The Dallas Cowboys don’t have much time to enjoy their comeback victory over Houston. After Dallas erased a 10-point halftime deficit to beat the Texans 34-30 on Sunday, they immediately started prepping for a Thursday night matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay enters the game at 0-4 after a 17-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers, while Dallas comes in at 2-2.
The Buccaneers’ record doesn’t tell the whole story of where this team stands, though. Tampa Bay has dealt with injuries, inconsistent
quarterback play and an offense that has struggled to turn opportunities into points, while its defense has kept the team competitive through the first month of the season.
And now, with just three days between games, Tampa Bay will arrive in Dallas without the quarterback it expected to lead it through the season. So what exactly are the Cowboys getting on Thursday night?
Baker Mayfield won’t be there
Baker Mayfield was supposed to be the centerpiece of Tampa Bay’s offense this season, and through the first three games, he had thrown for 615 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 63.5% of his passes. He also added 65 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Those numbers haven’t produced the kind of offensive explosion Tampa expected, but Mayfield’s absence still changes the complexion of this game. He suffered a dislocated right thumb in Week 3 and is expected to miss at least three games, meaning he will not be available Thursday night against Dallas.
That leaves rookie Jalon Daniels as the Buccaneers’ starter. Daniels made his first NFL start against Green Bay in Week 4, completing 19 of 30 passes for 148 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran nine times for 64 yards, giving Tampa a slightly different look when their QB scrambles.
There were some encouraging moments for Daniels against Green Bay, but the Buccaneers ultimately couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. He also threw an interception that helped set up a Packers field goal, and Tampa’s final possession ended without the game-winning drive the team needed.
That makes Thursday a very different quarterback challenge for Dallas than the one it would have faced against Mayfield. Instead of dealing with an experienced veteran who has played more than 100 NFL games, the Cowboys will be facing a rookie quarterback making his second career start on a short week and on the road.
Tampa still has plenty of weapons
The quarterback situation may have changed, but Tampa hasn’t suddenly become an offense without playmakers. Bucky Irving remains one of the Buccaneers’ most important offensive pieces. Through four games, Irving has rushed for 241 yards on 56 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, and has added 61 receiving yards.
Chris Godwin Jr. is another veteran Dallas will have to account for. Godwin has 16 catches for 142 yards through four games, while second-year receiver Emeka Egbuka has emerged as another important part of the passing attack with 15 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Then there is Cade Otton. The Buccaneers’ tight end currently leads the team in receiving yards with 157 on 15 receptions, averaging 10.5 yards per catch. He has become an increasingly reliable target for Tampa’s quarterbacks, and his involvement could become even more important with Daniels now running the offense.
The Buccaneers have also gotten production from receiver Ted Hurst III, who has eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. His 16.0 yards per reception average is actually the highest among Tampa players with multiple receptions.
So while Tampa’s offense has struggled to score consistently, Dallas can’t afford to approach Thursday as though it is simply facing a struggling offense with a rookie quarterback. There are too many legitimate weapons available for the Buccaneers to create problems if the Cowboys’ defense isn’t disciplined.
Tampa’s defense has quietly kept the team alive
If there is one thing the Buccaneers have done well through the first four weeks, it is keeping games within reach. Tampa has allowed fewer than 300 total yards in three consecutive games, including just 283 against Green Bay in Week 4. The Buccaneers also forced multiple turnovers against the Packers, recovering a fumble and intercepting Jordan Love during the fourth quarter.
The Buccaneers have only allowed their opponents to score nine touchdowns in the first four games.
David Walker leads the team with two sacks, while Alex Anzalone and Anthony Nelson each have one. Tampa has also gotten strong early contributions from linebacker Josiah Trotter, cornerback Keionte Scott and cornerback Zyon McCollum, who lead the team in tackles with 17, 16 and 15 respectively.
The defense has essentially kept giving Tampa opportunities to win games that the offense hasn’t consistently been able to finish. The Cowboys just demonstrated against Houston that they can overcome defensive problems by scoring 34 points, but Tampa’s defense has shown that it can make opponents work for every possession.
Tampa’s defense will also be missing one of its most important players. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. suffered a rib fracture during Sunday’s loss to Green Bay and is expected to miss two to four weeks. Winfield had recorded 24 tackles through the first four games and has been one of the Buccaneers’ most important defensive players since entering the league.
A Thursday night game with two very different teams
The Cowboys and Buccaneers enter Thursday night in very different places.
Dallas is 2-2 and coming off its highest-scoring comeback of the season. CeeDee Lamb is coming off a historic performance, Dak Prescott just threw for 335 yards against Houston, and the Cowboys have scored at least 20 points in every game this season.
Tampa Bay is 0-4 and has already had to change quarterbacks because of injury. Even still, the Buccaneers have a legitimate running back in Irving, productive receiving options in Godwin, Egbuka and Otton, and a defense that has consistently kept opponents under 300 total yards.
The Buccaneers have been close in every game, and their defense has proven capable of keeping them within striking distance. If Dallas wants to improve on its 2-2 record, Thursday night is an opportunity to do exactly that. Now the Cowboys get a Tampa Bay team that may not be able to match them offensively, but has spent the first month of the season proving that it can make a game uncomfortable for anybody.
