Cowboys build early lead, ease past Tampa Bay, 31-15
Associated Press
TAMPA, FLA.
Tony Romo threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth score Saturday night, helping the Dallas Cowboys stop a two-game losing streak with a 31-15 victory over the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The win gave the Cowboys (8-6) a half-game lead over the New York Giants in the NFC East. The Bucs (4-10) lost for the eighth straight time.
Romo threw a pair of 8-yard TD passes to Miles Austin and Dez Bryant in the first quarter, then finished a seven-play, 89-yard drive with a 9-yarder to Laurent Robinson to make it 21-0 with just under 5 minutes remaining in the second quarter. Romo made it 28-0 on a quarterback sneak in the closing seconds of the opening half.
Thanks to a large contingent of Cowboys fans, the Bucs played before a sellout crowd at home for just the second time in two seasons. Judging by all the blue and white jerseys scattered throughout the 65,000-seat stadium, at least half the house appeared to be rooting for Dallas.
The Cowboys entered with a two-game losing streak that cost them their lead in the NFC East, however they can still claim the division title with wins the next two weeks over Philadelphia at home and the Giants on the road.
The Bucs have lost eight straight following a 4-2 start that included wins over NFC South rivals New Orleans and Atlanta. The skid has coach Raheem Morris on the hot seat just a year after leading his team to a surprising 10-6 finish.