Cowboys get short fields in 16-10 win over Bucs
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys finally had some short scoring drives, and needed them.
There also were a couple of extra kneel-downs by Romo before the Cowboys had secured a 16-10 victory Sunday in their home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Romo was unscathed on those extra snaps when the Bucs, a week after their big push against the New York Giants in their victory formation, used a pair of timeouts in the final 40 seconds after a failed onside kick attempt.
Players from both sides appeared were shaking hands both times new Tampa Bay coach Greg Schiano called timeout. The sidelines were emptying with 4 seconds left when there was an offside penalty called, though that ended the game.
The Cowboys (2-1) scored twice in the first half when starting in Tampa Bay territory after turnovers and overcame three turnovers by Romo — two of them on plays reversed by replay — with a suffocating defensive effort.
DeMarco Murray had an 11-yard TD run and Dan Bailey kicked field goals of 32, 26 and 22 yards for the Cowboys.
Tampa Bay (1-2) managed only 166 total yards, with two fumbles by quarterback Josh Freeman the Bucs managed to recover. One of those was on third down at their own 1, setting up Dez Bryant’s 45-punt return to the 6 that set up Bailey’s final field goal with 2:43 left in the game.
The Bucs got 70 of their yards after that, setting up Connor Barth’s 28-yard field goal before the final onside kick attempt.
Dallas hadn’t started a drive in the opponents’ territory this season until Sean Lee’s interception set them up at the 23 in the first quarter. That led to the tying touchdown by Murray.
A muffed punt recovered by Orie Lemon at the Bucs 39, with a 15-yard personal foul penalty tacked on, set up Bailey’s first field goal.
Schiano won two challenges on plays in the third quarter, though his team failed to take advantage after both resulted in turnovers by Romo. They punted both times.
Romo was in the grasp of Gerald McCoy with his right arm extended, when he flicked the ball forward in what was initially ruled an incomplete pass. Officials watched the replay and determined the ball was loose when Romo tried to push it out, and called it a fumble recovered by Gary Gibson at the 19.
The Bucs got to the Cowboys 42 before punting, but quickly got another chance after another challenge.
Michael Bennett, the younger brother of former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett, pushed around tight end Jason Witten and sacked Romo, knocking the ball loose. Officials blew the whistle and indicated Romo was down before Schiano threw his red challenge beanie again.
After the review, it was ruled a fumble recovered by Eric Wright at the Dallas 31. But an intentional grounding penalty and two incompletions led to another punt.
The Bucs had a quick 7-0 lead after Romo — who had 11 TDs with no interceptions his previous three games against them — was picked off by Aqib Talib on the fourth play of the game at the Cowboys 29.
That led to Freeman’s 1-yard TD pass to Luke Stocker.