Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21 Dallas Cowboys 34Sunday 13 September 2009 at Raymond James StadiumFOX COMMENTARY CREWKenny Albert and Darryl Johnston
Raheem Morris’ coaching career got off to a disappointing start as the Bucs were comfortably defeated in their home surroundings albeit with a ton of noisy Cowboy fans in the stands. The Bucs managed to mis-fire on two fieldgoal attempts by new kicker Mike Nugent, conceed a costly running-into-the-punter penalty and also give up three long touchdown passes to Tony Romo. Byron Leftwich made his first start at quarterback and played without committing a turnover although many of his yards came when the game was long since decided. But Sabby Piscitelli’s inoportune moments to commit penalties or give up big plays proved to be the turning points in this season opener and the young 2009 Bucs began the year with a loss.
GAME SCORINGDAL 9:35-1QFolk FG51DAL 1:22-1QFolk FG21TB 10:19-2QWilliams 1 run (Nugent kick)DAL0:46-2QAustin 42 pass from Romo (Folk kick)DAL11:23-3QWilliams 66 pass from Romo (Folk kick)TB13:45-4Q Ward 1 run (Nugent kick)DAL12:43-4QCrayton 80 pass from Romo (Folk kick)DAL3:57-4QBarber 6 run (Folk kick)TB1:28-4Q Winslow 2 pass from Leftwich (Nugent kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICSRUSHINGBUCS: Williams 13-97, Ward 12-62, Winslow 1-7, Smith 1-4, Leftwich 3-3, Graham 1-1.COWBOYS: Barber 14-79, Jones 6-22, Choice 2-10, Crayton 1-5, Romo 1-2.PASSINGBUCS: Leftwich 41-25-276-0-1, Clayton 1-0-0-0-0.COWBOYS: Romo 27-16-353-0-3.RECEIVINGBUCS: Clayton 5-93, Winslow 5-30, Stevens 4-41, Stroughter 3-25, Bryant 2-29, Ward 2-21, Clark 1-17, Stroughter 1-13, Askew 1-4, Smith 1-3.COWBOYS: Witten 5-71, Crayton 4-135, Williams 3-86, Choice 2-6, Austin 1-42, Bennett 1-13.INTERCEPTIONSBUCS: none.COWBOYS: none.KICK RETURNSBUCS: Smith 4-101.COWBOYS: Jones 3-70, Phillips 1-0.PUNT RETURNSBUCS: Smith 3-27.COWBOYS: Crayton 1-3, Newman 1-0.SACKSBUCS: Barber 1-9.COWBOYS: none.
VIDEO CLIPSCadillac bursts clear with a 35-yard run to set up his opening TDDerrick Ward scores from a yard out early in the 4th quarterKellen Winslow scores a consolation touchdown late in the game