Buccaneers Stun Cowboys
Tampa Bay earned its first win as Dallas faced new questions over its struggling defense.
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Updated Oct 9, 11:51am ETEvery side, every morning
A free recap of the day’s biggest stories and how each side covered them.
What happened
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysAmerican football team 24-16, earning their first win and dropping Dallas to 2-3. Dallas gave the ball away three times, including two Dak PrescottDak PrescottAmerican football player (born 1993) interceptions and a kickoff-return fumble. Tampa Bay was without starting quarterback Baker MayfieldBaker MayfieldAmerican football player (born 1995), with undrafted rookie Jalon DanielsJalon DanielsAmerican football player making his second career start. Dallas entered with no interceptions this season and the league's last-ranked rushing defense. Bucky Irving ran for 165 yards and scored twice as Tampa finished with 241 rushing yards. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones called the loss extraordinarily disappointing and said Dallas had missed a major opportunity. After a nine-day gap, the Cowboys are scheduled to play at Green Bay on Oct. 18, at Philadelphia.
How each side covered it
From the left
Only one left-leaning outlet we track covered this: The Guardian, under the headline “Bucky Irving runs riot as Buccaneers stun Cowboys for first win of season”.
From the right
Right-leaning outlets framed the result as a Cowboys breakdown, stressing embarrassment, coaching questions and fan backlash. One America News Network cast the loss as a collapse that left Jerry Jones frustrated and the team facing more questions. FOX News faulted defensive coaching, then lingered on fans aiming anger at Jake Ferguson’s wife, Haley Cavinder.
Headlines
Center7
Newsweek · Oct 9Former Cowboys player bashes 'historically bad' Week 5 loss to Buccaneers
UPI · Oct 9Irving, Daniels lead Buccaneers past Cowboys for first win of 2026 - UPI.com
Associated Press · Oct 8Bucky Irving and rookie QB Jalon Daniels help Bucs beat sloppy Cowboys 24-16 for 1st win of season
Associated Press · Oct 8Jerry Jones' Cowboys have plenty of reason for concern after home loss to winless Buccaneers
Newsweek · Oct 9Jerry Jones Calls Out ‘Missed Opportunity’ After Cowboys ‘TNF’ Loss
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