The Dallas Cowboys took a hit from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football, and the jokes started flying almost immediately.
One of the loudest came from Buccaneers rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter, who turned the upset into a personal victory lap on social media. He posted photos and a clip of himself bringing down running back Javonte Williams, tagged the post as Cowgirl Stadium, and added the line: "How bout dem Cowboys."
Trotter backed up the trash talk with production. The second-round pick out of Missouri finished Tampa Bay’s 24-16 win with seven tackles and one tackle for loss. It was the Buccaneers’ first win of the season, and they pulled it off without star quarterback Baker Mayfield.
In Mayfield’s place, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels got the start and played like he belonged, helping Tampa Bay get through a Dallas defense that looked vulnerable all night. On the other side, the Buccaneers’ defense bottled up the Cowboys’ offense and held Dallas to its lowest point total of the season.
For Cowboys fans, Trotter’s name probably carries a little extra sting. He’s the son of former Pro Bowl linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr., who spent eight years with the Philadelphia Eagles across three separate stints, along with two years in Washington and one season with the Buccaneers in 2007.
Jeremiah Trotter Sr. made four Pro Bowls in his 11-year career and finished with 914 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 69 tackles for loss and nine interceptions.
And if that wasn’t enough of a reason for Josiah Trotter to enjoy getting one over on Dallas, his older brother, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., is in his third season with the Eagles. The Clemson product was a fifth-round pick and has grown into a useful role player on the Philadelphia defense.
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