Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t hold back in his criticism of the NFL refs after Monday night’s loss to the Detroit Lions, and a fine is certainly on the way.

It was an all-around frustrating loss for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs on Monday night. Not only did they fall 24-9 in a sloppy game to a top conference rival, but superstar wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a fractured collarbone that could sideline him for the rest of the season.

The Buccaneers were also on the wrong end of a questionable call that came at a pivotal time in the fourth quarter. Facing a 4th-and-4 situation at their own 37-yard line, Baker Mayfield found Cade Otton for what appeared to be a first down.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell challenged the call, but the officials initially announced that the first down was upheld. However, the refs conducted a second review and determined Otton was short of the first down, giving Detroit the ball in Tampa territory.

The ruling essentially ended Tampa Bay’s hopes of a comeback, as the Lions tacked on another field goal to extend their lead to 15. No more points were scored as Detroit put the clamps on Baker Mayfield and the Bucs en route to a 24-19 victory.

Baker Mayfield Calls Out NFL Refs After Loss

Baker Mayfield (Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Speaking to reporters after the game, Baker Mayfield didn’t hide his thoughts on the officiating in the loss to Detroit, per Fox Sports’ Greg Auman:

“Third-down defensive holding call that wasn’t called, also still pretty damn confused about the double review. A lot of things in that game that were a little questionable. Lot of frustration at the end of that, might be displaced onto John Hussey in the moment. I work my a*s off and put a lot into this game, so when things that I don’t see (as) fair, I’m going to let somebody know.”

The video of Mayfield’s post-game comments can be seen below:

You may recall that Mayfield was fined $12,500 for criticizing the officials after his Cleveland Browns fell to the Seattle Seahawks in an Oct. 2019 home game. However, his fine was dropped following a successful appeal.

The NFL rules ban players from insulting, threatening or publicly criticing officials. Denver Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw was hit with a one-game suspension for his comments toward referee Brad Allen after Sunday’s win against the Denver Broncos.

Mayfield won’t get suspended, but a fine is sure to come following vocal comments about John Hussey and his crew’s performance on Monday night.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.