Studs, duds as Cowboys get it out the mud in win over Bucs

Mike Crum

The Dallas Cowboys knew they had been eliminated from the playoffs before they even kicked off. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were trying to stay on top of the NFC South and had everything to play for, but the Cowboys came out early and took control of the game. With their offensive performance led by Cooper Rush and CeeDee Lamb, Dallas got ahead by two scores on the first two drives and took that lead into the half.

The defense took over in the second half, keeping the Buccaneers from making a comeback on the final drive to steal the victory from Dallas. Tampa Bay had six second-half possessions, and the Cowboys forced two turnovers and two punts while only allowing a high-powered Buccaneers offense to score 10 points. This was a complete victory for a team so injured it could’ve thrown in the towel weeks ago. Dallas had plenty of stud performances to choose from, with its offensive production in the first half and its big defensive plays in the second. There were enough bad performances to clean up though, so it doesn’t cost them a win in the final two contests.

Studs: WR CeeDee Lamb

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

Lamb is stepping up in a big way, not just as one of the best receivers in the NFL but also as one of its toughest players. Players play hurt all the time, but they typically are trying to make the playoffs or attempting to sign a big-money contract. In Lamb’s case, he was paid before the season began, and the team was eliminated from playoff contention before kickoff. He also has hit his significant statistical milestones for the season, but he continues to play and take hits with a shoulder injury.

Lamb hardly played in the second half due to his injury, but he put up great numbers despite not seeing the field much after halftime. He was targeted eight times and caught seven for over 100 yards. On the opening drive, Lamb converted a 3rd-and-2 which led to a field goal. Later, he caught a 52-yard reception on a 3rd-and-4, which ended in a touchdown. Lamb passed Jerry Rice for fourth place in yards from scrimmage in the first five seasons of their career; he only needs 158 yards in the final two games to move to second on that list. He also passed Drew Pearson for fourth on the Cowboys all-time receptions list.

Lamb has shown leadership in Dak Prescott’s absence just by playing well when he could sit out anytime with a significant injury. Many other players are playing through the end of this season because they are young and proving themselves or on one-year deals, but Lamb is doing it for his teammates, his coach, the fans, and the love of the game

Duds: Second half offense

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)

The Cowboys took control early with an excellent offensive performance in the first half. Dallas scored on five of their six drives, scoring 23 points without any involvement from the rushing attack. Tampa Bay has a bottom-five passing defense, allowing over 350 yards per game, but in the second half, they bounced back to shut down the Cowboys.

Rush had minuscule numbers in the second half, throwing 8-for-11 for 66 yards, and the team put up only three second-half points. After an opening drive field goal, Dallas had a five-play-and-a-punt and three straight drives ending as three-and-outs. The defense had to create two fourth-quarter turnovers to keep the Buccaneers from making a comeback from down nine with less than three minutes left in the contest. It is one of the issues the Cowboys have had under head coach Mike McCarthy, even with Prescott being healthy at quarterback. The team cannot put games away relying on its offense this season, and it nearly cost them against Tampa Bay.

Studs: QB Cooper Rush

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

Rush played his best game this season and did almost all his damage in the first half. He went 26-for-35 for 292 yards and a touchdown, with zero turnovers. He had a QB rating of 108.3 and had his first game of the season with a positive completion percentage over expected. It was Rush’s fifth-highest passing total of his career.

His first half was one of the best performances of his career. He led five scoring drives, throwing 18-for-24 for 226 yards and his sole TD. If that were his totals for the entire game, it still would’ve been his third-most passing yards this season behind only the 247 against the Washington Commanders and the 354 against the Houston Texans. While the second half wasn’t as successful, Rush’s first-half performance would be enough to be stud-worthy and help earn his team another victory.

Duds: Rushing attack

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)

The Cowboys’ rushing attack stepped up last month. Rico Dowdle performed like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley over the past three games. He is the only back all year to eclipse 100 yards rushing in three straight games while maintaining an average of over five yards per attempt. Over the past four games, he rushed 84 times for 478 yards, 5.7 per rush, and his only rushing touchdown. He was on a roll, but the rushing attack against the Buccaneers was nonexistent.

Dowdle only got 13 attempts and averaged less than two yards per carry. The team overall only averaged 1.6 yards per rush. Only two runs went for first downs, and when Dallas needed to close out the contest, the run game was no help. In the fourth quarter, Dowdle took three handoffs for 6 yards, and Turpin got one run that went for negative one yard. The Cowboys were up two scores but had two drives in the fourth quarter go for less than 100 seconds, and their longest drive went for under two minutes and 30 seconds. Dallas has to find a way to use their rushing attack to kill the clock late in games if they have more than a one-score lead.

Studs: Starting linebackers

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 15: Marist Liufau #35 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a tackle against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Losing DeMarvion Overshown against the Cincinnati Bengals was a hit the Cowboys’ defense overcame thanks to rookie Marist Liufau’s play. He had five tackles, one for a loss, and a forced fumble against the Carolina Panthers. He improved on those numbers against Tampa Bay with seven tackles, another forced fumble, and a big hit that broke up a third-down pass that ensured a Buccaneers punt.

Replacing a young playmaking linebacker with another young playmaker is one thing, but a last-minute scratch of the team’s leading tackler and defensive play-caller, Eric Kendricks, was even more difficult because his replacement was a player who primarily played special teams. Nick Vigil had 53 defensive snaps through 13 games and 10 total tackles before the game against Tampa Bay. In his first start of 2024, Vigil led the team in tackles with 10, doubling his tackle total for the season, and he stripped Baker Mayfield on a sack by Micah Parsons.

The way Mike Zimmer held a red-hot Buccaneers offense to 17 points with three minutes left in the game with a rookie and a special teams linebacker starting is an incredible feat for a defensive coordinator who had a bottom-five defense halfway through the season.