With 8:36 remaining in Thursday night’s game, the Buccaneers led the Cowboys, 24-10. Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles had a decision to make.

Go for the touchdown on fourth and goal from the one and make it a three-score game, or kick a field goal and make it a three-score game.

That’s the only way to frame it. And, framing it that way, there was no decision to make.

“We talked about it, and with less than a yard, and the way we were running the football, we were trying to put the game away,” Bowles told reporters after the game.

This ignores the reality that a field goal also would have put the game away. A 17-point lead requires three scores to match or beat. With not much more than half of a quarter remaining, it would have been very difficult for the Cowboys to score three times.

It would have been even more difficult to score three touchdowns than it would have been to score two touchdowns and a field goal, but the focal point in that moment should have been turning a two-score lead into a three-score lead. Period.

And while the Bucs eventually won, it was closer than it should have been. The failed fourth-down play gave Dallas an opening to salvage a victory. Ten plays and 99 yards later, it was a one-score game.

How close was it? Cornerback DaRon Bland had a pick-six in his hands. After that, the Cowboys were driving until a lucky bounce ended the drive. Even then, the Bucs needed one more quality run from tailback Bucky Irving to finally ice it.

If the Cowboys had managed to win, everyone would be waiting to see whether the Bucs would be firing Bowles today. Even though the Bucs held on, the time spent sweating out what should have been an insurmountable three-score lead won’t be forgotten when it’s time for ownership to decide whether to make a change.

The challenge moving forward is obvious. With the Steelers, Panthers, Falcons, and Bears on the docket before the Week 10 bye, it could take at least two wins over the next four games to stave off a Week 10 overhaul. Lose three or more of the next four, and the Bucs may end up getting a head start on searching for their next head coach.