Sports

Jerry Jones is the only owner and/or General Manager in the league to hold court after every game. Or almost every game.

The Cowboys owner did not meet with the media after Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Panthers, Clarence Hill of All City DLLS reports.

Jones rarely misses an opportunity to talk postgame, win or lose, and the reason for skipping Sunday's session is unknown.

In his pregame interview with Kristi Scales of the Cowboys Radio Network, Jones made a joke about Rico Dowdle's warning about the Cowboys' needing to "buckle up" to face him.

"I can't even get our guys to come to the field they're shaking so bad," Jones told Scales, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com.

The Cowboys chose not to re-sign Dowdle in the offseason, letting him leave for the Panthers in free agency. Dowdle, who had more than 200 yards rushing in winning NFC offensive player of the week honors last week, had 239 total yards and a touchdown against his former team.

The Cowboys rank 32nd in total defense and have now allowed 360 rushing yards on 60 carries the past two weeks combined.

Jones doesn't have a history of firing coaches in mid-season or paying them off before their contracts expire. So, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus might not be in trouble.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer expressed his confidence in Eberflus after the game.

“Matt’s a great coach. Everywhere he’s ever been he’s had good defenses," Schottenheimer said, via Machota. "It’s not just Matt by himself. Matt’s trying. The players are trying. This is not a lack of effort.”

The 49ers took a gut punch in the first quarter, and the Buccaneers are doing their best to add insult to San Francisco's injury.

The visitors lost another star player, but the 49ers got off the mat and are fighting. They trail the Buccaneers only 20-16 at halftime.

Star linebacker Fred Warner was carted off with an air cast on his right ankle with 7:33 remaining in the first half, and the 49ers quickly ruled him out after a gruesome injury.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones is keeping the 49ers in it.

He completed 13 of 19 passes for 200 yards with an interception that was Kendrick Bourne's fault for not adjusting his route. Bourne has two receptions for 97 yards and Demarcus Robinson has contributed two receptions for 44.

Eddy Pineiro has field goals of 52, 54 and 42. His final field goal of the half came with 2 seconds remaining, but Pineiro got his foot stepped on after the kick.

The 49ers have outgained the Bucs 210 to 184.

The Bucs had three touchdowns and three punts on their six first-half drives. Rachaad White had a 2-yard touchdown run and Sean Tucker a 9-yard touchdown run before Kameron Johnson scored on a 34-yard touchdown reception with 44 seconds left in the first half.

Baker Mayfield was 10-of-15 for 133 yards and a touchdown; White has 50 yards on 10 carries; and five different players have a reception.

The Packers have largely controlled things against the Bengals so far on Sunday, with Green Bay holding a 10-0 lead over Cincinnati at halftime.

While an interception from quarterback Jordan Love prevented the Packers from taking an early lead on their first possession, Green Bay went up 3-0 on a 43-yard field goal by kicker Lucas Havrisik.

Running back Josh Jacobs then extended the advantage with a 3-yard touchdown run with 4:05 left in the second quarter.

Love is 12-of-17 for 158 yards. He’s also rushed four times for 18 yards.

Receiver Matthew Golden had one of the big plays of the first half, catching a 35-yard deep pass that helped set up Jacobs’ TD. He has two receptions for 55 yards plus two carries for 16 yards.

With Joe Flacco making his first start at quarterback for the Bengals, the Packers have out-gained the Bengals 240 to 65, with Green Bay recording 14 first downs to Cincinnati’s 4. The Bengals are 1-of-6 on third down.

Flacco and the offense could barely muster anything positive before a two-minute drill late in the second quarter, recording just one first down on the first four possessions.

Flacco is 8-of-15 for 40 yards. Ja’Marr Chase has just two catches for 14 yards. Tee Higgins has one catch for 14 yards.

Evan McPherson missed a 67-yard field goal short to end the half. He had somehow made one from the same distance, but Packers head coach Matt LaFleur called timeout just before the snap.

The Bengals will receive the second-half kickoff.