Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16
RB Bucky Irving leads Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense
With Baker Mayfield out of the lineup, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels would not be able to carry the Buccaneers’ offense. He didn’t need it when he could get the ball to Bucky Irving.
Irving led the way Thursday with 165 yards on 21 carries, including a 72-yard run on the first play of the second half that turned the game around in an instant. He added two scores.
When Tampa needed a late play to run out the clock and secure the victory, Irving sealed the deal with a 22-yard run. Thursday’s record-breaking effort came at exactly the right time for the Bucs to finally get into the win column after an 0-4 start.
Can Jalon Daniels usurp Baker Mayfield’s QB1?
The short answer is simple: no, Daniels will not become the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback. But the undrafted free agent deserves credit for coming into a tough situation and playing well enough for Tampa to get its first win.
Daniels still isn’t driving the ball down the field, which will be necessary against better opponents. Additionally, the Cowboys’ defense is among the worst in the league, which can make anyone look better, especially when DaRon Bland drops what likely would have been a pick six.
Still, the freshman signal-caller used his legs to extend plays, completed most of his first throws and continued to feel more comfortable in the pocket as the game progressed. At the very least, he showed why he deserves to be the Bucs’ QB2 this season.
Dallas Cowboys defense remains dismal
The Cowboys defense’s effort last week proved to be an aberration.
To be fair, Dallas allowed almost 400 offensive yards against the Houston Texans. However, the unit played much better on key touches and slowed down the Texans’ running game.
Four days later, Tampa Bay surpassed the 400-yard mark and did so with an undrafted rookie making his first NFL road start. The Cowboys’ angles and tackling were terrible. Dallas couldn’t make a stop when absolutely necessary late in the contest. Clearly, the group is poorly managed, because the unit has too many individual talents not to improve in the long term.
Instead, the Cowboys rank 31st in total defense heading into this weekend’s action only because the Detroit Lions are the only NFL team giving up more than 300 passing yards per game.
WR CeeDee Lamb goes from unstoppable to injured
Lamb destroyed the Texans defense last weekend. After 17 receptions, Tampa Bay of course had to play him at any time. Lamb finished Thursday’s game with two receptions for nine yards.
Two things happened along the way.
First, Lamb’s presence allowed others to shine. Specifically, George Pickens posted a season-high nine catches for 130 yards. Second, the five-time Pro Bowl receiver suffered a quad injury. Lamb tried to play during the second half, but he clearly wasn’t comfortable.
The loss coupled with Lamb’s situation makes the 2-3 Cowboys tougher to root for as the season progresses.
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