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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The Buccaneers only needed to give Warrick
Dunn the ball more to find the featured running back they'd been
missing.
Dispelling the theory that he's too small to take a pounding,
Dunn ran for a career-high 210 yards and two touchdowns Sunday to
lead Tampa Bay to a 27-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
|  | | Brian Kelly's 9-yard interception return gave the Bucs a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. |
Skeptics have labeled the 5-foot-8, 180-pound Dunn as a
situational player unable to meet the physical demands of playing
on every down. But with All-Pro fullback Mike Alstott out with a
sprained knee, the fourth-year pro has carried the Bucs' offense.
"It's not the size of the dog, it's the fight that's in him,"
defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "And that guy is something
special."
Dunn went over 100 yards and scored twice for the second
straight week to help Tampa Bay (8-5) remain in playoff contention.
The Bucs finished with a franchise-record 250 yards on the ground
against the NFL's lowest-ranked rushing defense.
Dunn scored on a 70-yard run on his first carry and put the game
out of reach with a 4-yard, fourth-quarter burst that finished an
11-play, 88-yard drive.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Cowboys: Why can't the Cowboys' defense stop the
run?
Donahoe: The Cowboys have had difficulty all year stopping the run.
They are not big in their defensive front seven -- and especially at
linebacker. Their lack of size catches up to them when they play power
running teams. The Cowboys' defense has given up three 200-yard rushing
games this season. This can be attributed to the lack of size and to some
poor defensive technique.
Question on the Buccaneers: How long can Warrick Dunn keep carrying the
Bucs' running game?
Donahoe: The amazing thing about Dunn is that people always say he's
too small to carry the ball 20 times a game. But in his career he has been
extremely tough and durable. With the injury to Mike Alstott, Dunn is proving he
can carry the load for the Bucs' running game. In recent weeks, Tampa Bay
has moved the ball effectively on the ground. The Bucs still have
inconsistencies in their passing game and must do whatever it takes to get
Shaun King and their receivers
into a more productive mode. But Warrick Dunn is proving again
that he is an exceptional football player. His size may not be exactly what
you want, but his heart is much bigger than his physical dimensions.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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"It's nice to finally be able to show what I can do," said
Dunn, who gained 54 yards on six carries on the last scoring drive.
"Those guys on the offensive line believe in me. They know I'm
going to be the primary ball carrier and they believe if they get
their guy, I'm going to do the job."
Dallas, which allowed three runners to gain more than 200 yards
this season, lost to Tampa Bay for the first time after winning all
eight of the previous meetings between the teams.
Emmitt Smith rushed for 80 yards on 20 attempts and scored the
Cowboys' only touchdown, a 4-yard run in the third quarter. He
finished the day 13 yards shy of joining Barry Sanders as the only
players to gain at least 1,000 in 10 consecutive seasons.
"Those things are good, but right now they don't mean that
much," Smith said. "That we're 4-9 today makes it very sour."
The victory moved the Bucs, who have won five of their last six,
into a second-place tie with Detroit in the NFC Central. Dallas,
which has dropped three straight, is assured of finishing its first
season under coach Dave Campo with a losing record.
"We're trying to hold on," Smith said. "Guys are very
frustrated. We're just trying to find a way to win, trying to
figure out what we can do to eliminate a lot of the mistakes,
including myself."
Dunn broke a 39-yard touchdown run on his last carry against
Buffalo a week ago, finishing with 106 yards on 20 attempts. He had
102 yards on four attempts in the first quarter alone this time and
left the game to a standing ovation after his season-high 22nd
carry late in the fourth quarter.
"Warrick made his case that he should get the ball more," Bucs
coach Tony Dungy said. "He's unique for his size. He runs strong
for his size, and it takes a lot to get a good shot at him."
Dallas turnovers set up 10 of Tampa Bay's 17 first-quarter
points. Jason Tucker's fumble on the opening kickoff led to Martin
Gramatica's 28-yard field goal, and Brian Kelly intercepted a pass
that deflected off Chris Warren's hands and ran 9 yards for a TD to
make it 17-0.
The Cowboys' frustration mounted in the second quarter when
Chidi Ahanotu sacked Troy Aikman, forcing a fumble that Sapp
recovered at the Bucs 36. They trailed 20-0 after Tim Seder's
34-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright and bounced back
just before the half.
Dallas got back in the game with a 15-play, 82-yard drive that
produced the 143rd rushing touchdown of Smith's career. Trailing
20-7, the Cowboys were threatening again when Smith fumbled at the
Bucs 12 and Kelly recovered for Tampa Bay.
Shaun King, who completed 9 of 15 passes for 65 yards and no
interceptions, led Tampa Bay's last scoring drive from there.
Aikman, who was 16-of-30 for 158 yards and one interception, was
replaced by third-stringer Anthony Wright after that.
"I've been frustrated a lot this year," Aikman said. "This
kind of epitomized the way the year has gone for us in a lot of
games."
Game notes
Dunn's rushing total fell 9 yards shy of James Wilder's
franchise record. ... Smith needs 50 yards to become the third
player in NFL history to rush for 15,000 ... The Cowboys and Bucs
hadn't played since 1990 ... Philadelphia's Duce Staley and San
Francisco's Charlie Garner also rushed for 200 yards on Dallas.
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ALSO SEE
Dallas Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
NFL first: Four 200-yard rushers
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