Baker Mayfield threw up a prayer that just wasn’t answered because his receiver didn’t turn around in time.
The Buccaneers were down 24-18 in the closing seconds of their “Thursday Night Football” matchup with the Bills when Mayfield tried to go deep to pull off the win.
Mayfield managed to heave the ball from Tampa territory into the end zone, but the ball dropped to the turf with several players around it to end the game.
But another look at the play, from a different angle, appeared to show Bucs receiver Chris Godwin could have come up with the catch if he turned around in time to see the ball.
The 27-year-old wideout was nearly in perfect position to make the catch and turned just before the ball came into the frame.
However, Godwin didn’t locate the ball until it was too late, and he stretched out his right arm in a last-ditch effort to keep the ball from hitting the turf.
But alas, it fell to the end zone, and the game ended with Josh Allen and the Bills on top.
The Bucs were hoping to end the rut they’ve been in, as Thursday’s loss marked their third straight that dropped them to 3-4.
“We fought our tails off and we understand how hard we fought, but we keep making small mistakes that cost us the game,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “But I don’t believe for one bit that anybody in that locker room believes we can’t win ball games.”
Mayfield threw 25 completions for 237 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Buffalo.
One of those TD passes went to Godwin in the second quarter to tie the game at 10.
Godwin finished the night with five receptions for 54 yards and the touchdown.
— with AP