ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: On December 22, 2024, in Arlington, Jalen Tolbert #1 and KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate after Tolbert caught a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium.
Texas’ Arlington (AP) Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers lost control of their postseason destiny as the Dallas Cowboys defeated Tampa Bay 26–24 on Sunday night. Cooper Rush threw for a touchdown, and Brandon Aubrey booted two 58-yarders among four field goals.
Atlanta leads the NFC South with two games left after the Bucs (8-7) ended a four-game winning streak, but the Falcons have the tiebreaker since they defeated Tampa Bay in both of their meetings.
The Cowboys (7-8) were eliminated from postseason contention prior to the prime-time kickoff, ending their three-year playoff run. Dallas did, however, win for the fourth time in five games following a five-game losing streak that threatened their chances of making the playoffs.
After escaping a sack and shoveling the it to Rachaad White in the final two minutes, Mayfield, a Texas native who plays close to his high school and college roots, was in a position to lead a comeback from a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes.
Before White struck the ground, DaRon Bland tore the ball from his hands, giving Dallas possession at the Tampa Bay 32-yard line and letting the Cowboys finish the game.
With 2:36 remaining, Mayfield threw for two touchdowns, including a 13-yard pass to Ryan Miller that put the Bucs within two.
Bland, who forced his first turnover in an injury-plagued season a year after the cornerback established an NFL record with five interception returns for touchdowns, gave the Bucs the ball back with 1:50 left before the big play.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: On December 22, 2024, in Arlington, Texas, Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after making an interception in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. (Image courtesy of Getty Image/Ron Jenkins)
The Tampa Bay defense, which gave up an NFL-low 15 points during the winning streak, struggled early to stop Rush and receiver CeeDee Lamb, who recorded his second consecutive 100-yard first half.
On a 52-yard grab in the second quarter, Lamb, who has spent the majority of the season dealing with a bum right shoulder, came down hard on it once more. Lamb battled his way inside the 1-yard line after returning from the bench for a grab underneath, which allowed Ezekiel Elliott to dive for a 20–7 Dallas lead.
A week after scoring 105 first-half yards against Carolina, Lamb reached 100 yards before the break and finished with 105 yards.
Mayfield needed less than a minute on a drive to his 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan in the final minute of the first half, but the Cowboys answered with Aubrey s second 58-yard field goal on the final play before the break for a 23-14 lead.
Long-distance duel
Aubrey has set an NFL record with 14 field goals this season, including three of which are at least 50 yards. Houston s Ka imi Fairbairn has 13, so the record remains up for grabs.
Injuries
Tampa Bay WR Sterling Shepard was ruled out in the second half with a hamstring injury. … Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks was inactive with a calf injury after going through a pregame workout.
Up next
Buccaneers: Host Carolina next Sunday.
Cowboys: At Philadelphia next Sunday.
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