The injury-riddled Dallas Cowboys stunned the NFL world, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home 26-24. With that loss, the Bucs move to second place in the NFC South with two games left on the schedule and two head-to-head losses to the first-place Atlanta Falcons, who improved to 8-7 earlier today.
Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush had one of his best performances of the season despite the loss. He opened the game going eight for nine passing with 60 yards and a touchdown to give the ‘Boys a 10-0 headed into the second quarter. He finished the matchup completing 26 of 35 passes for 292 passing yards and a TD.
talk to ’em tolbert 🗣️@Jalen8Tolbert hauls in the TD!
📺: #TBvsDAL on NBC
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/t0FJdazHxt— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 23, 2024
Bucs running back Bucky Irving continued to stuff the stat sheet. The NFL’s leading rookie rusher added 68 yards to his resume, bringing his rushing total to 920 on the season. He also tallied another rushing touchdown, his seventh of the 2024-25 campaign, to cut Dallas’ lead to 10-7 early in the second quarter.
Star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb recorded seven catches for 105 yards, including a 52-yard reception to set up the Cowboys’ second touchdown of the game, giving them a 20-7 lead. With this game, Lamb passed Hall of Famer Drew Pearson on the Cowboys’ career receptions list, moving into fourth place in franchise history with 489 catches.
Tampa Bay wideout Mike Evans was his typical sensational self with a team-high 69 receiving yards in the game. 30 of those yards came on the Bucs’ last drive of the half, resulting in an 11-yard Baker Mayfield touchdown pass to bring the score to 20-14.
Brandon Aubrey managed to connect on two more 50+ yard field goals in the second and third quarters to put Dallas ahead 26-14. With his third-quarter field goal, Aubrey broke the NFL’s single-season record for most successful 50+-yard field goal attempts.
record-setting field goal for brandon 🫡#ProBowlVote | @Brandon_Aubrey
📺: #TBvsDAL on NBC
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/p4jW8pTsSj— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 23, 2024
With time winding down in the third quarter, Tampa Bay made a 45-yard field goal to cut the lead to 26-17 heading into the fourth quarter.
Baker Mayfield did not look like himself for most of the game. He was sacked four times and was actually evaluated for a concussion at one point after taking a hard hit to the head. He also threw an uncharacteristic interception with 6:30 left in the game to kill a drive that would’ve made it a one-score game. Jourdan Lewis was the player who recorded the pick for his tenth career interception.
Tampa Bay would attempt a furious comeback, scoring a touchdown with 2:35 remaining in the game to bring the score to 26-24. Tampa would force a three-and-out to get the ball back with a chance to win the game with 1:40 left.
On the first play of the Bucs’ drive, Baker Mayfield avoided a sack and completed a shovel pass to running back Rachaad White who fumbled the ball away, sealing the 26-24 victory for the Cowboys.
DaRon locks it up 🔒
📺: #TBvsDAL on NBC
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LvklCbYJ1e pic.twitter.com/GPFQfno0PL— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 23, 2024
The Buccaneers no longer control their own destiny. Even if they win out, they still need the Falcons to lose one more game in order to make the playoffs.
Prior to this game, the Buccaneers had an 88% chance to clinch a playoff berth. According to NFL.com, Tampa now only has a 51% chance to make the postseason following the loss.
