Historic 1st half from CeeDee Lamb, takeaways in 2nd half earn Cowboys house upset vs Bucs

The Dallas Cowboys didn’t seem like a workforce formally eradicated from playoff rivalry earlier within the afternoon once they took the sphere for his or her second to final house sport of the season on Sunday night time. For the primary time all 12 months, this workforce might formally be known as nothing however a spoiler candidate to any potential playoff groups that stood of their manner. Though it was at all times heading this fashion, loads of folks round The Star nonetheless had a slight purpose to object to the Cowboys being simply spoilers up till right here in Week 16 – the Cowboys miniscule playoff possibilities being that purpose. The Cowboys won’t be a playoff workforce for the primary time in three seasons below Mike McCarthy, however they did give themselves an opportunity to complete with a successful file by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24 on Sunday night time.

The Buccaneers had rather more to play for on this sport, nonetheless in a combat with the Atlanta Falcons for first place within the NFC South. The identical will likely be mentioned concerning the Cowboys remaining two opponents within the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, as they settle the NFC East winner with Washington incomes a cut up within the head-to-head towards Philly with an exhilarating house win earlier on Sunday. The Cowboys have been greater than able to reply the decision and match the depth of a playoff-caliber opponent with a successful file, persevering with to play exhausting for McCarthy and themselves.

There is probably not excuses for a majority of issues that derailed this Cowboys season early on, however shedding the highest-paid participant within the NFL at crucial place in sports activities was definitely a tricky blow. With out Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have been looking for who may help them construct a brand new core round their franchise QB upon his return subsequent season, and are discovering each anticipated and unlikely candidates every week.

In opposition to a Buccaneers protection that’s had its struggles at occasions this season, the second-most necessary participant the Cowboys made a monetary dedication to this offseason stepped up in WR CeeDee Lamb. Catching seven of his eight targets for 105 yards, Lamb grew to become the primary participant in franchise historical past with 100 or extra receiving yards within the first half of consecutive video games.

This sport finally got here all the way down to which offense might set up their secondary receivers constantly and discover methods to get them the ball to keep away from force-feeding their stars. The Cowboys rode Lamb within the first half to provide them a nine-point cushion at halftime, however they wanted others after he was mainly pulled for harm to his shoulder. The protection would make this stand with a Jourdan Lewis interception within the fourth quarter and DaRon Bland pressured fumble on the Bucs remaining possession of the sport.

The Sunday Night time Soccer crew was impressed by the depth and physicality of this sport all night time, which has hardly ever been a query for Mike Zimmer’s protection this season. Micah Parsons once more helped set the tone up entrance, with the consideration he attracts permitting Carl Lawson, Osa Odighizuwa, and Chauncey Golston to all make performs as nicely. Dallas was confronted with one more lineup change at a key spot on the protection, enjoying with out veteran LB Eric Kendricks. Marist Liufau and Nick Vigil stepped up on the second degree whereas security Donovan Wilson was able to reply the decision each in protection when the Bucs needed to push the ball downfield in addition to in run help.

The Cowboys could not have been capable of equally set the tone up entrance on offense by establishing Rico Dowdle on this sport, however they did defend Cooper Rush who was sacked simply as soon as whereas throwing for a profession excessive 8.3 yards per try. Rush and the offense weren’t reckless in how they pushed the ball downfield on this sport or fed it to Lamb, seeing Brandin Cooks, Ryan Flournoy, and Jalen Tolbert all make massive performs at key moments. Tolbert’s first quarter landing put the Bucs on upset alert early because the Cowboys jumped forward 10-0, and it marked the primary time in his profession Tolbert has caught touchdowns in consecutive video games.

Tampa Bay could have had 10 extra complete first downs on this sport and a a lot better conversion price on third down, however the Cowboys move sport was able to go toe-to-toe with one which had been lighting up scoreboards in current weeks. Of the Bucs’ 25 first downs, 14 got here by the air. The Cowboys threw for 12 first downs, transferring the ball simply sufficient on offense within the second half to play keepaway and depend on their protection to seal victory.

