Bucs Notebook: Controversial call not an excuse

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.''

Hanging tough

After his second pro start, Bucs RG Derek Hardman was sore, bruised and rightfully proud after dealing with Ndamukong Suh for more than three hours.

With eight sacks, Suh is a prohibitive favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, but Hardman neutralized Detroit's dynamic tackle for most of the day.

"Obviously, he's one of the better players I've ever gone up against,'' Hardman said after limiting Suh to three tackles and zero sacks, despite receiving little help against the second pick in the 2010 draft. "It felt like a battle all day and I kept fighting.''

C Jeremy Zuttah provided a few double teams against Suh, who lined up over Hardman throughout the game.

"I thought Hardman did a good job,'' Zuttah said. "Suh's a tough guy to go up against and Hardman did well.''

Lee rolled ankle

Bucs RT James Lee left in the first half after rolling his ankle. After the game, Lee was able to walk out of the locker room without crutches but was unsure about the severity of the injury.

He will be examined by team doctors today.

"I kind of made the call (not to play) because I couldn't get the push I needed," Lee said. "I'll go in early in the morning and see how it goes."

Bucs a yard short again

Tampa Bay has struggled in short-yardage situations this season and faced difficulties again Sunday.

The Bucs had first-and-goal at Detroit's 1-yard line with 10:35 remaining but did not score a touchdown. Freeman was stopped for no gain and FB Earnest Graham lost a yard on second down. Winslow's TD reception for nullified for offensive pass interference, while Freeman's pass to WR Mike Williams was incomplete.

Tampa Bay settled for Barth's 30-yard field goal, but it marked another disappointing short-yardage effort.

"It was just a tough series, but this is the league," said Graham, recently named Tampa Bay's short-yardage back after LeGarrette Blount struggled. "Sometimes it goes that way. I wasn't able to see the replay of Kellen's catch, but he made an awesome play. They made plays. ... We've got to get in. You've got to be able to turn around and get six points and we didn't do that."

Extra points

Paid attendance for the blacked-out matchup was listed as 47,692. ... The Bucs had been 5-0 in games decided by three points or less. ... With his eighth touchdown catch, Williams passed Michael Clayton's single-season franchise record for rookie receivers, set in 2004. ... Third-round CB Myron Lewis opened Sunday's game, becoming the 10th different Bucs rookie to start this season. ... Detroit's Maurice Morris is the eighth player to rush for at least 100 yards against Tampa Bay this season.

Ira Kaufman, Anwar S. Richardson