Buccaneers Stun Cowboys 24-16 as Rookie Daniels and Irving Deliver First Win

The previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked into AT&T Stadium and walked out with the upset of the young NFL season, beating the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 on Thursday Night Football.

Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, making his second start in place of the injured Baker Mayfield, completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in a poised, mistake-free performance. Daniels became the first undrafted rookie in the common draft era to complete his first eight passes in a game, and the win was his first as an NFL starter.

The night belonged to running back Bucky Irving, who rushed for a career-high 165 yards on 21 carries and scored twice — once on the ground and once on a 5-yard touchdown catch from Daniels. His weaving 72-yard burst to open the second half flipped a 10-7 deficit into a lead Tampa Bay never gave back, part of a 17-0 third-quarter blitz.

Dallas (2-3) got 316 passing yards and a late touchdown from Dak Prescott, but his two interceptions — the second a deflection sealed by Alex Anzalone with 1:12 left — proved fatal. George Pickens caught nine passes for 130 yards and a score, while CeeDee Lamb managed just two catches before leaving with a quadriceps injury. Tempers flared afterward when a stadium employee heckled Prescott walking to the locker room; head coach Brian Schottenheimer called it "motivating." The 1-4 Buccaneers finally have their season's first win.