Bucky Irving rushed for a career-high 165 yards and scored twice as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 on Thursday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The win gave Tampa Bay its first of the season and moved the Buccaneers to 1-4.
Jalon Daniels, making only his second NFL start while filling in for Baker Mayfield, went 19 of 25 for 189 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Irving. The undrafted rookie quarterback helped guide a turnover-free Tampa Bay offense that piled up 241 rushing yards.
Irving’s biggest play was a 72-yard run that set up the touchdown that put the Buccaneers ahead for good. He finished with 21 carries and a 7.9-yard average, adding scoring runs through the air and on the ground.
Dallas had chances to stay close. Dak Prescott led a 99-yard drive and threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens in the fourth quarter, but his second interception, on a tipped pass, helped Tampa Bay secure the result in the final two minutes. Prescott finished 24 of 42 for 316 yards.
The Cowboys dropped to 2-3 and remain uneven through the early season. Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said the team had “started the second quarter tonight” after what he called a disappointing opening stretch. Daniels said the result was especially meaningful given the circumstances of his first win.
