The Dallas Cowboys grabbed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC South division lead on Sunday thanks to clutch plays from the defense when it mattered most.
Crucial Buccaneers drives were stopped dead in their tracks. In the fourth part, Baker Mayfield it was intercepted in the end zone by Jourdan Lewis. Then, as the Buccaneers tried to finish the last minute, Rachaad White was stripped by DaRon Bland.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) and wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) celebrate after Tolbert catches a football in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Arlington , Texas, Sunday, December 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Two fourth quarter turnovers helped Dallas secure a 26-24 victory.
Cooper Rush was 26-of-35 with 292 yards passing to Jalen Tolbert. CeeDee Lamb had seven catches for 105 yards. But the story of the game was the defense.
Mayfield was sacked four times to go along with White's fumble and fumble. He had 304 passing yards and two touchdowns but struggled to find a consistent rhythm.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (15) celebrates after a catch as Payne Durham (87) looks on during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, December 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
Chauncey Golston, Micah Parsons, Donovan Wilson and Linval Joseph each had a sack.
The Cowboys they were held to just three points in the second half but did enough to destroy Tampa Bay's confidence when it mattered most.
Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention before the game even started but they were determined to make it even more difficult for Tampa Bay to win the NFC South.
The Buccaneers fell to 8-7 and are behind the Falcons despite having the same record. Atlanta has beaten Tampa Bay twice this season.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy watches the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
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With two games left in the regular season, the Buccaneers have the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints remaining on the schedule.
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