Alt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers players practicing catching and defensive drills on the football field

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-16 in Arlington on October 8, claiming their first win of the 2026 NFL season. All four previous losses had been decided by just one score apiece. Winless Tampa Bay was without injured starter Baker Mayfield. Rookie Jalon Daniels made his second start, while Bucky Irving rushed for 165 yards.

Dallas's 8.5-point spread framed the betting conversation before kickoff. Fans browsing sports-and-gaming sites could find NFL wagers, Aviator at 1xBet, and slots in the same menu. Tampa Bay's rushing attack overturned that expectation, winning outright and covering the spread.

An opening drive that kept the Cowboys waiting

Dallas started well. Dak Prescott led a 70-yard drive, finished by Javonte Williams from a yard out. Tampa Bay's answer lasted 15 plays and almost eleven minutes. Daniels converted important third downs, kept a drive alive after a Dallas penalty and found Irving for a five-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.

Dallas led 10-7 at halftime, but its defense spent too long on the field. Dallas missed tackles and struggled on third down. A late Brandon Aubrey field goal restored the Cowboys' lead, but only by three points. Even with that lead, Dallas had failed to establish the kind of control its opening touchdown had promised.

Irving broke the game open after halftime

On the first play after halftime, Irving escaped down the left side for 72 yards. Emeka Egbuka scored on the next play, giving the Buccaneers their first lead. Yaya Diaby then intercepted a deflected pass, and a 64-yard Daniels completion to Tez Johnson set up Irving's one-yard touchdown run.

KaVontae Turpin then fumbled the kickoff return. Chase McLaughlin made the ensuing field goal, and Tampa Bay suddenly led 24-10.

Irving finished with 165 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. His 72-yard burst alone cleared a published 55.5-yard rushing prop, settling the over on the first play after halftime. Just as important, his smaller gains kept the offense on schedule and spared Daniels difficult passing downs.

Dallas had nowhere to hide on defense

Dallas entered at 2-2 against a winless opponent missing its starting quarterback. The spread suggested a comfortable Cowboys win, but Tampa Bay's offensive line had other ideas. Nearly forty minutes of possession for the visitors left Dallas moneyline and spread bettors on the losing side.

The teams scored 40 points, below a widely listed 48.5-point pregame total, giving under bettors a winning result. Sportsbook menus cover NFL spreads, totals, player props and account promotions, where details of a 1xBet bonus code may appear. Dallas gained only 50 rushing yards and gave Prescott little help as Tampa Bay protected its lead.

Daniels did not need to play hero

The rookie completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown, adding 23 yards on the ground. More importantly, he avoided the mistakes that often undo inexperienced quarterbacks. With the running game working, Daniels could pick his moments to throw. His composure kept the offense moving even when the Cowboys crowded the line of scrimmage.

Prescott accumulated 316 passing yards, and George Pickens caught nine passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Those figures looked impressive individually, but Dallas couldn't balance them with a reliable rushing game. CeeDee Lamb also left with a quadriceps injury. Dallas gained ground through the air but struggled to sustain drives when it mattered most, especially once Tampa Bay established a comfortable lead.

One last interception sealed the breakthrough

Dallas nearly made Tampa Bay regret a failed fourth-and-goal attempt. Prescott led a 99-yard touchdown drive, finding Pickens in the end zone, but the two-point conversion failed. With Dallas trailing 24-16, Alex Anzalone intercepted a tipped pass near the Tampa Bay goal line to end the final comeback attempt. Irving's subsequent 22-yard run allowed the Buccaneers to run out the clock.

For Tampa Bay, three developments matter beyond the result:

• Irving gave the offense a dependable source of yards.
• Daniels showed patience in an unfamiliar starting role.
• The defense created chances that turned into points.

The Buccaneers are now 1-4 and will host Pittsburgh on October 18. Dallas falls to 2-3 with questions about its run defense. One win does not repair Tampa Bay's season, but Thursday finally gave the team something solid to build on.