The Cowboys beat a workforce with a successful file at AT&T Stadium for the primary time since December thirtieth of final 12 months, one other shut primetime sport towards the Detroit Lions. The early Christmas current for the house followers and plenty of extra watching at house could be appreciated because the Cowboys look able to be an actual check for each the Eagles and Commanders to finish the season.

Earlier than attending to any of that, for what we now know would be the third to final time this season, listed here are a couple of notes on the 26-24 win over Tampa Bay.

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Enjoying from forward, even with only a subject purpose, was necessary on this matchup towards a Buccaneers workforce that simply had their manner with an excellent Chargers protection the week prior. The Cowboys protection might have simply been stored on their heels all night time if the Bucs have been by no means ready to chase factors, however they have been after the opening possession of the sport. Dallas took the ball first and kicked a 58-yard subject purpose that regarded like an additional level for Brandon Aubrey. On the Buccaneers first drive, they went four-and-out after a dropped move on fourth down. This was the primary alternative for the Cowboys to determine a bonus within the receiving sport, they usually did so with a fast five-play scoring drive capped off by Tolbert’s landing.

Tolbert was capable of win vertically up the seam to catch a decent throw from Rush, an awesome signal for the still-developing receiver that’s come on increasingly more at completely different occasions this season. A variety of Tolbert’s route operating has been about releasing up different receivers beneath, the place Rush is rather more snug throwing the ball. When given a clear pocket although, Rush shouldn’t be afraid to step into throws and push the ball downfield, doing so on this fast strike to Tolbert in addition to to 4 different receivers that had a catch of a minimum of 20+ yards on this sport.

The Cowboys seeing CeeDee Lamb combat by harm, emerge as extra of a pacesetter for this offense in Prescott’s absence, and provide you with the sorts of catches solely he could make is a good signal for the way forward for the offense, however they have to discover different receivers that may complement their best choice. Similar to paying Prescott could restrict Dallas’ capability to subject a top-notch offensive line sooner or later, it additionally means they gained’t have an All-Professional forged of receivers past Lamb who additionally received paid this offseason. Dallas has performed the lengthy sport with receivers like Tolbert and Jalen Brooks, in addition to this 12 months’s rookie Ryan Flournoy who caught three passes for 41 yards on Sunday night time.

This place group persevering with to develop and make performs shouldn’t be solely top-of-the-line issues your entire workforce can see over the ultimate two video games, however one thing past locker room presence and management for head coach Mike McCarthy to level to as causes to warrant a contract extension on the finish of the 12 months.

It didn’t take too lengthy for the Buccaneers to create their very own favorable swing on offense, because the Cowboys’ first three and out gave the Bucs their greatest beginning subject place of the sport. Rookie sensation Bucky Irving capped off the drive with a landing after Mike Evans made his longest catch on the night time for 26 yards earlier within the drive. The Cowboys held the ball for under three performs after Rush threw out of the attain of Jake Ferguson on third down. Regardless of beginning with Hunter Luepke within the backfield and sending him out into the sample, holding up with simply 5 in move safety, the Cowboys couldn’t get anybody open on the play.

For the entire good the Cowboys have performed getting work for his or her move catchers even with Rush beginning at QB, discovering a rhythm for Ferguson has been a problem.

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This was simply the primary instance on this sport of a poor sequence for the Cowboys offense leaving the door open for the Bucs to attain factors, however fortunately for them Tampa Bay was not firing on all cylinders like they’re able to with Baker Mayfield. Even with the benefit in having the ability to lengthen performs higher and escape stress, Mayfield couldn’t get issues going sufficient to keep away from the Cowboys leaping forward 20-7 within the second quarter. After Irving’s landing, the Cowboys answered with one other subject purpose and Ezekiel Elliott landing following Lamb’s 52-yard catch on third down.

