Buccaneers' Bowles Criticized for Not Using Final Timeout in NFC Divisional Game Against Lions

Despite Lions' Early Snaps, Bowles Chose Not to Prolong Game, Sparking Speculation of a Gentleman's Agreement Between the Longtime Colleagues

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has been criticized for not using his final timeout in the last 36 seconds of the NFC divisional game against the Lions, which could have given the Buccaneers another chance to tie the game.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted to not managing the clock well towards the end of the game, snapping the ball too early on multiple occasions.
Despite the Lions' mistakes, Bowles did not call a timeout, explaining that the Lions had a field goal lined up and there would have been about 12 seconds left on the clock, making a comeback unlikely.
Some speculate that Bowles was unaware that the Buccaneers had a timeout left due to a penalty earlier in the quarter.
Others suggest that there may have been a gentleman's agreement between Bowles and Campbell, both of whom have a long history together, to end the game without prolonging it with a timeout.