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SCOUTING REPORT

Without Romo, the Cowboys' offense will struggleLast week was Cowboys QB Brad Johnson's first start, with Tony Romo nursing a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand. Dallas traveled to St. Louis and was completely embarrassed. It has become apparent that there are big issues with the Cowboys right now. The Bucs hosted the Seahawks last week and put them away with little resistance, while utterly dominating the time of possession. They are playing very well on both sides of the ball right now and have the look of a true contender. Tampa's only two losses this year are by a combined seven points.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
TAM	9-7	361	323	6-2	3-5	3-3	8-4
DAL	9-7	362	365	6-2	3-5	3-3	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Tampa Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Johnso... 50.4 685 4 8 Leftwi... 54.2 594 4 3

Dallas Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Romo 60.0 2624 15 7

Tampa Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 117 450 3.8 3 Ward 66 243 3.7 1

Dallas Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Barber 123 572 4.7 4 Jones 54 353 6.5 1

Tampa Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Winslo... 47 483 10.3 5 Bryant 19 269 14.2 2

Dallas Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Austin 35 679 19.4 7 Witten 54 481 8.9 1

Full Player Stats: Tampa Bay | Dallas

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	TAM	341.0
	DAL	345.0
Yards Passing	TAM	226.2
	DAL	236.8
Yards Rushing	TAM	114.8
	DAL	107.7
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	TAM	306.1
	DAL	294.3
Pass Yds Allowed	TAM	187.3
	DAL	187.7
Rush Yds Allowed	TAM	118.8
	DAL	106.6

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 2-2
Nov 23, 2006	TAM 10, DAL 38
Oct 26, 2003	TAM 16, @DAL 0
Sep 9, 2001	TAM 10, DAL 6

The Dallas Cowboys were talking about gearing up for a playoff run after opening with three impressive wins. Now they're simply focused on salvaging their season with injured quarterback Tony Romo not expected to return until mid-November.

After a humiliating loss their last time out, the Cowboys will again be without Romo Sunday when they try to get their season back on track against the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Texas Stadium.

Coming off a 13-win season, Dallas (4-3) had high expectations for 2008. It opened with wins over Cleveland, Philadelphia and Green Bay, but has since lost three of four. It's only victory in that stretch was a lackluster performance at home against Cincinnati, the NFL's only seven-loss team.

Facing a St. Louis team that opened the season 0-4 last Sunday, Dallas lost 34-14 as Romo sat out with a broken pinkie on his throwing hand. The two-time Pro Bowler said Wednesday that he doesn't expect to play again until Nov. 16 at Washington.

That's bad news for the Cowboys, who are in third place in the NFC East and already have equaled the number of losses they had all last season.

"It's like we've been riding a wave. Now, the wave is gone. We're just like everybody else," linebacker Bradie James said. "No matter what the talent is, publicity, whatever goes on here, it doesn't really matter.

"Now it's time for us to come together, not only find solutions, but find a cure, and really the only thing that cures that is winning."

Last week's loss was especially disconcerting, as the Cowboys scored a touchdown on the game's first possession before allowing the Rams to reel off 34 consecutive points.

"We lost a game we should have lost, period," defensive end Marcus Spears said. "The season is still prevalent, a lot of things left to still be accomplished. Right now, we've got to get better."

The Cowboys hope to see some improvement from Brad Johnson, who will make his second start in place of Romo. The 40-year-old Johnson made his first start since 2006 last week, finishing 17-for-34 for 234 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Johnson, who played for the Buccaneers (5-2) from 2001-04 and led them to their only championship in Super Bowl XXXVII, may have trouble again this week as Tampa Bay is second in the league with 12 interceptions.

Dallas would also like to see more production from running back Marion Barber and wide receivers Terrell Owens and Roy Williams.

Barber has rushed for 255 yards and one touchdown in his last four games after running for 285 and scoring four times in his first three contests. Owens has been held to eight receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in his last three games after catching 17 passes for 264 yards and four scores in his first four.

Williams, who was acquired from Detroit on Oct. 14, was held without a catch last week in his Dallas debut.

It may be difficult for the Cowboys to fix their offensive woes against a Tampa Bay team that ranks eighth in total defense (303.3 yards per game) and fourth in scoring defense (15.3 points per game).

