The Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned their first win of the season, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas. Bucky Irving led the charge with a career-high 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Why it matters: This victory marks a turning point for the Buccaneers, who improved to 1-4 after starting the season with high expectations. The performance showcased the potential of undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, stepping in for the injured Baker Mayfield.
Irving's 165 rushing yards included a 72-yard run that set up a key touchdown.
Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown, leading a turnover-free offense.
The Buccaneers’ defense capitalized on Dallas mistakes, recording three takeaways in the second half.
Driving the news: Tampa Bay's win came after a challenging start to the season, with expectations of contending in the NFC South. Coach Todd Bowles expressed optimism about starting the second quarter of the season on a positive note.
"We lost the first quarter of the season," Bowles said. "We didn’t lose the second, third or fourth. We’ve still got to play those. So we started the second quarter tonight."
Daniels, in just his second start, expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "Six months ago, if you would have told me that my first win would have been on a Thursday night, (Amazon) Prime football game, I don’t know what I would have told you."
State of play: The Buccaneers jumped out to an early lead but faced challenges as the Cowboys rallied to take a 10-7 halftime advantage. Tampa Bay responded strongly in the second half, scoring two quick touchdowns to regain control.
Irving caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Daniels in the first half, marking his return to form.
Emeka Egbuka added to the score with a 14-yard rushing touchdown after Irving’s long run opened the third quarter.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 316 yards but struggled with two interceptions, including one that sealed the game for Tampa Bay.
The big picture: The Buccaneers' victory boosts their morale and keeps them within reach of the division lead, only 1.5 games back. Meanwhile, the Cowboys face mounting pressure as they fell to 2-3, struggling to find consistency under coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Prescott's performance included a late touchdown pass to George Pickens but was marred by turnovers.
CeeDee Lamb, a key target for Dallas, left the game with a quadriceps injury after catching just two passes for 9 yards.
The Cowboys’ defense, already under scrutiny, missed opportunities to capitalize on Buccaneers mistakes.
What they're saying: Post-game reactions highlighted the contrasting emotions between the two teams. Buccaneers players celebrated their first win, whereas Cowboys players expressed frustration over their performance.
"I didn’t plan on being 2-3, disappointed by that for sure," Schottenheimer said. "But we’re just getting started. There’s a lot of football left and we’re gonna play besser."
Irving noted, "It feels great to finally get that win. We’ve been working hard, and it’s nice to see it pay off."
By the numbers: The game featured notable statistics that underscored the Buccaneers’ performance.
Irving averaged 7.9 yards per carry on his 21 attempts.
Daniels led the longest Buccaneers drive since 2007, tying the game at seven early in the second quarter.
The Buccaneers amassed 241 rushing yards total, a stark improvement from previous games.
What's next: The Buccaneers will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, hoping to build on this victory and continue their climb in the NFC South standings.
The Cowboys will travel to Green Bay on the same day, looking to rebound from this disappointing loss.
Mayfield is expected to miss at least one more game, giving Daniels another chance to prove himself as a starter.