Cowboys defeat Buccaneers 26-24 in massive upset

On By Littum

The Dallas Cowboys won their fourth game in five weeks and upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24 on “Sunday Night Football.”

Cowboys cornerback Daron Bland forced a fumble on the first play of the Buccaneers’ final offensive possession, squashing a potential game-winning drive and securing the victory for Dallas.

The loss was costly for Tampa Bay, which fell from first place in the NFC South to out of the playoffs.

Bland’s forced fumble was a shocking play in a game filled with them. After Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield narrowly escaped a sack and turned the ball over to running back Rachaad White, Bland stripped White as he scrambled for several yards and then recovered the loose ball.

Mayfield completed 31 of 43 passes for 304 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the loss.

Meanwhile, quarterback Cooper Rush played well for the Cowboys, throwing for 292 yards and a touchdown.

Dallas came out strong offensively, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before eventually taking a 23-14 halftime lead. After a field goal on their first possession of the second half, however, the Cowboys would not score again. But their defense came up with several big stops to prevent a Tampa Bay comeback — including two key turnovers.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Mayfield appeared to find Jalen McMillan for a 46-yard touchdown on a deep pass, but as McMillan dropped downfield, Jourdan Lewis wrestled the ball away for an interception.

Two drives later, after the Bucs made it a two-point game, Bland ended the game with his forced fumble.

Dallas competed admirably despite being eliminated from the playoffs before the game. The Cowboys improved to 7-8. They will play the Philadelphia Eagles next week.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, has had a rollercoaster season. The Buccaneers started 4-2, then lost four games and then won four straight before Sunday’s loss, which dropped them to 8-7. The Bucs now have the same record as the division-leading Atlanta Falcons, but trail them in the standings after being swept in their two-game season series.

Tampa Bay will play the Carolina Panthers in Week 17.