Winston’s 10-yard check-down pass to Martin got the Bucs a quick first down, and then a screen to Martin got 25 more thanks to three broken tackles down the left sideline. No National Football League team with this much talent should go 0-7, even without its star quarterback.
Advertisement
The team isn’t distracted, the head coach loves their fight and their spirit, and the starting quarterback returns next week. Beckham caught four passes for 104 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown reception. Dallas owner Jerry Jones said the skid hasn’t changed his mind about having Romo play as soon as next weekend. “It’s in our long-term best interest to go out there and try to win a ballgame”. The Cowboys recovered, but a holding penalty negated the play.
“I’m extremely excited to have him back, but at the same time we still have to get to work regardless”, Dez Bryant said. “How you address that loss”. Week 11 will find the Browns, Giants, Saints and Steelers all enjoying the final mid-season break, which means a lot of firepower will be missing, and you may have a chance to make low-ball offers to win-needy owners for the likes of Odell Beckham Jr., Mark Ingram, Drew Brees, Brandin Cooks, Antonio Brown, Ben Roethlisberger, DeAngelo Williams, Martavis Bryant and Gary Barnidge.
Heath had two interceptions of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston in the red zone to end scoring threats. Receiver Mike Evans, who dropped six passes in last week’s loss to the Giants, abused the Cowboys’ Morris Claiborne until the cornerback left the game with a hamstring injury.
“We believe in what we’re doing”, Smith said. “When you get a win, you have to enjoy it. We take the wins how we can get ’em”.
The Bucs (4-5) drove 56 yards in nine plays for the winning score.
Jameis Winston flipped toward the end zone with just over a minute to play, losing the ball mid air.
That’s because Cowboys safety Jeff Heath, who had intercepted Winston twice in the game, was called for holding receiver Russell Shepard on the play and the penalty gave the Bucs a first down at the 1-yard line.
“Oh, no”, Winston said. The Buccaneers picked up 174 of their 327 yards on their last three drives of the game (not including one final kneel-down after the McDougald interception). In the end, though, Dallas just didn’t make the plays at the end of the game.
“I forgot about that already”, Winston said. Definitely a disappointing loss. It was right there.
What they needed was a statement game from their defense after weeks of inconsistency and missed opportunities. The return of Bryant has forced more defenses to focus on him and allowed things to open up for the Cowboys’ other offensive weapons like Cole Beasley and Darren McFadden. “It can’t be that good…”
Advertisement
Jameis was asked about the fumble after the game, he replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about”. He will have an MRI exam Monday…. His 11-yard completion to rookie Donteea Dye was only surpassed by a twisting catch made by tight end Brandon Myers for 17 yards and a first down at the Dallas 16. It is their longest losing streak since 1989 and considering the controversy surrounding Greg Hardy as well as Dez’s childish outburst last week, few are feeling sorry for America’s Most Dysfunctional Team.
