Buccaneers 24 vs 26 Cowboys, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Week 16

Cowboys upset Bucs

*game highlights below this post

The Dallas Cowboys beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a primetime Sunday Night Football match. The Cowboys found out that they were eliminated from the playoffs after the Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles, but they still put up a fight against the Buccaneers. The Bucs, on the other hand, needed a win badly to stay in the playoff race. They're still not out of it after the loss, but fell to 8-7 and are now level with the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South, so it'll be a lot more of a challenge now.

Bucs' Baker  Mayfield finished the game with 31 of 43 completions for 303 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, and was sacked three times for a loss of 27 yards. Bucky  Irving led the running backs with 16 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown. Mike  Evans made his return and was the Bucs' leading receiver with six catches for 69 yards. Jalen  McMillan added five receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown and Ryan  Miller had two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown.

Cowboys quarterback Cooper  Rush, filling in for injured Dak Prescott, finished the game with 26 of 35 completions for 292 yards and one touchdown and no interceptions, and one sack for a loss of six yards. Rico  Dowdle didn't have quite the monster game he's had over the last three weeks, but he still led the rushers with 13 carries for 23 yards. CeeDee Lamb led the receivers with seven receptions for 105 yards, and Jalen  Tolbert added two catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.

Cowboys kicker Brandon  Aubrey set the NFL record for single-season field goals made from 50+ yards with 14 total. Three of his four field goals were from beyond 50 in tonight's victory over the Bucs (58, 49, 58, 53). 

The Bucs will face the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, December 29 followed by a game against the New  Orleans  Saints on Sunday, January 5 to finish the season.

The Cowboys will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, December 29 and will finish the season with a game against the Washington  Commanders on Sunday, January 5.

The BIZARRE ending

Cowboys looked ready to screw up the ending, giving the Bucs the ball back with plenty of time, but then THIS happened.

Mayfield somehow stayed on his feet with defenders all over his legs trying to take him down, got the ball away to Rachaad White who ran it forward 5 yards but then got tackled by Lewis and DaRon Bland, who forced a fumble and recovered it himself.

That gave the ball back to Dallas and they were able to run out the clock and take the win. 

Miller TD

Ryan Miller gave Bucs a TD to put them within 2 points with just over 2 minutes in the game

Mayfield throws interception to Lewis

This interception by Jourdan Lewis was a critical mistake by Mayfield

Sack by Wilson

Donovan Wilson made a sack on Mayfield - the fumble recovery was reversed

Another field goal from beyond 50 for Aubrey

Aubrey made his THIRD field goal from 50+ tonight, surpassing Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn for the most field goals made in a single season with 14 total.

Strip sack chaos indeed!

Mayfield's attempt to avoid the sack backfired on this chaotic play

Aubrey's SECOND field goal from 58

Aubrey made his second field goal from 58 yards, making 13 from 50+ on the season

McMillan TD

Mayfield made the pass to Jalen McMillan to make it a close game just ahead of halftime

Zeke TD

Lamb set up a score with a 10-yard catch just shy of the goal line and the Cowboys gave it to Ezekiel Elliott to make it official

CeeDee makes incredible catch

Rush made a 52-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb in the first half

Irving TD

Bucky Irving made the first TD for the Bucs to keep them in the game in the first half

Bucs happy to have Evans back

Mike Evans was back from injury and made his presence known 

Tolbert TD

Cooper Rush's pass to Jalen Tolbert kept Dallas in the lead early in the game

Aubrey's first of three 50+ FGs

Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey made the first points of the game with a field goal from 58 yards 

GAME OVER

And that'll do it. Dallas BEATS the Buccaneers, 26-24.

Mayfield stays on his feet with two Dallas defenders trying to pull him down, gets the ball away to White and he gains 5 yards but he's tackled by Bland and Lewis and Bland forces a FUMBLE, recovered by BLAND at the Bucs 31- Dallas' ball on 1st down there 

Anger punts to the 10 and Palmer returns it 16 yards to the 26

Bucs take final timeout

Rush pass to Ferguson for 4 yards, short of the 1st down - 4th and 2

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

That takes us to the 2-minute warning in the game. Cowboys are at their own 34 at 3rd down, 2 points ahead of Tampa Bay.

Rush pass to Lamb is caught for 5 yards - 3rd and 6, lets the clock run down to 2

Bucs take second timeout

Turpin loses a yard on a tackle by Smith - 2nd and 11

McLaughlin kicks to end zone - touchback to Cowboys 30

Mayfield made several huge plays to get downfield and finally passed to Miller for 13yards and the touchdown with McLaughlin's PAT putting the Bucs within 2 points with 2 and a half minutes to go in the game.

