Tony Romo and the worst home openers in Dallas Cowboys history
By Shaun Church
2. Quincy Carter; Sept. 9, 2001
Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Final: Bucs 10, Cowboys 6
Stats: 9-19 (47.4%), 34 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 14.5 rating
It’s not like this game was a blowout. Carter had a chance to lead a game-winning drive with under two minutes left, and all he did was throw three incompletions and then a pick on fourth down.
To Carter’s credit, this Tampa Bay defense finished eighth in points allowed and fourth in takeaways during the 2001 season. Though they finished 9-7 and made the playoffs, the Bucs would peak the next season, going 12-4 and winning Super Bowl XXXVII.
Carter was sacked twice for six yards in this contest and never really looked like he had control of the offense; the unit was dysfunctional from start to finish, netting just eight first downs and 127 total yards—the six-fewest yards gained in a game in Cowboys history.
His 34 yards passing were the third-fewest ever by a Cowboys quarterback in a regular-season game.