In n, the beforehand winless s sashayed into North Texas and knocked off the s 24-16 in a sport that typically wasn’t as shut as the ultimate rating signifies.
The win helped the Bucs avert an 0-5 begin that will have ended their season – statistically anyway – whereas a Cowboys crew that was battered, actually and figuratively, must stew amid their very own disappointing 2-3 file over the subsequent 10 days earlier than it heads to Lambeau Subject for a “Sunday Night time Soccer” date with the Inexperienced Bay Packers and, probably, previous buddy Micah Parsons.
So much to unpack right here past the ultimate rating. Your winners and losers from “Thursday Night time Soccer,” Week 5 model:
WINNERS
Jalon Daniels
He made historical past Sunday, turning into the primary undrafted rookie quarterback because the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to start out a sport in Week 4 or earlier. Week 5 was even higher, Daniels turning into the primary undrafted rookie within the frequent draft period (since 1967) to finish his first eight passes in a sport – that occurring on a 15-play, 73-yard TD drive that opened the sport and set the tone. Daniels completed with 189 yards and a TD on the way in which to his first NFL W.
Buccaneers' playoff probabilities
Make no mistake, they’re nonetheless on life assist. However no crew in NFL historical past has overcome an 0-5 begin to attain the postseason – whereas one membership (the 1992 San Diego Chargers) has surmounted a 1-4 file to advance past the common season. We’re saying there’s an opportunity … particularly within the traditionally middling NFC South.
Todd Bowles' scorching seat
Barely extra ventilated with the Bucs’ dropping skid over. Nonetheless, after this yr’s begin and final season’s 2-7 end (following a 6-2 begin), Tampa Bay’s fifth-year head coach nonetheless most likely has his work reduce out for him if he needs to return in 2027.
Jason Licht's telephone
Had the Bucs misplaced, which might have successfully ended their season, their longtime GM would absolutely have been fielding fairly a couple of calls from friends checking on the provision of gamers like WR Chris Godwin and NT Vita Vea forward of subsequent month’s commerce deadline. And that might nonetheless come to go … however Licht will a minimum of get to benefit from the subsequent week and a half, a minimum of.
Tyler Smith
Dallas’ perennial Professional Bowl O-lineman made his 2026 regular-season debut after a coaching camp thumb damage, which required surgical procedure, value him the primary month of the season.
LOSERS
Christian Parker and the Dallas protection
The Cowboys’ alleged wunderkind rookie DC, who’s all of 34, has not lived as much as the preseason hype, unable to remediate a unit that undermined this franchise a yr in the past – or, to cite Jerry Jones after final season, Dallas nonetheless hasn’t “performed a lick of protection.” Thursday, the Cowboys couldn't comprise an inexperienced quarterback or a beforehand sputtering offense, which generated a season-high 419 yards at AT&T Stadium.
Dak Prescott
He struggled to cope with the Bucs’ go rush, rendering him incapable of sufficiently compensating for Dallas’ poor D. Prescott’s interception on the Cowboys’ first possession of the third quarter additionally short-circuited a promising drive and led to a Bucs TD that put them up 21-10. The decide he threw on his closing go ended any shot his crew had at a late comeback bid.
Yaya Diaby with the s INT on the tip drill 🚨L on Prime Video
Stream on s4— NFL (@NFL) 6
CeeDee Lamb
4 days after a profession sport in Houston (17 catches for 189 yards and the game-winning TD reception), r Thursday, the worst a part of an already quiet night time (2 catches, 9 yards). About the one excellent news right here is that Lamb has 10 days to probably prepare for Dallas’ date at Inexperienced Bay.
Prime Video pre-game crew
Let’s begin by acknowledging {that a} group that features former gamers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Sherman and Andrew Whitworth – and anchored by Charissa Thompson – is often an entertaining, self-deprecating and insightful bunch, and one keen to experiment and take dangers on a platform that’s solely in its fifth season. However the final two weeks haven’t been fairly.
Previous to the Cowboys-Bucs sport, d that newly acquired Dallas CB Joey Porter Jr. didn’t play as a part of a negotiating tactic aimed toward securing a contract extension.
“I’m very concerned about how that is gonna go," Sherman stated on the pre-game set, whereas munching popcorn for dramatic impact. "The Dallas Cowboys are coping with a bit of little bit of what the Pittsburgh Steelers have been coping with. Hey, is he gonna play? Is he not? Is he sick? Is he not? Is his again harm? Is it not? Negotiations, it is a enterprise."
He later added: "Possibly in the event that they (Dallas) would have gave him a brand new contract, perhaps he would have been a bit of more healthy immediately.”
Sherman ultimately admitted he was merely speculating after sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung detailed the sickness of Porter, who was reportedly vomiting previous to the sport and left the stadium alongside a crew staffer who was carrying a trash can.
This episode occurred per week after Prime Video’s crew largely prevented parsing the background of controversial Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who settled greater than two dozen lawsuits stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct. Gonzalez even went as far as to say, “It’s important to take your hat off to (Watson),” who’s led Cleveland to a 3-1 begin and share of first place within the AFC North.
“I’m so proud and completely satisfied for him.”
Oof. And woof.
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