Cowboys' Oruwariye was injured during the play

Mayfield pass to Jarrett was good for 6 yards - 2nd and 4 at the Cowboys 13

Mayfield to McMillan AGAIN for another 16yards and another 1st down to the Cowboys 19

Mayfield to McMillan for another 10 and another 1st down

Mayfield to Durham for 7 yards - 2nd and 3

Mayfield scrambles for 12 yards - 1st down

White picks up 9 yards - 2nd and 1

Mayfield pass to Evans complete for 10 yards - 1st and 10

Mayfield to White for 4 yards - 2nd and 6

Illegal Block in the Back on Bucs' Grier - 10 yards

Anger kicks to the 15 and Palmer catches it and returns it to the 17 but there's a flag on the play

Dowdle pushes through for 6, but it's short of the 1st - 4th and 2

Dowdle picks up 2 yards - 3rd and 8

Rush's pass nearly picked by Russell, incomplete - 2nd and 10

Mayfield's pass INTERCEPTED by Lewis inside the endzone, Touchback

Mayfield pass to Palmer complete for a HUGE gain of 27 yards into Cowboys territory

Mayfield's pass incomplete to Palmer and there is an Illegal Formation call on Bucs' Wirfs, declined - 3rd and 10

Mayfield pass downfield is incomplete - 2nd and 10

Mayfieldscrambles away for 18yards and slides for the 1st down

Anger punts to the Bucs 9 and Palmer calls for the fair catch

Flournoy makes the catch but he's taken down immediately by Izien for a yard - Cowboys will punt on 4th and 6

Dowdle runs it up 3 yards - 3rd and 7

Rush pass incomplete to Ferguson - 2nd and 10

Rush's pass to Lamb was incomplete but Bucs were called for PassInterference on Dean - 9 yards

Browning punts to the Cowboys 33 and Turpin returns it a yard to the 34

Illegal Formation on Bucs' Russell - 5 yards

Mayfield under pressure by basically the whole Dallas defense, throws it away - 4th and 14 

Cowboys take first timeout

Irving wrapped up by Lawson - no gain, 3rd and 14

After review, runner was ruled down and the call was REVERSED - not a fumble, but Mayfield was sacked for a loss of 4 - 2nd and 14

Mayfield SACKED by Wilson, FUMBLES andit's RECOVERED by Cowboys' Wilson

Mayfield scrambles for 12 yards - 1st down

Irving pulled down by Vigil after 3 yards - 2nd and 7

Anger punts to the Bucs 5 and Palmer picks it up but he's tackled by Goodwin immediately for no gain.

During the punt, Bucs' Izien was called for an Illegal Blindside Block, 2 yards - 1sr down at the Bucs 3

Rush pass complete to Schoonmaker, but he's taken down after 3 yards - 4th and 12

Rush pass to Ferguson for 3 yards - 3rd and 16

Rush scrambles away and gets it to Turpin but it's ruled incomplete

Holding on Cowboys' Hoffman and Illegal Use of Hands on Bucs' Smith, offsetting

2nd and 19

Dowdle picks up a yard, but Smith is called for Holding, putting Dallas back another 10 yards - 2nd and 19

Dowdle runs into a wall for one yard - 2nd and 9

Rush pass to Flournoy complete for 14yards - 1st and 10

END THIRD QUARTER

That takes us to the end of the 3rd quarter. The Cowboys have the 26-17 lead over the Bucs and have the ball on 2nd and 8 at their own 32 to start the 4th.

Dowdle runs into a block in the middle, gets just 2 yards - 2nd and 8

McLaughlin kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Cowboys 30

McLaughlin makes the 45 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 9 points with 31 seconds to go in the 3rd quarter.

BUCS FIELD GOAL!

Mayfield pass to White and he picks up 7 - 4th and 8

Mayfield SACKED by Joseph for a loss of 6 - 3rd and 15

Irving taken down after a yard - 2nd and 9

White runs through for 17yards for the 1st down and then some

Mayfield's pass to Evans is knocked loose when he was hit hard by Wilson, incomplete - 3rd and 10

Irving is swallowed up by Lewis for no gain - 2nd and 10

Mayfield gets it to McMillan and he gets 6 yards to pick up the 1st down

Bucs take first timeout

Mayfield pass to Miller for 4 yards - 3rd and 6

Mayfield makes a deep pass down field to Palmer but it's incomplete - 2nd and 10

Mayfield pass complete to Shepard and he picks up 14yards and the 1st down 

Aubrey kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Bucs 30

Aubrey his third field goal from 50+ tonight with a 53-yarder to extend the Cowboys' lead over the Bucs with 6:33 to go in the 3rd quarter.

COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!

Rush spins away from the sack but throws it away - 4th and 6

Rush pass to Dowdle is complete and he picks up 10 - 3rd and 6

Dowdle loses a yard, pushed back by Kancey - 2nd and 16

False Start on Cowboys' Hoffman - 5 yards, 1st and 15 at the Bucs 44

Rush pass to Flournoy complete for 26 yards 

Browning punts to the Cowboys 17 and Turpin returns it 18 yards to the Cowboys 35

Mayfield's pass nearly caught by Durham but it's knocked loose on a hard tackle by Liufau - 4th and 40

Ruling was the fumble went out of bounds. Bucs will get it at their own 44 - 3rd and 40

Mayfield tries to avoid the sack under pressure by Odighizuwa and he ends up FUMBLING and it looked like it was recovered by Cowboys, but it may have bounced out of bounds first. If so, the Bucs will get it back where it went out. We'll see what the officials say after the review.

Mayfield pass is nearly picked, incomplete to Evans

Holding on Bucs' Goedeke, 10 yards - 2nd and 19

Irving picks up 1 yard - 2nd and 9

Mayfield pass to Irving for 12 yards gives Bucs the 1st down

Mayfield made the pas to Durham and he FUMBLED it but it was RECOVERED by the Bucs at the Cowboys 38 - 2nd and 7

Irving picks up 5 for the 1st down

White takes it up 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Irving takes it up again another 4 yards - 1st down

Irving pushes through for 7 yards - 2nd and 3

We're back!

Aubrey kicked to the Bucs 0 and Jarrett returned it 38 yards 

HALFTIME

That takes us to the end of the first half. The Cowboys are in the lead 23-14 after a 58-yard field goal by Brandon Aubrey ended the half. The Bucs will get the ball to start the second half.

Aubrey made his second 58-yard field goal of the night and the Cowboys were able to extend the lead ahead of the half.

COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!

Rush pass deep, but it's incomplete to Tolbert with McCollum on him - 4th and 15

Cowboys take final timeout

Rush SACKED by Diaby and Kancey for a loss of 6 - 3rd and 15

Rush pass is bobbled by Ferguson but he makes the catch but can't stop the clock - 2nd and 9

Cowboys take second timeout

Rush pass complete to Cooks for another big gain of 14yards to the 35

Cowboys takes first timeout

Rush pass complete to Ferguson for 21 yards to the Bucs 49

McLaughlin kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Cowboys 30

After several big-yardage plays to Evans and Shepard, McMillan pulled in the catch in the end zone for 10 yards and the touchdown. MCLaughlin's PAT was good and the Bucs stay in the game with 48 seconds still left in the first half.

Bucs take final timeout

White runs it up 5 yards for a 1st down at the Cowboys 10

Mayfield's pass is too long under pressure from Bland - incomplete, 3rd an 4

Mayfield pass to Durham for 6 yards - 2nd and 4

Mayfield makes a third huge pass in a row, this time another 15-yard pass to Evans to the Cowboys 20

Mayfield makes another big pass to Shepard for 20 yards

Cowboys' Bland is called for Holding, declined

Mayfield's pass 15yards is caught by Evans - 1st down

Aubrey kicks to the -2 and Jarrett returns it 31 yards to the Bucs 29

Elliott runs it in to make the touchdown official on a 1-yard run after Lamb set it up on the 10-yard catch. Aubrey's PAT was good and the Cowboys make it a 13-point game with a minute 45 to go in the first half. 

Bucs take second timeout

Lamb is in and despite the shoulder injury he makes the catch and falls down just barely short of the goal line - 1st and goal 

Bucs take first timeout

Turpin taken down by Vea for no gain - 2nd and 10 

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

That takes us to the 2-minute warning in the first half.

