The Dallas Cowboys entered Thursday night with an opportunity to build momentum. Instead, they suffered one of the most disappointing losses of their young season. Tampa Bay arrived in Arlington without a victory and without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers left with a 24-16 win.
Dak Prescott threw two interceptions, including a costly late turnover that effectively ended Dallas' comeback attempt. But focusing exclusively on Prescott would overlook an even more alarming problem. The Cowboys were completely overwhelmed in the running game.
Tampa Bay dominates Dallas on the ground
The difference between the teams' rushing production was staggering. Tampa Bay finished with 241 rushing yards. Dallas managed just 50. Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving accounted for 165 yards on 21 carries, averaging nearly eight yards per attempt. His biggest play came immediately after halftime. Irving broke free for a 72-yard run that helped set up a touchdown and gave Tampa Bay the lead for good.
He also scored twice, once on a reception and once on a rushing attempt. The performance allowed the Buccaneers to control the tempo while protecting rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. Tampa Bay held the ball for 39 minutes and 21 seconds. Dallas possessed it for just 20 minutes and 39 seconds.
That's a remarkable disparity for a Cowboys team that entered the evening as the favorite against a winless opponent.
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Prescott's mistakes compound Dallas' struggles
Prescott finished with 316 passing yards and a touchdown. George Pickens caught nine passes for 130 yards and a score. Those numbers suggest Dallas had enough offensive production to remain competitive.
But the Cowboys committed three turnovers while Tampa Bay protected the football. Prescott's final interception came after a pass deflected off tight end Jake Ferguson's hands and was caught by Alex Anzalone. The turnover ended Dallas' final meaningful opportunity. The Cowboys also lost receiver CeeDee Lamb to a quadriceps injury, creating another concern moving forward.
Meanwhile, Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in just his second NFL start. The undrafted rookie didn't need to produce spectacular numbers because Irving and the running game consistently moved the football.
Dallas dropped to 2-3 with the loss. The Cowboys now have additional time to evaluate their problems before visiting Green Bay on October 18. Prescott's interceptions will attract plenty of attention. But Dallas has a more fundamental concern.
A team with championship aspirations cannot consistently surrender that much control of the line of scrimmage. Until the Cowboys improve against the run, even strong quarterback performances might not be enough.
