TAMPA, Fla. – The Cowboys' losing streak is now seven following Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
On Saturday, the staff writers of DallasCowboys.com gave their gut feeling for Sunday's game. Check out their instant reactions:
David Helman: I whiffed on so many of my predictions about this game – except the outcome. Looking back, it's laughable to think I predicted these two teams to combine for 65 points. It seems crazy to think I called for Jason Witten to score a touchdown or for Darren McFadden to have a decent rushing day. Simply put, it was an ugly, ugly day of football for both teams. The Cowboys bucked one trend and forced two huge takeaways, but they completely negated those with a late flag that canceled out a Jameis Winston fumble, as well a game-ending interception in the end zone by Matt Cassel. And that's pretty much the story of this Dallas losing streak. They do enough things right to be there in the end, but they can't get over the hump. The defense loses a fourth quarter lead, the offense misses a crucial opportunity on 3rd-and-1. You name the situation, and these Cowboys have managed to come up short. Tony Romo should be back next week in Miami, but at this point, it's hard to feel confident that will lead anywhere meaningful.
Bryan Broaddus: Thought this Tampa Bay team would allow the Cowboys to play a more complete game and grab a much-needed victory. It was far from a complete game -- the offense doesn't finish drives, the defense can't make a stop when they need to and when they do, they manage to get a penalty and the normally automatic field goal kicker missed his first field goal. The bottom line is that this is not all about the missing quarterback -- it's much deeper than that. This has been a complete team-wide meltdown with the coaches included. This team is not as good as I tried to convince you they were, if you want include me in your blame.
Rob Phillips: On paper, Sunday seemed like the most winnable game in this seven-game stretch without Tony Romo. Four of the first six opposing quarterbacks have won Super Bowls, and Jameis Winston, as talented as he is, has the most inexperience. I thought Tampa Bay's seventh-ranked running game against the Cowboys' depleted linebackers would be the difference in a tight game, and while Sean Lee's absence was felt, Anthony Hitchens and Rolando McClain had major roles in limiting the Bucs to 3.5 yards a carry. In the end, though, Dallas just didn't make the plays at the end of the game. In five of these seven games (two went to overtime) they've had leads or been tied in the fourth quarter, and they've lost them all in different ways. Bryan said it – this has not been just about Romo's absence. There's not one single issue or weakness to point to, and that's what has to be most frustrating for the team and the fans.
Nick Eatman: I thought the Cowboys were the better team but I don't think I should've evaluated it that way. This game came down to which team was worse -- or at least played worse. The Cowboys just aren't finishers. They don't finish plays, or drives and certainly not games. We are way past the coincidental stage. Seven straight losses indicates a really bad team or one of the greatest, most valuable quarterbacks to ever play. I figure that it falls somewhere in between. My guts were way off again. Whitehead and Beasley were non-factors on offense and Gregory again didn't show up much as a rusher. I did pick the Bucs to win, but I was really trying to flip the script with my awful picks. Nothing works right now -- on and off the field.
For the initial gut feeling predictions of the staff writers posted on Saturday, click here:
http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2015/11/14/dallascowboyscom-writers-share-their-gut-feelings-cowboys-buccaneers they've had leads or been tied in the fourth quarter, and they've lost them in different ways. Bryan said it – it's not just about Romo's absence. There's not just one issue to point to, and that's got to be most frustrating for the team. Nick Eatman: I thought the Cownoys were the better team but I don't think I should've evaluated it that way. This game came down to which team was worse- or at least played worse. The Cowboys just aren't finishers. They don't finish plays, or drives and certainly not games. We are way past the coincidental stage. Seven straight losses indicates a really bad team or one of the greatest, most valuable quarterbacks to ever play. I figure that it falls somewhere in between. My guts were way off again. Whitehead and Beasley were non factors on offense and Gregory again didn't show up much as a rusher. I did pick the Bucs to win, but I was really trying to flip the script with my awful picks. Nothing works right now - on and off the field. For the initial gut feeling predictions of the staff writers posted on Saturday, click here: http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2015/11/14/dallascowboyscom-writers-share-their-gut-feelings-cowboys-buccaneers)