Cowboys are in the lead and have another chance to score here ahead of halftime with the ball at the Buccaneers 11 on 1st down

Cowboys' Lamb landed on his already hurt shoulder after that catch

Holding on Bucs' McCollum - declined

Rush made a HUGE pass to Lamb for 52 yards to the Bucs 11

Rush pass complete to Ferguson for 6 yards - 3rd and 4

Rush pass incomplete to Luepke - 2nd and 10

Rush makes the pass to Tolbert and he stumbles but stays up to get the 1st down 

Dowdle gets a yard - 3rd and 9 

Rush pass incomplete - 2nd and 10

Browning punts to the end zone - touchback to the Cowboys 20

Mayfield SACKED by Golston for a loss of 5 yards - 4th and 10 at the Cowboys 45

It looked like Mayfield made a 16-yard pass to McMillan, but the replay official said he didn't have full control and called it incomplete - 3rd and 5

It's Irving again for a catch and a gain of 5 - 2nd and 5

And it's Irving again for a pickup of 8 and another 1st down

Irving runs it up for another 7 - 2nd and 3

White runs it up 2 yards for the 1st down

Irving takes it again, just short of the first - 3rd and inches

Irving pushes through for 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Aubrey kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Bucs 30

Aubrey made the 49-yard field goal to put the Cowboys up by 6 with 9:15 to go in the first half.

COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!

Rush made another deep pass but there was no one to be found - incomplete, 4th and 5

Dowdle runs it up 8 yards - 3rd and 5

Rush's pass to Lamb was incomplete, but an IllegalMotion call on Lamb put them back 5 more yards anyway - 2nd and 13

Dowdle picks up 2 - 2nd and 8

Rush makes a deep pass to Lamb and it is CAUGHT for 34yards - 1st down at the Bucs 36

McLaughlin kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Cowboys 30

After a big 26-yard pass to Mike Evans, BuckyIrving drove the ball up to the red zone and eventually made the 6-yard run into the end zone for the touchdown. The Bucs get on the board to make it a 3-point game with 11:30 to go in the first half.

Mayfield tosses it to Irving and he runs to the left to pick up 8 yards - 2nd and goal at the 2-yard line

Irving sneaks away to pick up 15yards for the 1st down, finally taken down by Hooker

Mayfield pass to Evans complete but he's tackled after 3 by Liafau - 2nd and 7

Mayfield makes the deep pass to Evans and he pulls it in for 26 yards at the Cowboys 28 - Bucs happy to have him back

Irving takes it up 3 yards to the 46 - 2nd and 7

Cowboys' Goodwin is called for a Player Out of Bounds on Kick penalty - 5 yards

Aubrey punts to the 30 and Palmer takes it 8 yards to the Bucs 38

Rush's pass is incomplete to Ferguson - 4th and 8 and Cowboys will punt it away

END FIRST QUARTER

That takes us to the end of the first quarter. The Cowboys are in the lead 10-0 over the Bucs and have the ball on 3rd and 8 at their own 22.

Dowdle pushed back 3 yards by David - 3rd and 8

Rush pass to Dowdle for a pickup of 10 yards - 2nd and 5

False Start on Cowboys' Steele - 5 yards, 1st and 15

Browning punts to the 20 and Turpin calls for the fair catch

White takes it up 3 yards, just short of the down - Bucs will punt it on 4th down and 1

Mayfield's pass is nearly picked by Lewis, incomplete - 3rd and 4

Mayfield pass to Durham for 6 yards - 2nd and 4

Aubrey kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Bucs 30

Rush made a 10-yard pass to Tolbert in the end zone for the touchdown and Aubrey's PAT was good. Dallas extends the lead with 2:49 to play in the first quarter.

Rush makes a screen pass to Lamb, but it was incomplete - 3rd and 9

Dowdle gets tripped up after a yard, 2nd and 9 at the Bucs 10

Rush faked it to Turpin and made a long pass to Cooks for 29 yards to the Bucs 11

Turpin took off for 12 yards to get the 1st down

Bucs go for it on 4th and 3 and Shepard is wide open but doesn't pull in the catch - Dallas will take over at their own 48

Mayfield bobbles the snap and his pass is incomplete - the Bucs are at 4th and 3 at the 48

Mayfield pass to Palmer for 4 yards - 3rd and 3

Mayfield hands it off to Irving for 3 yards - 2nd and 7

Mayfield escapes the pressure and he makes the pass to Durham for 7 yards and the 1st down

Mayfield makes the pass to McMillan for 14yards, just short of the down - 3rd and 2

Holding on Bucs' Bredeson - puts the Bucs back 10 yards - 2nd and 16

Mayfield scrambles 11 yards, but there's a flag on the play...

Bucs on the offense now. White drives it up 4 yards - 2nd and 6

Aubrey kicks to the end zone - touchback to the Bucs 30

Cowboys got within field goal range, which is a pretty wide one for kicker Brandon Aubrey. He made the 58-yard try to put the Cowboys in the lead on their first drive with 9:06 still to go in the first quarter.

