Two Interceptions: Cowboys criticized after home loss

Jerry Jones clasped his hands in front of his chest and looked at the giant video screen with a worried expression.

Shortly after his Dallas Cowboys fell behind the still winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dak Prescott threw an interception. Late in the game, the Cowboys had another chance to avert defeat. It went unused.

The Cowboys (2-3) lost 16-24 on Thursday night to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for whom undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels replaced the injured Baker Mayfield.

His counterpart, Prescott, threw another interception with 1:16 left in the game when his pass was tipped by tight end Jake Ferguson near the opponent's 12-yard line. Jones looked even more somber.

Missed Opportunity

In their only home game in October and during prime time, the Cowboys had the opportunity to gain momentum in the NFC East. It was a chance for a second victory in five days against another winless team before a short break.

Instead, the nine-day break before playing in Green Bay and then in Philadelphia will only raise further questions.

Bucs Turn the Game Around After Halftime

The Buccaneers (1-4), whose only touchdown before halftime was a 15-play drive that lasted almost eleven minutes, started much faster after halftime. They took the lead with two long runs and never relinquished it. Bucky Irving rushed for 72 yards, followed by Emeka Egbuka's 14-yard TD run, which gave them a 14-10 lead.

Then came Prescott's first interception deep in opponent territory, and Irving followed with a 1-yard TD run before KaVontae Turpin fumbled the ball on the ensuing kickoff return.

The Buccaneers then converted a third down from 21 yards out, leading to Chase McLaughlin's 41-yard field goal and a 24-10 lead.

Grueling Weeks

The Cowboys played their third game in twelve days. The intensive phase had begun with a ten-hour flight to Rio de Janeiro and back. In Brazil, they suffered a 31-34 loss against Baltimore after the Ravens scored the game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

Dallas then rebounded on Sunday with a 34-30 victory over the winless Houston Texans, with CeeDee Lamb capping his career-high 17 catches for 189 yards with a 12-yard TD in the final minute.

Against the Buccaneers, however, Lamb had only two catches for nine yards before being sidelined with a thigh injury.

Final Chances Squandered

After Tampa Bay declined a field goal opportunity and was stopped on fourth-and-one, the Cowboys marched 99 yards in ten plays, leading to Prescott's 18-yard TD pass to George Pickens. The subsequent two-point conversion failed.

After a good defensive stop, the Cowboys got another chance, which ended with the final interception.