ARLINGTON, Texas — Baker Mayfield returned to Texas with hopes of keeping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in playoff contention. However, that goal became complicated after a 26-24 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, which stripped Tampa Bay of its control over its playoff destiny.
Cooper Rush connected with a teammate for a touchdown pass, and kicker Brandon Aubrey successfully executed two impressive 58-yard field goals, contributing to the Cowboys’ victory. This defeat snapped the Buccaneers’ four-game winning streak and left them at an 8-7 record, tied with Atlanta for the top position in the NFC South. The Falcons hold the tiebreaker due to their success in both matchups against the Buccaneers this season, which threatens Tampa Bay’s ongoing four-year run in the playoffs.
“We lost, we fell back in the pack,” Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles reflected. “We’ve got to accept it and move on. We had our opportunities but need to focus on our game and let everything else unfold as it will.”
As for the Cowboys, their hopes for a playoff run ended hours before kickoff when Washington clinched a last-minute victory over Philadelphia, eliminating Dallas from postseason contention. Despite this, the Cowboys managed to improve their performance, winning four out of their last five games after facing a significant five-game losing streak.
“There wasn’t a lot of discussion about our playoff situation,” Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy stated. “Before the game, I emphasized just playing like we have been recently. We’re in a good rhythm, and we need to keep that going.”
Mayfield, a former Texas high school football star and Heisman Trophy winner, found himself in a challenging position late in the game when he attempted to lead his team back from a nine-point deficit. With less than two minutes remaining, he managed to escape a sack and pitched the ball to Rachaad White. However, DaRon Bland intervened, stripping the ball away just as White was going down at the Bucs’ 32-yard line, which allowed the Cowboys to run out the clock.
Throughout the game, Mayfield completed 303 passing yards with two touchdowns, one being a 13-yard connection with Ryan Miller that narrowed the score to just two points with 2:36 to go. The Buccaneers nearly had another chance to take the lead when they regained possession with 1:40 left on the clock, but Bland managed to create a decisive turnover, marking his first takeaway in a season affected by injuries. Last year, he famously set a record with five interception returns for touchdowns.
“There were moments today when we just weren’t careful with the ball,” Mayfield noted. “Bland made some crucial plays, and we’ve got to be better holding onto it. They capitalized when it counted.”
At a pivotal moment late in the game, Dallas seemed to have the upper hand when Jourdan Lewis intercepted a deep pass at the goal line, but they then failed to gain a first down on the subsequent possession. Fortunately, their defense stepped up in critical moments. “It was remarkable to see how we bounced back with those turnovers in the fourth quarter,” McCarthy said appreciatively.
The Buccaneers’ defense had excelled, allowing the fewest points in the league during their winning stretch, but they faced early challenges against Rush and standout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who posted over 100 receiving yards in the first half for the second consecutive week. Despite battling a shoulder issue all season, Lamb played hard, catching a 52-yard pass in the second quarter that set up an easy score for Ezekiel Elliott, bringing the score to 20-7 in favor of Dallas.
Lamb finished the game with 105 receiving yards, followed by Rush, who threw for 292 yards and a touchdown to Jalen Tolbert in the first quarter. Before halftime, Mayfield managed to reach the end zone with an 11-yard touchdown to teammate Jalen McMillan, but Dallas responded with another long-range kick from Aubrey, ending the half with a 23-14 lead.
“I’ve always said it, this team won’t back down,” Mayfield commented. “That’s the attitude we strive for. However, it would be beneficial to avoid needing to come back like this by executing better earlier in the game.”
In terms of kicking prowess, Aubrey set a record by nailing three field goals from over 50 yards, bringing his seasonal total to 14, which is now an NFL record.
Regarding player injuries, Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard was sidelined during the second half due to a hamstring issue, while Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks was inactive due to a calf injury.
Looking ahead, the Buccaneers will host the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, while the Cowboys will travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles on the same day.