Photo by Gage Skidmore (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Winners, losers as Buccaneers stun Cowboys 24-16 on Thursday Night Football

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers delivered a shocking upset against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, handing the home team their first loss of the season with a 24-16 victory. The Cowboys, who entered the game with a 2-3 record, led 10-7 at halftime but collapsed in the third quarter, allowing Tampa Bay to take a 17-0 lead.

Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, making his first career start, outplayed Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, completing 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown while avoiding turnovers. Tampa Bay’s ground game dominated, with Bucky Irving leading the charge, rushing for 165 yards and a 72-yard touchdown on 21 carries, while Emeka Egbuka added a rushing score from 14 yards out.

The Cowboys’ defense struggled, particularly in coverage, as Tampa Bay’s receivers exploited gaps in the secondary, and Prescott’s costly tip-drill pick sealed the loss late in the game. Meanwhile, Dallas’ offense showed inconsistency, with Javonte Williams limited to 45 rushing yards and CeeDee Lamb exiting with a quad injury after just two catches for nine yards.

The loss deepened concerns about head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s future, as the Cowboys’ defense remains a major liability without a true star pass rusher like Micah Parsons, who was traded away earlier this season.

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