Offensively, the Cowboys were carried on the leg of kicker Brandon Aubrey, who hit field goals from 58, 49, 58 and 53.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas’ defense stepped up big time against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, winning 26-24.
With a two-point lead, Daron Bland sealed the victory with an incredible strip of Bucs running back Rashad White, their second turnover of the game. Jourdan Lewis also kept points off the board with an incredible interception in the end zone on a deep pass intended for wide receiver Jalen McMillan.
Offensively, the Cowboys were carried on the leg of kicker Brandon Aubrey, who hit field goals from 58, 49, 58 and 53. Aubrey’s tally of 50-plus yard field goals ballooned to 14, which overtook Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn (13) for the most in NFL history.
Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush played an efficient, effective game, throwing 26 of 35 for 292 yards and one touchdown.
The early touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert came with pressure in his face, as the Bucs pass rush nearly got to him before he dropped a pretty ball on the Cowboys receiver in the back of the endzone.
CeeDee Lamb led all Cowboys receivers with seven catches and 105 yards.
In a return to Texas, Austin native Baker Mayfield threw for 304 yards on 31-for-43 passing, two touchdowns and one interception. Bucs running back Bucky Irving also added a touchdown for Tampa Bay in the second quarter and finished with 68 yards on the ground.
With the win, Dallas got their second home game of the season and improved to 7-8 on the season despite being eliminated officially from the playoffs earlier in the day due to Washington beating Philadelphia.
Injuries
Tampa Bay WR Sterling Shepard was ruled out in the second half with a hamstring injury. … Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks was inactive with a calf injury after going through a pregame workout.
Up next
Buccaneers: Host Carolina next Sunday.
Cowboys: At Philadelphia next Sunday.