Elliott scoring a dashing landing for the Cowboys at house was one thing of one other Christmas present that got here with some vacation allure, because it was his first such rating since Christmas Eve of 2022 in a win towards the Eagles. For simply that transient second, the whole lot felt alright for the Cowboys, regardless of nonetheless being in a dogfight with one other workforce favored to beat them.

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The Buccaneers remaining factors of the primary half was a uncommon dangerous play from each Jourdan Lewis, and Mike Zimmer dialing up a zone look within the pink zone. The Buccaneers put Jalen McMillan in movement on this play, alerting Mayfield pre-snap that the Cowboys have been in zone. As an alternative of carrying the Bucs’ second greatest receiver on the crossing route, one thing Lewis has been capable of do all season with youthful, quicker, extra athletic receivers, Lewis handed him off and lined the operating again within the flat. With Mayfield trying the opposite manner the entire time and compelled to roll to his proper and throw off-platform, he discovered McMillan after eluding Parsons behind the road for a landing.

With the Cowboys punting on 4 of their 5 possessions within the second half not counting kneel downs, tightening up in protection is one thing they would wish to repair to carry onto the lead within the second half. Dallas did simply that, with Lewis getting his payback with one other endzone throw to McMillan. Finding the ball after it got here down in direction of McMillan, Lewis ended up with a tumbling interception and the primary takeaway of the night time. Sadly, the Cowboys might handle simply three uninspired performs off this interception. Throwing on first down, Rush’s incompletion led to 2 conservative run calls and a punt.

The Cowboys had a minimum of denied the Bucs factors on their first journey into their half of the sphere because the third quarter, however they got here proper again and drew inside two on Ryan Miller’s landing with 2:36 left. Dallas once more managed simply three performs that gained eight yards of their effort to finish the sport on their phrases. A primary-down sweep to KaVontae Turpin was a questionable name given the shortage of success Dallas was having testing the perimeter and blocking in house this sport, and set them again with a destructive play. Lamb’s first catch since a near-touchdown within the second quarter would deliver up a manageable third down, however needing six yards, Rush related with Ferguson for simply 4 and introduced up one other punt.

The Bucs had loads of time needing only a subject purpose, and maybe a best-case situation was enjoying out for Cowboys followers that needed to see their workforce play exhausting but additionally creep their manner up within the draft order by in the end shedding the sport. DaRon Bland had different concepts to cap off one of the crucial gutty performances by this protection all season. On the very first play of the ultimate possession for Tampa Bay, Bland stripped the ball away from Rachaad White and compelled a fumble to finish the sport. White solely ended up with the ball after an unbelievable effort from Mayfield to keep away from the blitz, and truly would have had a pleasant achieve on first down if not for the fumble.

The play grew to become the newest instance of how a mere bounce of the soccer can decide a sport, one thing the Cowboys have realized all 12 months, most not too long ago at house when this break didn’t go their manner additionally in primetime towards the Bengals. With that loss now being the one factor stopping Dallas from taking a five-game win streak into Philadelphia subsequent week, the Cowboys actually earned their seventh win by being the higher workforce towards a playoff opponent.

The Bland pressured fumble was additionally an awesome instance of Zimmer discovering the opportune occasions to deliver stress, though this will likely have been one of many riskiest blitz calls of the season that labored within the Cowboys’ favor. Mayfield and the Bucs like to push the ball deep, and any bust in protection might have rapidly seen them get in subject purpose vary to win the sport. Dallas had been getting stress up entrance however not ending with sacks, so Zimmer discovered one other technique to pressure the ball out of Mayfield’s palms brief and permit this protection to create a game-ending takeaway.

Whether it is true that the Cowboys could be open to retaining Zimmer as defensive coordinator provided that in addition they lengthen McCarthy as head coach, each play callers offered causes for slight optimism at completely different occasions all through this win to point out the Cowboys nonetheless have loads of combat left in them.