Dallas stuck to its plan of a balanced offense Sunday, on their way to a 34-21 victory.
The Cowboys’ run defense struggled, however, allowing RB Cadillac Williams to rush for 97 yards on 13 carries and No. 2 RB Derrick Ward to generate 62 yards on 12 attempts.
Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins, who struggled last year, wasn’t a liability in coverage Sunday, although Orlando Scandrick will start Dallas’ Week 2 game.
Cowboys RB Marion Barber dominated in his closer role, picking up three fourth-quarter first downs and scoring from six yards out to seal the 34-21 win.
Bucs WR Michael Clayton’s 93 receiving yards Sunday were his most since Week 13 of his rookie season.
Due to communication issues in the secondary, the Bucs surrendered four pass plays of 40+ yards in Sunday’s loss.
Bucs CB Ronde Barber admitted that those plays “absolutely destroy(ed)” Tampa’s chances of winning.
Joe Henderson, of the Tampa Tribune, predicts many more losses like Sunday’s for the “rebuilding” Bucs franchise.