‘I Was Concerned,’ ‘Took Some Friendly Fire’ — Bucs Reporters Deliver An Update After Todd Bowles Appeared to Crouch in Pain on TNF
· Yahoo Sports
There was a lot to talk about on Thursday night as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up their first win of the season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The previously winless Bucs racked up a 24-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys, with Jalon Daniels now the first undrafted starting rookie QB since Ed Rubbert (back in 1987) to beat the Cowboys.
While Bucs fans will take some encouragement after their first win, there was some concern over head coach Todd Bowles as he crouched in pain on the sideline near the end of the game, prompting some concern.
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Bucs Reporters Say No Need to Worry About Todd Bowles
Greg Auman, who covered the game at AT&T Stadium for FOX Sports, posted an update on the coach a few moments after the game.
“Bowles was fine in postgame. Took some friendly fire in celebration on the sideline, was in some pain but OK moments later,” Auman reported.
ESPN’s Jenna Laine also reported on Bowles, adding, “I’m told that Todd Bowles is OK. Several of you asked. I was concerned as well. I’m not in Dallas, but just heard back. He said he caught a celebration helmet to the gut but says he’ll be OK. That’s why he was crouched over like this.”
The Buccaneers had to sweat out a nervy finish before they could celebrate. Linebacker Alex Anzalone intercepted a tipped pass from Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the final two minutes, and a late run by running back Bucky Irving let Tampa Bay kneel out the clock.
It got that close after a call Bowles chose to make.
Leading 24-10 in the fourth quarter, he puzzlingly went for it on fourth-and-goal from the Dallas 1-yard line instead of kicking a field goal that would have put Tampa Bay up three scores, and running back Sean Tucker was stopped short.
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Prescott answered with a 99-yard touchdown drive, capped by an 18-yard pass to receiver George Pickens late in the fourth quarter. Rookie defensive back Keionte Scott broke up the two-point try, keeping Tampa Bay’s lead at 24-16.
Bowles’ willingness to roll the dice on offense appeared to breathe new life into a late Cowboys surge. However, Tampa Bay held on for their first win of the campaign.
This, ultimately, was the fifth time in the Super Bowl era the Cowboys lost to a team that entered 0-4 or worse, per ESPN Research. It was the first such loss in a home game since 1975 against the 0-4 Packers.
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Todd Bowles Credits Jalon Daniels For The TNF Win
Bowles acknowledged that his team had lost the first quarter of its season and cast Thursday as the start of the second. “We didn’t lose the second, third, or fourth. We’ve still got to play those,” Bowles told reporters.
He spread the credit around, starting with his rookie quarterback. “Jalon did an excellent job of taking care of the football and the defense played well.” Daniels finished the win with a 78.0 PFN QB Impact score, which would rank 14th in the league. His counterpart, Dak Prescott, finished Week 5 with a 68.9 impact score.
Bowles also acknowledged how much ground the 1-4 Bucs still have to make up. “It’s a long way to climb out, but at the same time, we’re upbeat, and if we play as hard and play as effective, we’ll be OK.”
The Buccaneers host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 18.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.