The Cowboys offense sputters in loss to Buccaneers

While last year the Cowboys finished as the No. 1 offense in the NFL, it looked like that evaporated into thin air on Sunday. Dallas failed to score an offensive touchdown in their season opener at home, a 19-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

The Cowboys opened the game with a six-minute drive, leading to a field goal. They didn’t score any points for the remainder of the game.

Quarterback Dak Prescott struggled, going 14-29, throwing an interception and finishing with a passer rating of 39.1. Prescott exited the game in the fourth quarter with an injury to his right hand. Cooper Rush came in finishing the game for the injured Prescott.

The Buccaneers didn’t completely overwhelm the Cowboys defense, but the inability to go on scoring drives kept them on the field and wore them down. Asking the defense to hold Tom Brady and the Buccaneers offense for the majority of the game is unreasonable.

The defense only allowed one touchdown and stopped the Buccaneers in the red zone, forcing four field goals.

Left tackle Tyron Smith’s presence was missed, along with wide receivers Michael Gallup and James Washington, due to injury. The Cowboys also lack the depth they had at wide receiver since Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson are gone.  

The Buccaneers defense covered wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, making it difficult to make big plays. He finished with two catches.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott stepped up with 52 yards on 10 carries, Tony Pollard had eight yards on six carries. 

So far the Cowboys were the only team in the NFL that failed to score an offensive touchdown in their season opener for this year.