The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-10) fell to the Dallas Cowboys (13-5) 31-14 Monday at Raymond James Stadium.
The Buccaneers deferred the opening coin toss, and the Cowboys took over 1st and ten at their 25-yard line. The Cowboys faced a three-and-out to begin the game. The Buccaneers also struggled to move the ball on their first possession of the game. Both offenses had difficulty moving the ball down the field for over half of the first quarter until Dak Prescott connected with tight end Dalton Schultz on a 22-yard touchdown pass to give the Cowboys a 6-0 lead with 6:28 left in the opening quarter. Brett Maher missed his extra-point try. The Cowboys led the Buccaneers 6-0 after one-quarter of play.
Early in the second quarter Tom Brady was picked off in the back of the endzone. The Cowboys eventually extended their lead after Dak Prescott scrambled from a yard out; however, Maher missed another extra point, Dallas led Tampa 12-0 with 6:13 remaining in the opening half. The Cowboys drove the ball down the field once more, tacking on another touchdown as Dak Prescott connected with Dalton Schultz on an 11-yard touchdown pass. Maher missed his third extra-point of the game, Dallas led Tampa 19-0 with less than 30 seconds left in the half.
The Cowboys extended their lead in the third quarter with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to Michael Gallup, Maher missed another extra-point. The Cowboys led 24-0 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers drove down the field, Brady connected with Julio Jones on a 30-yard touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter. The Bucs two-point try was no good. The Cowboys led 24-6 heading into the final quarter of play.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys faced a fourth down, Dak Prescott connected with CeeDee Lamb on an 18-yard touchdown pass to extend Dallas' lead 31-6 with 10:13 remaining in regulation. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers score another touchdown as Tom Brady connected with Cam Brate on an 8-yard touchdown pass with just over 2 minutes left. The Bucs converted the two-point try, Tampa trailed Dallas 31-14 at the two-minute warning.
The Buccaneers season comes to an end, finishing as NFC South Champions and a record of 8-10.
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