"We can accomplish our goals, but we can't accomplish them if we don't play better," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said.

While the Cowboys are in danger of losing three straight games for the first time since Nov. 7-21, 2004, the Buccaneers are trying to win six of their first eight since their Super Bowl-winning season.

After an impressive 27-3 win over division rival Carolina in Week 6, Tampa Bay defeated Seattle 20-10 last Sunday night.

The Bucs had a 402-176 advantage over the Seahawks in total yards, and limited Seattle to seven first downs.

"I think the defense played great," Tampa Bay safety Sabby Piscitelli said. "But the biggest thing was the offense kept us off the field."

Jeff Garcia had another stellar game last week, completing 26 of 37 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown, and coach Jon Gruden said the four-time Pro Bowler will continue to start.

"He was hot," Gruden said after Sunday's win. "He ran a no-huddle offense. He did some things on his own, the play selection. He was great I thought."

Garcia lost his starting job earlier this season, but has passed for 483 yards and two touchdowns in starting the last two games over Brian Griese. He'll be facing a Dallas secondary that is depleted by injuries and has only two interceptions on the season.

Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman is recovering from sports hernia surgery, five-time Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right forearm last week and cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has been suspended by the NFL for again violating its personal conduct policy.

Bucs running back Warrick Dunn, who has rushed for 226 yards in his last three games, left last week's win with a back injury, but Gruden said he expects him to play against the Cowboys.

Sources: Bucs demote Bates, give Morris D

Continuing a tumultous year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed defensive coordinators Monday night, demoting Jim Bates and handing over their defense to head coach Raheem Morris, according to sources close to the situation.

Sources: Newman avoids punishment for tiff

Sources: Newman won't be punished for altercation with Campo

Questions about Williams continue to swirl

Redskins' LaRon Landry calls out Boys WR Roy Williams: 'He was scared.'

Cowboys brushing off Campo-Newman incident

Cowboys coach, player won't discuss sideline exchange

Bucs' Zuttah apparently ahead of Sears at left guard

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are undergoing a changing of their left guard, and it definitely appears as though the key figure in that change is second-year pro Jeremy Zuttah.

Jackson needs swagger

If Amarri Jackson wants to make sure he gets to training camp and through the preseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wide receiver Antonio Bryant has some veteran advice for the Sarasota native.

Receiver Kelly Campbell savors his chance to make Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Each time Bucs receiver Kelly Campbell reads a headline about an NFL player who has been arrested or otherwise gotten into trouble, he can't help but immediately think about the potential consequences.

Dungy is moving forward

It had been a busy Thursday morning but now Tony Dungy was heading back across the Howard Frankland Bridge toward Tampa after a couple of meetings in a campaign to increase parental involvement in Florida public schools.

Mangurian looking for discipline on Bucs' OL

Two months before the start of training camp, Tampa Bay's new offensive line coach has a chilling message for his minions: If you're not planning on being smart and disciplined, don't bother showing up.

Greg Ellis officially an ex-Cowboy

As expected, the Cowboys weren't able to find a team willing to trade for Greg Ellis, so they released him today.

Already interest in Greg Ellis

When news broke of the Cowboys' release of Greg Ellis earlier today, the phone of Ellis' agent, James D. Williams, started to ring from interested parties.

Money is no longer flowing for Dallas Cowboys

I don't mean GM broke. Or Michael Vick broke. Or even Tom Hicks broke. But it certainly appears as though Jerry is paying more attention to the bottom line when it comes to the Cowboys than he's ever done in the past.

Kitna knows his job with Dallas Cowboys is be ready if Romo isn't

By MAC ENGEL CARROLLTON - Jerry Jones was just kidding, but the sad part of what he said a few days before the 2009 NFL Draft was true.'Last year we had one quarterback who was hurt and another quarterback who was playing like he was hurt,' Jones said.The comment drew uncomfortable laughter, and Jones immediately recognized what he had just ...

Dallas Cowboys have plenty to prove in 2009

Jean-Jacques Taylor has been at the DMN for 16 years. He covered the Rangers and Cowboys before becoming a columnist.