NFL · Friday, October 9, 2026
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels leads the Bucs past the Cowboys, 24-16
The File desk · Oct 9, 2026, 10:38 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed. NFL.com's recap, published 11:21 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 8, 2026, and the Week 5 schedule page, which shows a final. No odds.
- Confirmed
Tampa Bay beat Dallas 24-16. The Buccaneers are 1-4. The Cowboys are 2-3.
- Confirmed
NFL.com says coach Todd Bowles went down to a knee on the sideline late in the game. This desk has no update on his condition.
Tampa Bay beat Dallas 24-16 on Thursday night for its first win of the season. Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, filling in for the injured Baker Mayfield, completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Running back Bucky Irving ran for a career-high 165 yards, including a 72-yard run, and scored twice. The Buccaneers are 1-4. The Cowboys fell to 2-3.
NFL.com's recap says Daniels, in his second career start, completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 23 yards. Irving had 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including a 72-yard run. Tampa Bay ran for 241 yards and gained 419 yards in all, with no turnovers. Dallas committed three. NFL.com says linebacker Alex Anzalone's interception sealed it, and that the Buccaneers' opening drive took 10 minutes and 58 seconds. NFL.com says Daniels is the second undrafted quarterback to start and beat the Cowboys, after Washington's Ed Rubbert in 1987. CeeDee Lamb left early with a quad injury. Joey Porter Jr. was ruled out before kickoff with an illness.
NFL.com says Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles “went down to a knee on the sidelines during the end of the game in a concerning scene.” This desk has no update on his condition.
Elsewhere on Thursday's injury lists, compiled by NFL.com: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (ankle) did not practice for a second straight day, ahead of Sunday night at the Falcons. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (hamstring) did not practice again, and receivers DeVonta Smith and Marquise Brown also did not practice, ahead of Sunday's game in London. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase (concussion) was upgraded to limited.
Denver coach Sean Payton said Thursday he will call the Broncos' offensive plays himself, taking over from first-year coordinator Davis Webb. “I'll call the plays,” Payton said. He said Webb will still be involved in game-planning and will be with him on the sideline. The Week 5 schedule has Denver at the Chargers on Sunday. No odds.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Bowles's condition. No update was on the pages read.
- How serious Lamb's quad injury is.
- Friday game statuses. They were not out yet.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Buccaneers-Cowboys on Thursday Night Football: What We Learned from Tampa Bay's 24-16 win
NFL.com · October 8, 2026
In this one, Daniels completed 19 of 25 pass attempts for 189 yards, the TD and rushed for 23 yards, but more impressively, he ignited a stagnant 28th-ranked total offense and an 0-4 squad to its first win and the offense’s finest performance of the year.
https://www.nfl.com/news/buccaneers-cowboys-on-thursday-night-football-what-we-learned-from-tampa-bay-s-24-16-win
Source 2
NFL Week 5 schedule
NFL.com · October 9, 2026
Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16, FINAL, Thursday, October 8th. Buccaneers 1-4, Cowboys 2-3.
https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2026/by-week/week-5
Source 3
NFL news roundup, Thursday, Oct. 8
NFL.com · October 8, 2026
QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) did not practice for a second straight day.
https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-news-roundup-latest-league-updates-from-thursday-oct-8
Source 4
Broncos' Sean Payton takes over offensive play-calling duties
NFL.com · October 8, 2026
Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed Thursday that he will take over offensive play-calling duties from first-year coordinator Davis Webb.
https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-sean-payton-increasing-involvement-play-calling-slow-start-bo-nix