first down until Campbell’s challenge overturned it — a sequence that left fans frustrated and questioning consistency from the officiating crew.
Despite the adversity, the Lions never wavered. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs exploded for a career-best 218 total yards and two touchdowns, while Detroit’s defense suffocated Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ offense — limiting them to just 252 total yards and no touchdowns.
Mike Evans’ early exit with a hamstring injury further crippled Tampa Bay’s attack, forcing them to settle for field goals on all scoring drives.
The victory lifted both teams to 5–2, but Detroit’s triumph stood out — not just for the margin, but for the resilience shown amid questionable officiating.
On social media, fans echoed Campbell’s frustration, blasting the “lopsided reffing favoring the Bucs” and chanting “Ref, you suck” inside Ford Field. Others applauded the Lions for maintaining composure and proving their championship mettle through adversity.
With this win, the Lions strengthened their hold atop the NFC North, reaffirming their identity as a team built on toughness, execution, and belief — not on favorable whistles.
And to any lingering critics, Dan Campbell’s message was loud and clear:
“We don’t need help from anyone. We earn everything we get.”
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