The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys clashed on Sunday Night Football in Week 16 of the NFL season, offering contrasting narratives as the Bucs fought for their playoff lives while the Cowboys entered the game already eliminated from postseason contention after the Commanders defeated the Eagles earlier in the day. At halftime, however, it was the Cowboys who held a commanding 23-14 lead.
Dec. 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) warmed up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, prepared to lead his team in a crucial matchup.
Dallas opened the scoring on their first possession with a 58-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey, taking an early 3-0 lead. Tampa Bay had an opportunity to respond, but a critical drop by Sterling Shepard on a 4th-and-3 attempt at the Dallas 48-yard line ended their promising drive.
The Cowboys capitalized on the momentum with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Cooper Rush to Jalen Tolbert, completing a 52-yard, five-play drive to extend their lead to 10-0 late in the first quarter.
Tampa Bay finally broke through in the second quarter. Following an exchange of punts, the Bucs mounted a six-play, 57-yard drive highlighted by a spectacular 26-yard fingertip catch by Mike Evans. Bucky Irving capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, narrowing the Cowboys' lead to 10-7.
Dallas answered with a 49-yard Aubrey field goal, making it 13-7. Then, just before the two-minute warning, Rush found CeeDee Lamb for a 52-yard completion that set the Cowboys up at Tampa Bay's 11-yard line. Despite Lamb briefly re-injuring his right shoulder, he stayed in the game. Ezekiel Elliott powered in a one-yard touchdown run shortly after, giving Dallas a 20-7 lead with 1:45 left in the half.
The Buccaneers responded quickly. Mayfield orchestrated a methodical drive, completing passes to Evans, Shepard, and Payne Durham, setting up an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan with 48 seconds remaining. The score trimmed the deficit to 20-14.
However, the Cowboys weren’t finished. Rush completed two quick passes—21 yards to Jake Ferguson and 14 yards to Brandin Cooks—setting up a long field goal attempt. Aubrey drilled his second 58-yard field goal of the game as time expired, extending Dallas' halftime lead to 23-14.
Key first-half stats showcased solid performances on both sides. Mayfield completed 14 of 19 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, while Bucky Irving rushed for 47 yards on eight carries with a touchdown. Mike Evans contributed with four catches for 58 yards, helping keep Tampa Bay within striking distance.
The Buccaneers will start with the ball in the third quarter, hoping to mount a comeback against a Dallas defense that allowed points on four of five first-half possessions.
