With 8:36 left in Thursday night’s game, the Buccaneers led the Cowboys 24-10. Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles had a decision to make.
Go for the touchdown on fourth down and score on it and make it a three-point game, or kick a field goal and make it a three-point game.
This is the only way to frame it. And, by putting it that way, there was no decision to be made.
“We talked about it, and with less than a yard and the way we were running the football, we were trying to put the game away,” Bowles told reporters after the game.
This ignores the reality that a field goal would have also put the game away. A 17-point lead requires three scores to tie or beat. With just over half a quarter to play, it would have been very difficult for the Cowboys to score three times.
It would have been even harder to score three touchdowns than to score two touchdowns and a field goal, but the focus at that point should have been turning a two-point lead into a three-point lead. Period.
And even though the Bucs ultimately won, it was closer than they should have been. The failure on fourth down gave Dallas an opening to salvage a victory. Ten plays and 99 yards later, it was a one-score game.
How far was it? Cornerback DaRon Bland had a pick six on his hands. After that, the Cowboys drove until a lucky bounce ended the drive. Even then, the Bucs needed one more quality run from defender Bucky Irving to finally ice it.
If the Cowboys had managed to win, everyone would be waiting to see if the Bucs would fire Bowles today. Even though the Bucs held on, the time spent sweating over what should have been an insurmountable three-point lead won’t be forgotten when it’s time for owners to decide whether to make a change.
The challenge ahead is obvious. With the Steelers, Panthers, Falcons and Bears on the slate heading into the Week 10 bye, it could take at least two wins in the next four games to avoid a Week 10 overhaul. Lose three or more of the next four, and the Bucs could end up getting a head start in the search for their next head coach.
Gn sports
