Defense Missing Critical Element Anwar Richardson, The Tampa Tribune, published 27 October 2008 Tampa Bay's defense had many reasons to be pleased about its effort against Dallas during a 13-9 loss. The Bucs just could not find one. Even though Tampa Bay went on the road and held Dallas to 13 points, it did not matter. The Bucs limited Dallas running back Marion Barber to 71 yards rushing, but there was no rejoicing. Tampa Bay held Dallas to 172 yards, the least ever in a Cowboys win, but players could not accept that moral victory. "It is a necessity for us to create turnovers as a defense and get the ball back for our offense. That's our job, to score and get the ball back," Bucs linebacker Cato June said. "When we don't do that, no matter what the stats say - 13 points, 172 total yards - it really doesn't mean much because our job description says we have to score and get the ball back." Tampa Bay's inability to create turnovers left everyone on defense believing it could have played better. The Bucs have caused a turnover in every game this season, but the defense failed to force takeaways against Dallas, breaking that streak. "We need turnovers, fumble recoveries, big hits and interceptions," Bucs safety Tanard Jackson said. "We have playmaking abilities, and we have that in the back end secondary and the linebacking position. "We had some sacks, which did help us, but we were unable to cause any turnovers. We have to create turnovers, and that is making plays." Many expected Tampa Bay to play well enough and claim a win against Dallas. The Cowboys started Brad Johnson, a 40-year-old quarterback who threw three interceptions against St. Louis last week, since starter Tony Romo is injured. Even though Johnson's longest pass against Tampa Bay was 14 yards, and receiver Terrell Owens had only 33 yards on five catches, the Bucs were unable to intercept Johnson, or cause a fumble during their three sacks. "We feel like as a team, as a defense, we could have done better," Tampa Bay defensive end Greg White said. "We could have held them to maybe six points, or three points. With their last drive before halftime, it could have been that way, but it wasn't." It was not that way, largely because Tampa Bay committed four penalties on Dallas' drive before halftime, which resulted in Johnson's 2-yard touchdown pass to Roy Williams. It was Dallas' only touchdown against Tampa Bay. That would have been another reason for Tampa Bay's defense to be pleased, but it was just another achievement not to celebrate. "The loss has a story. Every game has a story," Bucs defensive end Kevin Carter said. "We're going to look back and say if we hadn't done this, this, this and this, we could have won. As it stands, we've got to get better."