Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Box Score on Sep 23, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 23, 2012

Cowboys 16, Buccaneers 10: Tony Romo completed 25 of 39 passes for 283 yards and Dallas’ defense dominated visiting Tampa Bay to help overcome three turnovers in its homer opener.

DeMarco Murray rushed for a score and Miles Austin made five catches for 107 yards for the Cowboys (2-1), who allowed only 166 total yards and forced a pair of turnovers on defense. The Buccaneers (1-2) were under 100 yards until opening things up on their final drive.

Dallas limited Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman to 110 yards on 10-of-28 passing and completely took away his favorite target in Vincent Jackson, who was targeted seven times but made only one grab. No Buccaneers receiver made more than two catches.

Tampa Bay briefly held the lead in the first quarter, when Aquib Talib intercepted Romo in Cowboys territory and Freeman guided the offense 29 yards, hitting Luke Stocker for a 1-yard touchdown pass. But the Cowboys returned the favor later in the first, turning an interception into a touchdown on Murray’s 11-yard burst.

Romo’s best play came in the third quarter, when he escaped pressure and rolled to his right before firing a 49-yard pass to Miles Austin, who got behind Eric Wright and reached back over the top of the Tampa Bay cornerback to make the grab. That led to a field goal and at 13-7 lead, and Dallas would add another field goal to put it away in the fourth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Dan Bailey hit three field goals for the Cowboys, connecting from 32, 26 and 22 yards. … Tampa Bay DE Adrian Clayborn (knee) was carted to the locker room in the third quarter and did not return. … Bucs coach Greg Schiano, who received criticism last week for going after the ball in a kneel-down situation, did the same thing this week. Dallas was ready on the offensive line and Romo was not touched.