Yes, I had planned to go to this game, the Dolphins game next week and was considering going to the Thanksgiving game but with the crap they been playing like I just can't justify spending the money.
It is crazy, first series we come out, look like we might move the ball but old reliable Wittens throws in the patented false start giving us a tough conversion. McFadden almost gets the first on a nice screen but comes up just short. I thought he could have made it but that would be a little nitpicky. Lord knows we don't have to look hard to find negatives.
Defense produces a quick three and out and Mincey forces Winston into a Crawford sack. That's how we like to see the defense start. Nice punt return by Beasley gives us nice field position and we start our first scoring drive. Martin had a great pancake on McCoy in pass protection. Cassel is looking good, hitting different receivers and getting Dez invovled early. We get to the 16 yard line...and the announcers tell us the Bucs are the worst defense inside the red zone. Of course that is a jinx. A throwaway, a busted screen that fooled no one and then a sack when McFadden fails to see the delayed blitz and doubles up on a block inside, letting Alexander run free. Of course, after moving the ball with a mixture, we just automatically going pass, pass, pass. It never seems to fail. We kick the FG and take a lead.
So what has been the bugaboo of this defense this year, and really for a long time? Whenever we score, whether it's a quick TD or a long drive that ends in a FG, it always seem that the defense just gives it right back up. Bucs come out, and start running the ball right down our throats in the middle of the defense. Bucs get into FG range and defense stiffens with Claiborne makling a nice break on the ball to set the Bucs up for a FG. So the lead is gone just like that, but at least not a TD.
Rod Smith returns and gives us a decent field position. A screen to Lucky goes nowhere, then a nice stretch run of 7 by McFadden and a great throw to Witten. Big gain. The line seems to be moving the Bucs d line at will. Short yardage and Bucs load up, Witten doesn't block the guy ahead of him and goes to second level, McFadden doesn't have a chance. Lucky Bailey bounces a long one in off the goal post. So promising yet as always, something to ruin the drive. I definitely think Romo checks to a pass on the third down...Bucs in man coverage.
Claiborne gives up a big pass interference call, which honestly sucks because he did turn and face the ball and play the ball. It was a short throw and Claiborne makes contact on the receiver. Tank Lawrence misses on a sack by a half step, then we get a freaking flag literally 10 seconds after the play. I swear I think the ref made the call after seeing the instant replay...Mike Evans points up at the screen and suddenly a flag appears. DE's get quick pressure...no interior pressure so Winston just steps up and gets rid of it. FInally third and long Carr makes a nice play and breaks up a pass....probably should have intercepted but we don't even think of making plays like that. Bucs miss a long FG and we have good field position. It looked like the D was going to give it right back up but we finally made a play to keep a lead.
Get a couple firsts and into FG range and then we shut it down, going with the old 2 yd pass when we need 8. Automatic Bailey finally misses a 48 yarder and the Bucs are in business. Just seems like we are doing enough to not look completely inept, but every series there is something that keeps the drive from ending in the end zone.
Mincey gets good heat but overruns a sack, we stuff a middle run then give up a long completion and conversion as D line never gets off the LOS. Nice back shoulder to Mike Evans and we are at the 2 minute warning. Claiborne beat badly but saved by an underthrow. Hitchens carries RB all the way down field and breaks up pass. THird down, no pressure b ut Winston throws high across the middle, with Heath getting the interception off the tipped ball. Cowboys in business with decent position, time on the clock and timeouts.
We get a first on a nice pass to Dez, then fail to get another and punt it away. Patmon steps in front of an erant throw and should have an interception and possibly a pick six. Surprise, he drops the gift. Evans makes a catch with about 14 seconds left...Byron Jones kicks the ball away after the catch a few feet from the official. The official he kicks it away from does not make a penalty call, gets the ball set and spotted and just as the Bucs are about to hike it the side judge drops a flag. Again, this is literally more than five seconds from the time Jones kicked the ball. Yes, it was a dumb play and is a penalty, but when the flag comes so late it appears like something fishy is going on. Final play, Lawrence gets good pressure and gets the sack. Half over, we lead 6-3 and have shot ourselves in the foot several times.
