Dallas Cowboys suffer shock loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers as Bucky Irving and rookie QB Jalon Daniels impress

Bucky Irving and rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels starred as the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured a shock 24-16 road win over the Dallas Cowboys on on Thursday night.

Irving ran for a career-high 165 yards, including a 72-yard run that set up Tampa Bay's go-ahead touchdown, while Irving himself twice found the end zone.

Daniels tossed one of those TDs to Irving in the first half while directing a turnover-free offense amid several Dallas miscues in what was only the undrafted rookie's second NFL start.

• Latest NFL fixtures, results and UK kick-off times
• Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract

Daniels, who was 19 of 25 for 189 yards, is filling in for Bucs starting QB Baker Mayfield, who is expected to be sidelined at least one more game with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand.

Dak Prescott led a 99-yard drive and threw a 13-yard TD pass to George Pickens in the fourth quarter before his second interception off a tipped pass helped Tampa Bay clinch the win in the final two minutes.

Prescott addresses 'embarrassing' remark after defeat

A clip surfaced on social media after the game in which a stadium worker could be heard saying "embarrassing" as Prescott walked past.

"If you're saying it's embarrassing, say it's embarrassing. If you're saying it to me, then say it to me," Prescott said. "I hate that it's even being talked about, to be honest with you."

The 33-year-old stopped short of using the same word to describe the loss, but added: "I think coach [Brian Schottenheimer] said it best in the locker room: In this league, you've got to win the games you're supposed to win.

"And when a winless team comes into your home stadium in a Thursday night primetime game, we're supposed to win that."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also expressed his anger at the result. "Extraordinarily, extraordinarily disappointed," he said afterwards. "You really do need to get it done when it's there to take."

Stats leaders:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Passing: Jalon Daniels, 19/25, 189 yards, 1 TD
• Rushing: Bucky Irving, 21 carries, 165 yards, 2 TDs
• Receiving: Tex Johnson, 1 catch, 64 yards

Dallas Cowboys

• Passing: Dak Prescott, 24/42, 316 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
• Rushing: Javonte Williams, 12 carries, 45 yards
• Receiving: George Pickens, 9 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD

The Cowboys (2-3) continued an up-and-down start to the season, this time with an offense that was as sloppy as the defense has been in both of their seasons under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

After Irving's long run on the first play of the second half was followed by receiver Emeka Egbuka's 14-yard TD run on a jet sweep, Prescott threw his first interception and the Dallas defense left Tez Johnson wide open on a 64-yard grab that led to Irving's second scoring plunge from up near the goal line.

With the score 21-10 to the visitors, KaVontae Turpin's fumble on the subsequent kickoff led to a Tampa Bay (1-4) field goal, but only after the Bucs converted a third-and-21 from the Dallas 48-yard line with Daniels' 21-yard pass to Egbuka.

For the game, the Cowboys were missing one of the pieces they recently added to try to fix a porous defense. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr was a late scratch in what was supposed to be his second appearance since arriving in a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

Prescott was 24 of 42 for 316 yards in his first two-interception game of the season - his first picks since their opening defeat to the New York Giants.

Watch the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every minute of the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on Sunday February 14, 2027. Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.