Buccaneers end 0-4 start with 24-16 upset of Cowboys behind Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay snapped its 0-4 start with a 24-16 win over Dallas on Thursday night, leaning on Bucky Irving’s career-best 165 rushing yards and a steady performance from rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. The undrafted rookie, making only his second start while Baker Mayfield sits with a thumb injury, completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown without turning the ball over. [Buccaneers game report](https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-win-dallas-cowboys-week-5-2026-score-24-16) · [Associated Press report](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/10/08/sports/buccaneers-cowboys-bucky-irving/) Irving scored twice, including the go-ahead touchdown after a 72-yard run helped set up Tampa Bay’s decisive third-quarter surge. The Bucs forced three turnovers, and linebacker Alex Anzalone’s interception with just over a minute left ended Dallas’ last chance to rally. The Cowboys still moved the ball through the air—Dak Prescott threw for 316 yards and George Pickens had 130 receiving yards—but Prescott was intercepted twice. The result gives Tampa Bay its first win of the season, though the team remains 1-4. Dallas falls to 2-3 after entering the night with one of the league’s most productive offenses. The game drew active postgame discussion around whether the upset was the season’s biggest so far and what the loss says about Dallas’ defense and decision-making. MushiFeed infographic based on the Buccaneers’ official game report and AP statistics.