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Romo throws for 3 TDs as Cowboys beat Bucs 34-21

Staff photo by JAY CONNER

Bryan Glazer, right, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talk before today's game.

By AARON KNOX | TBO.com

Published: September 13, 2009

Updated: 09/13/2009 04:20 pm

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TAMPA - Tony Romo threw three touchdown passes to lead the Dallas Cowboys to a 34-21 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today at Raymond James Stadium.

Marion Barber scored on a six-yard touchdown run to make the score 34-14 with 3:57 left. Barber's score was set up by a 44-yard pass from Romo to Patrick Crayton, who easily beat safety Sabby Piscitelli over the middle before turning up the left sideline, where he finally was forced out of bounds.

Romo's third TD pass also went to Crayton, who again beat Piscitelli, and the 80-yard strike was the longest of Romo's career. That came just two plays after the Bucs had closed within six points, at 20-14, on Derrick Ward's one-yard touchdown run early in fourth quarter.

"We have to get the communication right," Piscitelli said. "We have to know our assignments and we have to communicate. If you're not communicating then you get lost out on the field."

Romo was 16-of-27 for 353 yards. His touchdown passes covered 42, 66 and 80 yards as the Bucs struggled to provide consistent pressure on the quarterback. Romo was sacked just one time.

"We just gave up too many big plays on the defensive side of the ball," Raheem Morris said after losing in his head coaching debut. "(There were) a lot good things on offense, too many big plays on defense. We've got to get better."

Kellen Winslow caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Byron Leftwich to make the score 34-21 with 1:28 left in the game.

Leftwich was 25-of-41 for 276 yards. Michael Clayton caught five passes for 93 yards. Cadillac Williams ran 13 times for 97 yards, most in the first half, and Derrick Ward added 62 yards on 12 carries.

Rookie Sammie Stroughter's first NFL catch went for 14 yards to the Dallas 1-yard line. Officials initially ruled the Stroughter had scored on the play, but Cowboys coach Wade Phillips challenged the call and the ball was placed at the 1 after replay review. Ward scored on the next play, cutting the Dallas lead to 20-14 with 13:45 left in the game.

Romo threw his second touchdown pass, a 66-yard strike to Roy Williams, to give the Cowboys a 20-7 lead early in the third quarter.

Williams ran through an attempted tackle by Jermaine Phillips at about the 25-yard line and Ronde Barber's diving attempt at a tackle fell short as Williams cruised into the end zone less than five minutes into the second half.

"I missed a tackle, a tackle I should make," Phillips said. "We have to stand up and take responsibility."

Miles Austin had a 42-yard touchdown catch in the closing moments of the first half to put Dallas up 13-7 at the intermission.

Austin beat Elbert Mack down the right sideline to haul in the pass from Romo, then shed an attempted tackle by Phillips to waltz into the end zone.

Mike Nugent missed a 46-yard field goal for the Bucs on the final play of the first half. He had another field goal blocked on Tampa Bay's first possession of the game.

Williams scored on a one-yard touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 7-6 lead earlier in the second quarter.

Williams had 88 yards on seven carries in the early going, including a 35-yard burst and the touchdown run, which came with 10:20 left in the second quarter.

"The loss just spoiled everything," Williams said. "I didn't come (back) to stand out as an individual and lose ballgames."

Leftwich completed five of his first seven passes for 81 yards.

Nick Folk kicked two field goals in the first quarter, giving the Cowboys a 6-0 lead.

Folk nailed a 22-yard chip shot with 1:22 left in the first period to cap a seven-play, 44-yard drive.

He also kicked a 51-yard field goal with 9:35 left in the quarter to give Dallas an early 3-0 lead.

The first kick capped a 9-play, 31-yard opening drive for the Cowboys, who stalled after Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber sacked Dallas quarterback Tony Romo for a nine-yard loss.

Rookie Josh Freeman was the inactive emergency quarterback for the Buccaneers. Second-year pro Josh Johnson backed up Leftwich.

In addition, Matt McCoy started at weakside linebacker instead of Geno Hayes. Hayes reported late to the stadium today and coach Raheem Morris started McCoy instead as a disciplinary measure.

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