First Quarter:
The 0-4 Bucs up against the 2-2 Dallas Cowboys took the Thursday night spotlight. Centerstage and ready to let up a score Tampa’s defense took the field. Dallas didn’t find last week’s 17-catch superstar, Ceedee Lamb, on their opening drive but they did find the end zone. Following two Buccaneer penalties inside of 10-yard line, Dallas finally converted handing the ball off and pushing Tampa’s front back across the goal line. 7-0, Dallas.
Jalon Daniels, off of his first career start, took the field
with a confident swagger. That boisterous posture flashed on the team’s first third down attempt when Daniels pulled the ball down and ran through a Dallas defender at the first down to move the chains. In a drive that was only the second of opening quarter and lasted for the entirety of that quarter, Daniels found a way to do what this team’s offense has consistently struggled to do all year— Spread the ball around.
Second Quarter:
Tampa’s first drive saw multiple receptions by both Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, while still finding Cade Otton for his customary underneath completions. The Bucs also held the ball for 15 plays and over 10 minutes before finding six points and a tie game. In what was their longest drive since 2007, the Buccaneers reminded fans and maybe even themselves that they have playmakers, they have a good offensive line, and that they are capable of playing high level offensive football when all of those facets are working in harmony.
Jalon Daniels started Thursday’s game 8-8, however, his second drive kicked off backed up, began with an incompletion and ended with punt. Dallas’ second punt of the game would follow once again pinning Tampa inside of their own 10-yard line. The half ticked past its halfway point the Bucs scooted across midfield briefly before an ugly penalty-laden sequence bounced them backwards. Tristan Wirfs got it underway with a false start on third and one which backed the Bucs up to a third and must pass. Their third and must pass led its way to a field goal— 61 yards away, but a field goal. Chase McLaughlin, groin hindrance or not, nailed the kick from 61. Bucs’ fans would soon see yellow on the field and find out the kick didn’t. The Buccaneers were late in their decision making, forcing the special teams unit to take a delay of game and in turn having to punt.
The Buccaneers’ defense had shutout Dak Prescott and co., post their debut drive. The Cowboys’ final drive of the first half featured their first true down the field completion, a play where even though he had respectable positioning, Alex Anzalone wound up on a poster. Still, chunk play or not Dallas only managed three points. 10-7, Cowboys.
Third Quarter:
With the ball first, lightening struck. The storm’s name— Bucky Irving. Irving ripped an ankle breaking detonation. Tampa Bay segued Bucky’s highlight reel into an Emeka Egbuka rushing touchdown to cap off a 90-yard touchdown drive. 14-10, Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers, a team that has not played anything close to complimentary football in 2026, gave the Cowboys a small dose of what that might look like. Dallas’ ensuing possession was thwarted by an unlikely foe— Yaya Diaby’s hands. Dropping into coverage, Diaby found a ball bouncing across hands of defenders and receivers alike until the pitter patter of the the ball in flight land softly in the waiting arms of Tampa Bay’s edge-rusher for his first career interception.
Working in some of that complimentary football again, the Buccaneers’ offense took that turnover and turned it into points— Immediately, via a Tez Johnson Deep ball. Johnson’s defender was sat down as he lost his footing trying to run with Johnson down field. The Daniels—Johnson Connection was the setup for another Bucky Irving splash, his second trip across the goal line in the game. Five plays, 75 yards, and a Bucky Irving touchdown run puts the Bucs out in front by 11. 21-10, Tampa Bay.
After touchdowns come kickoffs— A Kavonte Turpin fumble, the first of his career, would give Tampa another drive and more points, by way of a Chase McLaughlin field goal. 24-10, Buccaneers.
While the Cowboys’ would get to play offense after Chase McLaughlin’s next kickoff, it wouldn’t be for long— A quick four out.
Fourth Quarter:
The fourth quarter belonged to Tampa’s offensive line. Once again Dallas’ front was mauled into a 10+ play drive that moved the Bucs all the way down to the one-yard line where Tampa’s historically conservative head coach made decision that was definitely a decision, turning away a chip shot field goal and three-score lead for a fourth down conversion attempt. That attempt would be a failed one and directly transition into a 99-yard touchdown drive for the Cowboys. 24-18, Buccaneers.
Two-minute warning, 34 yards from the game-evening two-point conversion attempt, and Dak Prescott found his second Tampa Bay defender. Perhaps even more unlikely set of hands as Prescott found Alex Anzalone, Tampa Bay’s most embattled defenders through the first month of the 2026 season. Bucs win— A shocking upset, a performance to be proud of.
