NFL

The Buccaneers broke their losing duck in dramatic fashion on Thursday night, downing the Cowboys, 24-16 on «Thursday Night Football.»

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It was hardly a classic showing. Jalon Daniels put forth an inspired effort in his second-career start, while Bucky Irving posted the best numbers of his impressive career. Still, some of the same issues that came to bite Tampa Bay at different points in its four-game losing run resurfaced — namely issues with leaving points on the board.

With that, here’s a look at how Todd Bowles’ side nearly cost itself the game with a particularly curious fourth-down call in the fourth quarter.

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Todd Bowles’ controversial fourth-down decision nearly backfires on ‘TNF’

After impressing for the better part of three quarters, Bowles and his team nearly coughed things up in the fourth. Tampa Bay marched down the field once more, climbing inside Dallas’ after Daniels hit Emeka Egbuka on third-and-goal.

Up 14 with a little over eight minutes left, the Buccaneers were well within their rights to attempt a chip shot field goal. If they were to convert the effort, that would have brought their lead to a seemingly insurmountable three-possessions.

Bowles opted to try to get the coup de grace, instead. Daniels and Co. trotted back onto the field, attempting to gash the Cowboys’ defense one more time.

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Its effort didn’t go to plan. Sean Tucker was stuffed at the goal line, giving Dallas a route back into the contest.

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For a moment, it looked as if the Cowboys would take advantage of the window. Dak Prescott found George Pickens in the corner of the end zone to bring Tampa Bay’s advantage to just eight points.

A series of empty Buccaneers’ possessions followed — one of which saw Daniels nearly throw a pick-six to DaRon Bland. The Buccaneers held on in the end, with Alex Anzalone’s interception securing a momentous Tampa Bay win.

Nevertheless, the ending of the game proved nervy, hardly a sentiment Bowles would want to inspire given the precarious nature of his position.

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