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Ivory CoastTampa Bay Stuns Dallas Behind Rookie Quarterback Jalon Daniels
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels and Bucky Irving led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 24-16 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Big Turnaround
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured their first win of the season on Thursday night, beating the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 on the road. Tampa Bay entered the game as the only winless team in the NFC. They trailed by three points at halftime but exploded for 17 points in the third quarter to take control.
Inside linebacker Alex Anzalone sealed the victory by intercepting Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott with just 1:22 remaining in the game. It was a massive moment for Anzalone, who has faced criticism while trying to fit into coach Todd Bowles' defensive scheme. This victory marked the Buccaneers' first road win on a Thursday night since October 2021.
Rookie Steps Up and Ground Game Dominates
With Baker Mayfield sidelined by a dislocated right thumb suffered in Week 3, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels made his second consecutive start at quarterback. Daniels played efficiently, completing 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. He also connected with wide receiver Tez Johnson on a deep 64 yard pass.
The Buccaneers' running game provided major support, racking up 241 yards on the ground. Bucky Irving led the way with 165 yards on 21 carries. Irving scored two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air. He also broke free for a 72 yard run, which was the longest run by a Buccaneer player since the 2020 season.
Cowboys Struggle to Find Consistency
For the Dallas Cowboys, the loss drops their record to 2-3. The Dallas offense started strong with a 70 yard touchdown drive on their opening possession, capped by a one yard touchdown run from Javonte Williams. However, the offense struggled after that, and the team fell into a 24-10 deficit during the third quarter.
Prescott finished the game with 24 completions on 32 attempts for 316 yards and a touchdown, but his two interceptions proved costly. George Pickens contributed nine receptions for 130 yards and a score. Defensively, Dallas struggled once again, allowing 20 or more points for the 12th consecutive game.
What it means for the next game
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL, Sun, 18 Oct): Tampa Bay Buccaneers win 40%, Pittsburgh Steelers win 60%; projected score Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19, Pittsburgh Steelers 21. Our safest pick: Buccaneers +10.
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers (NFL, Mon, 19 Oct): Green Bay Packers win 41%, Dallas Cowboys win 59%; projected score Green Bay Packers 24, Dallas Cowboys 27. Our safest pick: Over 43.5 points.
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