The Baker Mayfield-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to AT&T Stadium and Jerry World on Thursday with a 0-4 record. For the first time this season, the Cowboys are prohibitive betting favorites. Still, they best not look past the Bucs with a Sunday night matchup against the Packers at Lambeau Field waiting on the other side.
Without Mayfield, who is out with a thumb injury, it falls on Kansas rookie Jalon Daniels to take the reins. Daniels endured a tough debut last Sunday in a close loss to the Packers, and he'll now look to pull off the upset with the whole country watching on Prime. Nothing would be sweeter than picking up his first NFL win against America's Team.
This will be Dallas' third game in 12 games. It has trap game written all over it, so let's dive into some things Brian Schottenheimer's side must do to take care of business.
3 keys for the Cowboys to defeat winless Buccaneers in Week 5
1. Do not underestimate the Bucs based on their 0-4 start
It hasn't been the start the Buccaneers were hoping for in 2026. Still, even at 0-4, they have played opponents tough, losing all four contests by 7 points or less. They nearly pulled an upset of Green Bay last Sunday before falling 17-14. This isn't a hapless group you can take for granted.
Other than Daniels, Tampa Bay has proven players at every skill position: running back Bucky Irving, wide receivers Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, and tight end Cade Otton.
They also boast a defense that ranks fourth in yards allowed (282.8) through the first quarter of the season. If the Cowboys think they can roll their helmets out there, go through the motions, and get the win, they will be looking at an upset and a 2-3 record.
2. Expect an intense, full four quarters against a top defense
The Bucs are third in the NFL against the run, allowing just 78.5 yards per game, so Dallas' offensive line will need to be better than they were last week against the Texans, when they averaged 3.0 yards per carry.
They will need to open up some running lanes for Javonte Williams. They don't have to dominate, but they need to be good enough to allow Dak Prescott to effectively use the play-action that he does so well with his array of pass-catchers.
Look out for inside linebacker Josiah Trotter, who leads the team in tackles, and surprise rookie LB David Walker, who leads the team with two sacks and three tackles for loss.
Tampa Bay is also solid against the pass, ranking ninth in the league in passing yards allowed. CeeDee Lamb lit up a normally stout Texans secondary last week and will need to continue to flash that All-Pro style against a physical secondary highlighted by hard-hitting safeties Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith.
Cornerback Zyon McCollum and nickel back Jacob Parrish are playing well, too. Parrish is coming off an interception of Jordan Love last Sunday. Fortunately for the Cowboys, Winfield will miss the game with a rib injury.
3. Don't let Jalon Daniels settle into the game
The Buccaneers are middle of the pack running the ball, but near the bottom of the league moving the ball through the air. Now, a shaky Cowboys defense gets a QB making his second career NFL start.
If this team cannot control Daniels and a solid, but far from spectacular WR duo of Egbuka and Godwin, then it will not bode well for when they face some of the more high-powered offenses later in the year, including the Rams and 49ers.
Caleb Downs is getting better with every game he plays. Unfortunately, the talented rookie and Joey Porter Jr. can't do it alone.
DaRon Bland, Malik Hooker, Shavon Revel, and Reddy Steward have to be tighter in coverage. Quinnen Williams and Rashan Gary each got sacks last Sunday, and the front seven has to keep generating pressure to help the secondary. They need to take advantage of an inexperienced QB and force mistakes and bad decisions.
This is a perfect get-right game for Christian Parker's defense. If they get taken to school by an undrafted rookie QB, you can go ahead and alter expectations for the season.
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