Final Stats, best pics from Cowboys’ big win over Bucs despite elimination
The Dallas Cowboys knew they weren’t making it to the playoffs this season, but they didn’t play like it. Eliminated earlier in the afternoon when Washington pulled out a last-second win over Philadelphia, the Cowboys had no inclination of mailing things in.
With no incentive to playing down-roster guys just to help the organization, lame-duck coach Mike McCarthy’s troops put their best foot forward, dominating the still-playoff hopeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cowboys’ defense used relentless pressure on QB Baker Mayfield and unyielding hitting on ball carriers to bully their way to a double-digit lead in the third quarter.
Despite letting the Bucs make the game close and have a last chance to win, the Cowboys beared down and left AT&T with their second home win of the season, 26-24. Despite being eliminated from the playoffs, Dallas kept their hope of finishing above .500 alive and improved to 7-8.
Cooper Rush played his best game of the season, throwing for 292 yards and only having one egregious head scratcher of a throw. He focused his attention on CeeDee Lamb in the first half as the wide receiver crossed the 100-catch threshold with 100 yards through two quarters.
The defense, led by Micah Parsons and a turnover-focused secondary, corralled one of the league’s hottest offenses. Corners Jourdan Lewis and DaRon Bland made huge fourth-quarter plays, ripping balls away from ball carriers to thwart both a touchdown and a game extender with time running out.
Dallas will now prepare for their rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. Here’s a look at the stats and some great captures from the wonderful photographers of USA Today Images and Getty Images.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jalen Tolbert #1 celebrates with KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jalen Tolbert #1 celebrates with KaVontae Turpin #9 of the Dallas Cowboys after catching a pass for a first quarter touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform during halftime of a game against…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform during halftime of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Christian…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Christian Izien #29 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers short of the goal line during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks Baker Mayfield #6…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys sacks Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Rico Dowdle #23 of the Dallas Cowboys runs with the ball as Jamel Dean #35 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers works to make a tackle during the third quarter of a game at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ryan Flournoy #80 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the third…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Ryan Flournoy #80 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Mazi Smith #58 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a stop during…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Mazi Smith #58 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a stop during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Donovan Wilson #6 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a stop…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Donovan Wilson #6 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a stop during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys intercepts a pass intended…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys intercepts a pass intended for Jalen McMillan #15 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with teammates after…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jourdan Lewis #2 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates with teammates after a fourth quarter interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jourdan Lewis #2 celebrates with Nick Vigil #41 of the Dallas…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 22: Jourdan Lewis #2 celebrates with Nick Vigil #41 of the Dallas Cowboys after a fourth quarter interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) throws a pass against…
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) catches a touchdown…
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) catches a touchdown pass against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) is congratulated by…
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) is congratulated by safety Donovan Wilson (6) after making a field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) runs after catching…
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) runs after catching a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) catches a pass…
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) catches a pass against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) reacts after a play…
Dec 22, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) reacts after a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
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