The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered Thursday night still searching for their first win of the season. With starting quarterback Baker Mayfield sidelined, few expected an undrafted rookie to lead them past the Dallas Cowboys. Making just his second NFL start, Daniels helped Tampa Bay pull off a stunning 24-16 upset over Dallas at AT&T Stadium, delivering the Buccaneers their first victory of the 2026 season.
The win improved Tampa Bay to 1-4, while the Cowboys dropped to 2-3 following another disappointing performance in front of their home crowd. Daniels, who played collegiately at Kansas, completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown without committing a turnover. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but his ability to manage the offense and make timely plays helped Tampa Bay secure a victory it desperately needed.
Running back Bucky Irving delivered one of the best performances of his young career, rushing for a career-high 165 yards on 21 carries while accounting for two touchdowns. Irving's biggest play came on the opening snap of the second half. With Tampa Bay trailing 10-7, Irving broke free for a 72-yard run that immediately put the Buccaneers in scoring position.
One play later, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka scored on a 14-yard run, giving Tampa Bay a 14-10 lead. The sequence completely changed the momentum of the game. For a Buccaneers offense that had struggled throughout the opening month of the season, those explosive plays were exactly what the team had been missing.
Later in the third quarter, Daniels connected with Tez Johnson on a 64-yard completion that helped set up Irving's 1-yard touchdown run. The score extended Tampa Bay's lead to 21-10 and put the Cowboys in a difficult position. Dallas made matters worse when return specialist KaVontae Turpin lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff.
The Buccaneers recovered and eventually added a field goal, pushing their advantage to 24-10. What had started as an opportunity for Dallas to build momentum against a winless opponent was quickly turning into another frustrating night. The Cowboys entered the game looking to improve to 3-2 after defeating the Houston Texans in Week 4.
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