Thursday Night Football delivered Week 5’s first surprise: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winless and starting rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, beat the Dallas Cowboys 24–16 at AT&T Stadium. The NFL’s official highlight package from the game is featured here.
The story of the night was on the ground. Running back Bucky Irving rushed for 165 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown burst, as Tampa Bay piled up 241 rushing yards and controlled the game’s tempo. Daniels, making his first career start, protected the ball and found Irving for a touchdown pass to cap a long drive, while linebacker Alex Anzalone’s late interception closed the door on Dallas’s comeback attempt. The Cowboys led 10–7 at halftime before Tampa Bay scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter.
For Dallas, the loss deepens the questions following the team around its defense and its consistency against physical running teams. For Tampa Bay, a first win with a rookie quarterback changes the entire temperature of the season — the difference between a team playing out the schedule and a team with something to build.
Our Sports & Entertainment Desk’s written account of the week’s NFL storylines, including Week 5’s marquee matchups, runs in the Sports section.
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