Week 5’s primetime slate starts with a game that has the feel of a reset button for Dallas.
On Thursday night, the 2-2 Cowboys host the 0-4 Buccaneers, and this one has all the ingredients for a night that leaves Cowboys fans asking the same question over and over: Why can’t we play like that every week?
Tampa Bay has been in rough shape from the jump, and the situation is even tougher without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers did put up a spirited fight Sunday against the Green Bay Packers in Tampa Bay, but their defense could only carry so much of the load. Even after a strong defensive effort, the first win of the season still didn’t come.
Jalon Daniels made his first start and had to deal with a steady wave of pressure from Green Bay. The Packers kept forcing fast decisions, and by the end, the challenge was simply too much. Daniels battled, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Dallas, meanwhile, looks set up for the kind of defensive bounce-back performance it has been waiting for. The Cowboys’ offense usually finds its groove at home, and that’s the expectation here with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and the rest of the group.
Dallas is favored by 8.5 points, and the pick is for the Cowboys to cover it comfortably. The call here is a two-touchdown win, with the defense making enough impact plays to help the offense finish the job.
The week then closes with a Monday night matchup that puts the last two league MVPs in the spotlight: Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Already Have Two Tough Offseason Contract Decisions
The early part of the season has already put Tampa Bay in an awkward spot with a pair of homegrown starters whose futures are suddenly far less straightforward than they looked not long ago. Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby and right guard Cody Mauch are both playing out the final year of their rookie deals, and both were expected to be key pieces as the Buccaneers tried to keep their core intact on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Through the first four games, though, neither has made the kind of case that usually leads to a quick extension. Diabys pass rush production has tailed off, while Mauch has had a rough return from injury in both the run game and protection. If those trends hold, Tampa Bay could be staring at two more obvious free-agent decisions next spring, and neither one looks simple right now. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Heat Is Rising But Bucs History Says Plenty Too
The early part of the 2026 season has not gone the way Tampa Bay hoped, and the frustration is starting to spill over beyond the standings. Todd Bowles is suddenly part of the league-wide coaching conversation, with some bettors even tagging him as a possible first firing of the year, a reflection of how quickly the temperature can rise when a veteran team stumbles out of the gate.
Still, the Buccaneers own history matters here. Bowles is 35-37 in the regular season and 1-3 in the postseason since taking over in 2022, so there is real pressure around the program, but Tampa Bay ownership has not made a habit of cutting loose head coaches in the middle of a season. That track record makes any in-season move feel unlikely for now, even if the noise around Bowles keeps getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Get One Key Piece Back As Injuries Test Them Vs Cowboys
The Buccaneers are getting a needed lift back on the edge with Rueben Bain Jr. returning from injury for their matchup with the Cowboys, a welcome development for a defense that has been forced to juggle pieces early. Tampa Bays injury list still has some bite, though, and the secondary remains the area to watch with Antoine Winfield Jr. and Benjamin Morrison both out.
Winfield Jr. is dealing with a fractured rib, leaving the Bucs without one of their most important defensive backs as they try to slow Dallas. Amid the churn, kicker McLaughlin has stayed healthy and continued the strong form he carried over from last season, giving Tampa Bay at least one steady presence as the roster works through another tough week. [Read more 🡒]