In a thrilling matchup, the Dallas Cowboys delivered a blow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' NFC South division title aspirations with key defensive plays in the final quarter. The Buccaneers' offense was repeatedly stalled at critical moments. A crucial interception by Jourdan Lewis in the end zone stopped a potential game-changing drive by Baker Mayfield. Later, as Tampa Bay scrambled for a comeback, DaRon Bland forced a fumble from running back Rachaad White, sealing the Cowboys' 26-24 victory.

Cooper Rush led the Cowboys' offense, completing 26 of 35 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown to Jalen Tolbert. CeeDee Lamb also contributed significantly with seven receptions for 105 yards. However, the Cowboys' defense truly stole the show.

Mayfield faced constant pressure, enduring four sacks alongside the interception and the forced fumble. While he managed 304 passing yards and two touchdowns, he struggled to maintain consistency. Chauncey Golston, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson, and Linval Joseph all recorded sacks for Dallas.

Despite scoring only three points in the second half, the Cowboys' defense held strong when it mattered most, dashing Tampa Bay's hopes. While already eliminated from playoff contention, Dallas played with determination, making the Buccaneers' path to the NFC South title more challenging.

With the loss, the Buccaneers fell to 8-7, trailing the Atlanta Falcons due to tiebreaker rules. Atlanta holds the head-to-head advantage, having defeated Tampa Bay twice this season. The Buccaneers face the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints in their final two regular season games.