Buccaneers Stumble in Texas, Lose to Cowboys 26-24 and Relinquish NFC South Lead
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers missed a golden opportunity to maintain their hold on the NFC South, falling 26-24 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The loss, marked by defensive lapses and offensive inconsistency, drops the Bucs to 8-7 and cedes the division lead to the Atlanta Falcons, who hold the tiebreaker with an identical record.
A Back-and-Forth Battle
The game began with Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey drilling a 58-yard field goal to give the Cowboys an early 3-0 lead. Tampa Bay's next drive stalled when a crucial drop by Sterling Shepard on fourth down handed the ball back to Dallas. Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush capitalized with a red-zone touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert, extending the lead to 10-0.
After trading punts, the Buccaneers found life in the second quarter. Running back Bucky Irving powered in a two-yard touchdown run, narrowing the deficit to 10-7. However, Dallas answered with another Aubrey field goal and a methodical drive capped by an Ezekiel Elliott rushing touchdown, making it 20-7.
As the half wound down, Baker Mayfield led the Bucs on a quick drive, hitting Jalen McMillan for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 20-14. The Cowboys, undeterred, ended the half with yet another 58-yard field goal by Aubrey, going into the locker room up 23-14.
Missed Chances in the Second Half
The Buccaneers opened the third quarter with promise, driving deep into Dallas territory. However, penalties and a strip sack forced them to punt. The Cowboys responded with their fourth field goal of the night, stretching the lead to 26-14.
Tampa Bay's Chase McLaughlin added a field goal to make it 26-17, and the Bucs' defense stiffened, forcing a Cowboys punt. Yet, offensive inconsistency haunted Tampa Bay, as they failed to capitalize on consecutive opportunities.
Baker Mayfield’s deep pass to Jalen McMillan late in the fourth quarter was stripped away by Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis, stalling a potential scoring drive. The Bucs regrouped and mounted a quick touchdown drive to close the gap to 26-24, keeping the game within reach.
A Heartbreaking Ending
With just under two minutes remaining, the Buccaneers had one last chance. A short reception to Rachaad White seemed to extend the drive, but White fumbled the ball, ending Tampa Bay’s comeback hopes and sealing the Cowboys' victory.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, the Buccaneers remain in playoff contention. They’ll host the Carolina Panthers next week, a must-win game to reclaim the NFC South lead. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons will face the Washington Commanders, providing Tampa Bay a glimmer of hope if they can bounce back from this crushing defeat.
To secure a playoff spot, the Bucs will need to eliminate turnovers, tighten up their defense, and deliver a more consistent performance in the season's final stretch.
