Ezekiel Elliott ran for 159 yards and a touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-20. Dak Prescott recovered from a poor game last weekend, completing 32 of 36 passes, while rushing for a touchdown of his own.
In 140 Characters...
Cowboys rookies back to their best, delivering a critical blow to Tampa's play-off chances. The Bucs (8-6) fall out of the play-off picture with two games left.
MVP
Ezekiel Elliott was MVP, and perhaps confirmed himself as season MVP with another incredible performance. He had 188 yards from the line of scrimmage, and was athletic and innovative in his running to create big-gain opportunities.
Game-changer
With the scores level at 20-20, Tampa were in the ascendancy, but when Dallas safety Jeff Heath made an interception on Jameis Winston, all of the momentum left the Buccaneers. The Cowboys went on to add two more field goals and controlled the final quarter.
Stat of the night
89 - After perhaps his most disappointing game last week, Dak Prescott was almost perfect tonight, completing 32 of 36 passes, giving him an 89% completion record - the second-highest in NFL history.
The game
After Dan Bailey missed a 56-yard field goal attempt, it was the Buccaneers who opened the scoring, with a 25-yard kick halfway through the first quarter.
Dallas soon levelled, and then took the lead with two touchdowns in quick succession. After a 27-yard field goal converted by Bailey, Ezekiel Elliott found the end zone from two yards out, capitalising on a forced fumble by Jameis Winston, which handed Dallas possession at Tampa Bay's 14-yard line.
Dak Prescott then extended the lead with a score of his own on the Cowboys' next drive. After finding Brice Butler deep right for a 21-yard gain, the rookie quarterback made the most of the blocking from his offensive line, breezing through an open hole for the two-yard score.
The Bucs scored another field goal before the second quarter was over, but it was a dominant first half display from Dallas, who stayed on the field over ten minutes longer than their opponents.
However, Tampa showed their mettle in the third quarter, fighting back to take the lead. On their opening drive, Winston connected with Adam Humphries for a 42 yard touchdown pass, before leading an 81-yard drive to give his team a 20-17 advantage, courtesy of a ten-yard throw to tight end Cameron Brate.
However, the visitors were undone in the fourth quarter by another wave of pressure from Prescott and the Dallas attack. Dan Bailey added three more field goals in the final period to hand the Cowboys victory, and improve their season record to 12-2.
The Cowboys were able to take advantage of Tampa turnovers, converting two in the first half, into ten points. Dallas only gave the ball up once, which led to nothing following another strong showing from the home side defence.
After a run of five unbeaten games, the Buccaneers' streak is over, and they fall a game behind their NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons. Now out of the play-off picture currently, Dirk Keotter's side now face the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers, hoping the Falcons slip up.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys inch closer to the NFC East title, and can claim it next week against the Detroit Lions. Elliott's 159-yard performance keeps him within distance of the rookie rushing record. He will need to accumulate 259 yards over the next two games if he is to break Eric Dickerson's 1,808 season total.