Rookie QB Jalon Daniels Leads Buccaneers to Stunning Cowboys Upset
Rookie QB Jalon Daniels leads the Buccaneers to their first win of the season, upsetting the Cowboys 24-16.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured a shocking 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, marking their first win of the 2026 season. Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, who made just his second NFL start, led the Buccaneers to the upset triumph. Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, avoiding any turnovers.
Running back Bucky Irving had a standout performance, rushing for a career-high 165 yards on 21 carries and scoring two touchdowns. His crucial 72-yard run in the second half shifted the game's momentum. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka added a 14-yard touchdown run, providing a significant lead. Daniels connected with Tez Johnson on a 64-yard pass that set up Irving's touchdown.
Late in the third quarter, Daniels helped secure the game with a 64-yard completion to Johnson, extending Tampa Bay's lead to 21-10 and overwhelming the Cowboys. Dallas' mistakes, including a fumble by return specialist KaVontae Turpin and interceptions by quarterback Dak Prescott, further hindered their chances. Despite Prescott's 316 passing yards and a touchdown, his two interceptions proved costly.
The Cowboys, struggling to contain Tampa Bay's rushing attack, failed to capitalize on their opportunities, ultimately falling short in a critical matchup.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