COWBOYS FIELD GOAL!

Dowdle runs it up but gets just a yard - 4th and 5, but Cowboys are within field goal range here from 58 yards

Rush hands it off to Dowdle and he picks up just 5 yards - 3rd and 6

Rush pass to Lamb caught but he loses a yard, tackled by Kancey and David - 2nd and 11

Rush makes the pass to Lamb and it's caught for 4 yards and a 1st down

Dowdle pushes up the middle for 3 yards - 3rd and 2

Rush pass caught by Ferguson for 5 yards - 2nd and 5

Rush pass is caught by Cooks for 5 yards and a 1st down

Rush pass complete to Lamb but he gets just a yard - 3rd and 2

Rush pass is caught by Turpin for a gain of 7 yards - 2nd and 3

McLaughlin kicks to the end zone - Touchback to the Cowboys 30

Game time! 

And we are off. The Cowboys have won the toss and elected to receive. The Cowboys start us off on offense. 

Let's go!

Dowdle's recent surge

One of the Cowboys' biggest issues heading into this season and to start it was at the running back position. They let Tony Pollard walk in free agency, decided not to sign Derrick Henry, and opted to bring back Ezekiel Elliott as their starter. That proved to get them exactly nowhere, with Dallas' run game one of the worst in the league throughout the majority of the season.

But in the second half of the season, Rico Dowdle has emerged as a reliable starter. After going the first six weeks with just four yards per carry on average and two touchdowns, he improved to 5.3 yards per carry between Weeks 7-14. And in the last three straight games, he's rushed for over 100 yards, something he'd previously never done. In the Cowboys' last game against the Panthers, he put up 149 rushing yards. 

Speaking of Mayfield...

The Tampa Bay QB is ranked in the top four in passing completions, yards, and touchdowns. His 32 passing touchdowns put him in third in the league behind just Joe Burrow (36) and Lamar Jackson (34).

Unfortunately, Mayfield also ranks second in the league in total fumbles (12) and interceptions (14), and has been sacked 33 times this season.

Baker Mayfield's "Home Alone" homage

With Christmas just three days away, NFL players are getting in the holiday spirit. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield showed up to the game vs the Cowboys donning this "Home Alone" tee. 

Cowboys-Bucs INJURY REPORT

Dallas Cowboys Injury Report

Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons popped up on the injury report on Friday due to an illness, but is fortunately good to go for tonight's game against the Bucs. Standout cornerback Trevon  Diggs, on the other hand, remains sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury requiring a bone graft. 

Dallas Cowboys Inactives

S Juanyeh Thomas

RB Deuce Vaughn 

G T.J. Bass

WR Jalen Brooks

DE Tyus Wheat

DT Justin Rogers

LB Eric Kendricks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injury Report

Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. has been ruled out for the second straight week after suffering a knee injury in Week 14. Tight end Cade  Otton is also dealing with a knee injury, but it looked like he might be good to go. But on Saturday, the Bucs ruled him out, too. Fortunately, Tampa Bay has WR Mike Evans back in the lineup after a hamstring injury that saw him miss some significant time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Inactives

LB K.J. Britt

DL Earnest Brown

G Royce Newman

TE Cade Otton

OLB Jose Ramirez

S Antoine Winfield Jr.

Cowboys

Will Mike McCarthy return in 2025 as the Cowboys head coach? This is what we know so far

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy's future in Dallas has been up in the air since last year's Wild Card loss to the Packers. Now that they've been eliminated from the postseason in 2024, his chances of a return to coach for the Cowboys could be slim...or not?

Read more.

Buccaneers still holding out postseason hope

Unlike the Cowboys, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have the postseason to play for. 

The Bucs are currently at 8-6, first in the NFC South, and fourth in the NFC Conference standings. They got off to a hot start to the season, but injuries to starting wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin set them back for a bit. With Evans back in now, they're back on the upswing. 

Tampa Bay is coming into this game against the Cowboys fresh off a Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Although they cannot clinch a playoff spot this week no matter what happens, a win over the Cowboys would help their chances a long way, as their next two games are against the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. If they can clinch the top spot in the South, it'll be their fastest ticket to the postseason. 

Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys officially eliminated from playoff contention

Before the game even starts, the Dallas Cowboys have been officially eliminated from the playoffs due to a Washington Commanders win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Read more.

Welcome!

Good evening! And a welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday Night Football game! 

The game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium and it's Jen here to bring you the latest updates, highlights, stats, scores, and commentary throughout the game, starting from an hour before kickoff.

Here. We. Go.