NEW ORLEANS -- The play was over, and it appeared the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were forcing the New Orleans Saints to punt in overtime.

“I thought we were off the field," Tampa Bay cornerback Johnthan Banks said.

It sure looked that way. Drew Brees had just thrown a third-down incompletion to the right side of the field. But a flag came flying in from the left side -- the side where Banks was playing.

Banks was called for illegal hands to the face and that gave New Orleans a first down that helped set up the game-winning touchdown in the Saints' 37-31 victory Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

“I’ll have to go back and watch film," Banks said. “I don’t feel like I hit him in the face, but the ref made the call and you’ve got to live with it."

Banks was careful not to blame the loss on the officiating crew. So was coach Lovie Smith.

“They said hands to the face," Smith said. “Like every game, there are calls that go against you. I saw things differently on a few calls. In the end, they had the ball and we needed to make a stop. That’s what stands out in my mind."

Banks’ penalty was one of 15 committed by the Bucs for 113 yards. The offense also committed three penalties in a fourth-quarter series that ended up in a New Orleans safety.

“We had some [penalties] today that were pretty questionable," guard Logan Mankins said. “I’m not going to say anything bad about the referees but [if I do] I’ll get fined. Everyone is allowed to get criticized except for them, I guess. Other than that, I guess we’ve just got to try to stay away from situations like that where they can’t [not] throw a flag."