Defense has a nice series with Brandon Carr getting a good hit on Winston...of course refs wrongly call it a fumble and Dallas recovered, pretty obvious it wasn't. After review it is called an incompletion and the officials ignore what should have been an illegal touching penalty by an OL. I have seen refs change a play and call a penalty during review...whether that was right or wrong they didn't call the penalty.
We start off with pass, great protection and Cassel runs into a sack. Holv crap, pass to Escobar coming out of witness protection program for a first. Dez drops a pass right in his hands for what would have been a first. Mental lapses and then we get a break with a sure interception drop after the ball is tipped at the line.
D stuffs a run then gives up a long gain to Evans up the middle. Evans makes the catch, gets tripped up and as he is falling forward the ball hits the ground before any body part does and comes out of his hand. Seems to me a lot of things possible....first can argue no catch because he didn't complete it going to the ground. Secondly, since the ball was the first thing to hit the ground and come out, it should have been a fumble. No discussion, no challenge, just give them the big gainer. Drive ends with an Evans miss of a pass that hit him right in the hands.
Next series, we pick up a nice gain with a Williams sighting. Offense bogs down....McFadden gets a few but here is one of thos plays where we are missing the "dirty yards" we got last year from Murray. Perfect coffin corner punt from Jones.
One adjustment we did make is putting Carr on Claiborne and he seems like he is doing a better job than Claiborne was. Evans make a tightly contested catch on Carr. Long completion down the center of field, only was Winston makes throw is a completely obvious hold right in front of the QB and it doesn't get called. Number 78 had both arms around McClain...how is this missed? Defense holds anyway but we get pinned back...all due to an obvious missed penalty.
Offense gets moving with a pass to Street but can't get another first and has to punt. Bout time for a ST gaffe but no, Jones bombs it, returner fumbles and is nailed quickly. It just feels like something bad is going to happen. It's building. Defense has played well, can't argue with them giving up only three points but we have missed chances for takeaways. Marinelli throws in a random blitz and give up a big screen. Church takes a chance on a pick and gives up a big gain to Evans. Jeff Heath saves the day again with another deflected pick.
Over 5 minutes left, we need to get some first downs and change field position at the very least. First down Witten misses block and gets McFadden killed in the background but Cassel gets a nice hookup to Williams to give us a 3rd and 2. We take a timeout to talk about this play. As Fox cuts back, they show the huddle with Garrett, Cassel, Linnehan, Romo and Dez talking about the play. Romo is shaking his head and does not seem to agree with the call. Bucs line up in press coverage man on man look, we are in 3 receiver set with Dez left, two WRs right with Witten right also. Cassel looks to Dez in single coverage with Moore, throws back shoulder into tight coverage, hits Dez in the hands and he drops it. Short punt by Jones.
Crappy holding call against Carr....another flag thrown well after the foul. Evans makes his cut, slight tug on sleeve by Carr, runs another 10 yds, makes play on ball, incompletion and then here comes flag....maybe could have called PI but they say holding before the past. Commentator Lynch notes a very tough call. Bucs move right down the field. Defense stops them on two plays with goal to go. Third down Winston in shotgun, outside pressure steps up into middle and decides to run. As he gets to the goal line, he jumps and loses the ball untouched with Dallas recovering. Cowboys ball, Cowboys ball...we win!!! Or not. Flag down. Holding, defense. Now mind you...this play started at the 4 yard line almost the 5. Called half the distance. Replay shows contact within 5 yards at the one yard line. Ball placed at the half yard line? I guess it is a spot foul....happened at the one so half the distance is to the half yard line. Winston goes in untouched on the bootleg. EVERYONE, AND I MEAN EVERYONE, collapsed inside on the play fake. Only Dallas.
Bucs give us a chance with a short kck an an dumb penalty. Cassel tries going deep to Dez who feels a little bump and doesn't even go after the ball....starts asking for pass interference. Of course Dallas is called for about half a dozen PI calls, but don't get this one.
Untimely penalties. Missed opportunities. Questionable calls. Big time players coming up small. Another 4th quarter lead given up. Same old same old.
While I hope that Romo comes back and runs off 7 straight, I don't think it's just the QB play. Cassel was pretty serviceable. Run game has to do better than 3 ypc. Right now, I'd guess about 6-10 as a final record.
