Embarrassing loss for the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night as the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers went to Arlington and beat the Cowboys 24-16. Dallas falls to 2-3 after dropping what could be their most winnable game of the season. Cowboys travel to Lambeau Field to meet the Packers Sunday evening.
☝️ down. More football ahead. pic.twitter.com/U2OSJJw0hw
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 9, 2026
After the first drive of the game in which the Cowboys went 70 yards in 9 plays, capped by a Javonte Williams 1 yard TD run, Dallas looked like a team that hadn’t been on the practice field during the short week. Tampa had a fantastic gameplan with an assortment of blitzes that the Cowboys didn’t pick up. Normally, Dak Prescott is very good throwing against the blitz, which makes sense since he has CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens to throw the ball to against man coverage. Not on Thursday night. The Bucs didn’t register a sack, but they greatly affected Prescott and often caused him to deliver the ball earlier and less accurately than he wanted to. Couple that with a meager 50 yards rushing, 21 of which came on one Williams run, and it was a rough night for Dallas offensively.
Defense was on one last night 😤 pic.twitter.com/sppEpt88ek
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 9, 2026
Cowboys led 10-7 at the half, but Tampa Bay took a 14-10 lead on their first third quarter drive, then an interception led to another Bucs TD, and after KaVontae Turpin fumbled the ensuing kickoff, leading to a Tampa FG, the Cowboys found themselves down 24-10 on an anemic night for the offense. After a goal line stand with 8:32 left, Dallas marched 99 yards in 10 plays, capped by a Pickens 18 yard TD catch. For some inexplicable reason, the Cowboys chose to go for 2, and were unsuccessful. Dallas had life after forcing a 3 and out, but on the next drive, Jake Ferguson flat dropped a Prescott pass at the Bucs’ 12, Alex Anzalone caught the ball in mid air, and Tampa ran out the clock to seal the win. I’d like to think the Cowboys’ offense will play better the rest of the season, and they probably will, but the Bucs put a heck of a defensive plan on tape that I imagine defensive coaches will pour over.
Could listen to this on repeat 🔁
📻: #PITvsTB Oct. 18 @ 1 p.m. ET on @98rocktampabay pic.twitter.com/Odsx79s3kE
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 12, 2026
The Cowboys’ defense wasn’t any better. The Bucs tied the game at 7-7 after a 15 play, 73 yard drive that consumed 10:58 off the clock. Dallas also surrendered a 72 yard run to Bucky Irving on the first play of the third quarter, part of a 21 carry 165 yard performance for the Bucs’ RB. On the next drive, the Cowboys completely lost Tez Johnson for a 64 yard reception, his only catch of the night, and three plays later, Tampa Bay was up 21-10. Former Jayhawk Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie making only the second start of his career, looked in full control against Dallas’ defense. The Bucs ran the ball at will, racking up 241 yards on 39 carries, and Tampa nearly doubled the Cowboys in time of possession. If you can find a negative adjective or adverb, it applies.
This play looks great from every angle 🔥
🔜#PITvsTB Oct. 18 @ 1 p.m. ET on CBS pic.twitter.com/CLBMsYPrKl
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 11, 2026
Dallas travels to Green Bay Sunday night at 7:20 on NBC, WWLS 98.1, ESPN 640, and WKY 930. Always fun to see these two longtime foes meet. Packers are coming off their best performance of the season, a 31-7 trouncing of the Chicago Bears. Jordan Love has been much more accurate in the Packers’ last two games, wins over Tampa Bay and Chicago. Love is 3rd in the league with 1,408 passing yards and has thrown for 10 TD’s against 3 INT’s. Green Bay’s offensive line has protected Love better recently; Love was sacked 7 times in the Packers’ first two games, but only 3 times over the last 3 games. Green Bay has struggled mightily running the ball, only averaging 3.1 yards per carry and 60 yards per game, which is last in the NFL by a mile. Christian Watson is having a nice season, as he’s fifth in the NFL with 474 receiving yards, over 18 yards a catch, and 6 scores. Defensively, S Evan Williams is 5th in the league with 49 tackles, and S Xavier McKinney is tied for the league lead with 3 INT’s. Micah Parsons is still recovering from tearing his ACL in December and is not expected to be back on Sunday night for a defense that is 8th in yards allowed and 5th against the pass. If I had any faith in the Cowboys’ defense, I’d pick them to win this game. It’s a good spot for Dallas; Cowboys have had 3 extra days to rest and prepare, Dallas is coming off of a loss, and Green Bay is coming off a blowout win over their biggest rival. The Packers only being a 1 1/2 point favorite makes me want to lean Dallas as well. I just can’t put any trust in the Cowboys’ defense to stop anyone, and I’d bet that Green Bay rushes the ball much better than they have this season, which should open up plenty of room for Love to hit big plays against Dallas’ secondary.
Packers 34 Cowboys 24
Rest high, Iron Mike.
Matt Meyer
@Bluto51
Join HC Brian Schottenheimer from the @thestarinfrisco for a press conference presented by Miller Lite
Up Next 📺: #DALvsGB 10/18 on NBC
#DallasCowboys | @MillerLite https://t.co/aKatKd70aC— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 12, 2026
