When the Bucs needed a big play in the second half against the Cowboys, it was a bunch of second-stringers seemingly shutting down Tampa Bay receivers downfield.

Four reserves in the Cowboys secondary shut down the Bucs passing game in the second half. Injuries and a suspension left Dallass with four second-stringers in its nickel package.

Dallas cornerback Anthony Henry left the game in the third quarter with a bruised thigh. He joined cornerback Terence Newman, suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones and safety Roy Williams out of the lineup.

Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw took a fair shot at the pathetic Bucs passing attack.

When Jeff Garcia was trying to pass the Buccaneers into the end zone on the final drive, he was going against a nickel defense that featured safety Ken Hamlin and four guys who wouldn’t have been there if not for injuries and a suspension.

With no Terrence Newman, Adam Jones, [Anthony] Henry or Roy Willams, the Cowboys turned to rookies Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick and ’07 seventh-rounders Alan Ball and Courtney Brown.

And at day’s end, Garcia had thrown 44 passes for a meager 5.2 yards per attempt and no touchdowns.

Joe still can’t understand why the Bucs can’t get the ball down the field with Garcia, Galloway, Bryant and a decent tight end unit. Oh, yeah, it must be Chucky’s mysterious “running back shortage.