Self-inflicted wounds cost Buccaneers in loss to Cowboys

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers shot themselves in the foot in a painful loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Penalties, turnovers and missed opportunities doomed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Dallas Cowboys.

Tampa Bay would accumulate nine penalties, two turnovers and two failed red zone trips in a 27-20 loss to Dallas.

With just under eight minutes left in the 4th quarter, Tampa Bay was threatening. Jameis Winston drove the Bucs to the Cowboys goal line, needing only one yard to score six points.

A touchdown would have cut it to a one-score game.

What would the Buccaneers do? Let the play clock run out, resulting in a delay of game penalty. On the ensuing play, Winston would scramble just short of the first down marker. Turnover on downs.

Dirk Koetter didn’t see the clock winding down, Winston didn’t see it. The inexcusable error defined Tampa Bay’s season. The Bucs would always knock on the door but never get inside.

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Down 14 in the final period, the Bucs were able to cut the lead in half thanks to a Mike Evans touchdown with 2:05 left in the period. Evans ended his day with six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. He will need five yards next week to break the Buccaneers single-season receiving record.

Again, Tampa’s offense was able to put up some tremendous numbers. Winston threw for 336 yards and Adam Humphries caught 10 catches for 71 yards. But it was for naught, as they struggled to put points on the board.

Tampa Bay has had a healthy offensive line for the entire season, but they still play like one of the league’s worst units. Again, Tampa Bay had no semblance of a running game, and Winston was running for his life.

Barber rushed for just 43 yards on 17 carries. Barber has yet to put together strong performances in consecutive games. Without any room to operate up front, offensive coordinator Todd Monken stuck with the air attack.

Tampa Bay’s defense handled the Cowboys throughout most of the second half quarter, but the offense made another mistake. Bobo Wilson wasn’t able to catch the end around, and the Cowboys would recover the fumble at the Bucs 4-yard line.

To open the second half, the Bucs yet again drove well into Dallas territory, but a sack of Winston forced Santos to attempt a 52-yard field goal. He shanked it, and the Cowboys would answer with a field goal of their own.

Tampa Bay found some success in the second quarter, especially on defense. The Bucs bottled up Elliot in the first half.

The offense was finally able to put together a solid drive in response. Winston hit DeSean Jackson deep over the middle of the field to get the ball rolling. After some help from the refs and a great grab from Adam Humphries, Jacquizz Rodgers punched the ball in for his first touchdown of the season.

Right before halftime, Tampa Bay trailed 17-13.

The Bucs issues in the first quarter came down to discipline. Tampa Bay moved the ball inside the Dallas 40 three times in the period. The Bucs were only able to attempt a pair of field goals. The offensive line racked up four penalties to set the offense back.

On another drive, Randy Gregory crushed Winston, resulting in a fumble. Jaylon Smith took it to the house for a Cowboys touchdown. Quickly, Dallas took a double-digit lead in the first quarter.

The Bucs have one game left in the 2018 season. They will head back to Raymond James Stadium to close out the season against the Atlanta Falcons.