Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Box Score on Dec 18, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 18, 2016

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dallas rookies Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott were their old selves in helping lead the Cowboys to a grinding 26-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night at AT&T Stadium.

The Cowboys (12-2) rebounded from last week's loss at the New York Giants to move a step closer to the NFC East title and the No. 1 playoff seed in the conference. Dallas needs one win or Giants loss to clinch both.

Elliott, the NFL's rushing leader, ran for season-high 159 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

Prescott snapped a stretch of three straight games without reaching at least 200 yards passing. The fourth-round pick completed 32 of 36 attempts for 279 yards, and also ran for a score.

Dan Bailey kicked four field goals for the Cowboys, including three in the fourth quarter.

The Buccaneers (8-6) had their longest winning streak since 2002 snapped at five games. Tampa Bay also fell a game behind Atlanta (9-5) in the NFC South.

Jameis Winston threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but also had four costly turnovers. The second-year pro was intercepted three times and lost a fumble.

Tampa Bay did come out of halftime on a mission and retook the lead (20-17) with two quick-strike touchdown passes from Winston.

The Bucs' first drive of the second half ended with Winston's 42-yard touchdown pass to Adam Humphries. Winston was rolling left and threw across to a streaking Humphries, who hauled in the ball in the end zone after it was tipped by cornerback Brandon Carr.

Winston finished off an 81-yard march with a 10-yard bullet to Cameron Brate. Both scoring drives covered at least 75 yards and were each less than five minutes.

Dallas knotted the game at 20 on Bailey's 40-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Winston followed with his third turnover, helping the Cowboys go back on top. A deep throw intended for Humphries sailed on Winston, and safety Jeff Heath picked it off easily.

Despite being set up deep in Tampa Bay territory, Dallas settled for a 38-yard kick from Bailey to make it 23-20 with 9:35 remaining.

The Cowboys went into halftime ahead 17-6 thanks to a second-quarter scoring flurry.

The first Dallas touchdown was set up by a turnover by Winston. Back to pass, Winston lost the ball after getting hit on the arm by Dallas defensive tackle Terrell McClain. Rookie tackle Maliek Collins recovered it at Tampa Bay's 14.

Elliott scored from the 2-yard line five plays later and celebrated by jumping into an oversized Salvation Army bucket behind the end zone. The stunt drew a flurry of flags and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Dallas went up two touchdowns on a 64-yard drive capped by a quarterback keeper by Prescott. It was his sixth touchdown rushing, setting a team record for a quarterback.

Tampa Bay pulled within 11 on Roberto Aguayo's 34-yard field goal in the final two minutes. Aguayo's 5-yarder in the first period gave the Buccaneers an early 3-0 lead.

Dallas kicker Dan Bailey's 27-yarder on the first play of the second quarter tied the score. Bailey also missed two field goals in the first half.

NOTES: Dallas was unable to clinch the NFC East after the New York Giants beat Detroit earlier in the day. ... Cowboys RB Darren McFadden, the team's leading rusher last season, was active for the first this season. He missed the first 13 games recovering from offseason elbow surgery. ... Dallas inactives: QB Mark Sanchez, RB Alfred Morris, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DT Cedric Thornton, LB Mark Nzeocha, CB Morris Claiborne and S J.J. Wilcox. ... Tampa Bay inactives: QB Ryan Griffin, WR Donteea Dye, RB Jacquizz Rodgers, DT John Hughes III, OT Demar Dotson, DL DaVonte Lambert and OL Caleb Benenoch. ... Dallas WR/KR Lucky Whitehead returned after a one-game suspension for violating team rules.