The Dallas Cowboys came to play on Sunday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Dallas Cowboys came away with a 26-24 victory on Sunday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys were viewed as an underdog throughout the week, as the Bucs were atop the NFC South heading into the game and had been building a lot of momentum. After the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Washington Commanders in the early slate of Sunday games, Dallas was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. With the Cowboys having nothing to play for, and the Bucs still playing for their division title, it would have been safe to assume that Tampa Bay would come out with far more intensity in their matchup. Mike McCarthy and Mike Zimmer didn’t get that message.
The team came out firing, with QB Cooper Rush throwing for 226 passing yards in the first half, a career high. While the offense looked in synch from the beginning, Mike Zimmer’s defense came out with the intensity of a team looking to compete in the playoffs, not a team that had already been eliminated from making it.
The defense delivered bone-crushing hits throughout the game, including this massive hit Donovan Wilson delivered to Mike Evans late in the third quarter.
Donovan Wilson smoked Mike Evans here. Yeesh. pic.twitter.com/jLGdfGXt6h
— Tony Catalina (@Tony_Catalina) December 23, 2024
The defense came away with two incredible takeaways in the fourth quarter, the first being a contested interception by Jourdan Lewis in the endzone. Cris Collinsworth described it as one of the best interceptions he’s seen.
Jourdan Lewis with a RIDICULOUS interception!!!
(via @dallascowboys)pic.twitter.com/hXAe6tDSig
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 23, 2024
On the final drive of the game, it appeared the Bucs were on their way to an improbable comeback. With the Tampa Bay offense driving down the field and only needing a field goal to win, the Cowboys defense needed to step up and make a play to secure the victory. DaRon Bland was the player to do it, as he came up with a remarkable strip of the football to seal the game.
DARON BLAND RIPS THE BALL FROM RACHAAD WHITE TO END THE GAME
COWBOYS WIN ‼️
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/hwXPB8G9PU
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 23, 2024
While the season got off to a rocky start for defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, he seems to have found his footing in Dallas. His defense the past few weeks have been energetic and and disruptive. If the defense continues this way the rest of the season, it could be the reason Zimmer gets another season in Dallas next year.
