When the Dallas Cowboys welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into AT&T Stadium on Thursday Night Football in Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season, it'll be the first of three straight primetime games for America's Team. And the matchup is wedged right in the middle of some other daunting foes.
After starting with two NFC East bouts against the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, Dallas plays the always tough Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, followed by their cross-state rival Houston Texans, which are owners of the NFL's nastiest defense.
In Weeks 6 and 7, following the short-week game against the Bucs, the Cowboys will play the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles in standalone games. By sheer gravity, it may be easy for Dallas fans to overlook Tampa Bay in the midst of all of this after the Bucs had a tough 2025 campaign.
But there are no easy wins in the NFL, especially not against Tampa Bay. To further drive home this point, we spoke to expert Josh Crysler of The Pewter Plank, FanSided's dedicated Bucs page. And Crysler wasn't going to let Cowboys fans underrate his team in the early primetime showdown.
Dallas Cowboys must be ready for recharged Bucs team in Week 5 primetime game
Q: The Bucs have been a perennial power in recent years, but they really slipped last season. What is the current confidence level in Tampa Bay, and how short truly is HC Todd Bowles' leash?
A: The confidence level is relatively high in Tampa Bay, with most fans forecasting a 9 or 10-win season. There isn’t a Super Bowl expectation, but there is an expectation that the team will win the NFC South and return to the postseason. Todd Bowles’ leash is short, and I imagine he’ll have to win a playoff game to keep his job.Â
Q: Baker Mayfield is in the final year of his contract, and a potential extension seems like a big topic right now. Is this a distraction in the building, and do you think a deal gets done before the season begins?
A: I don’t believe Mayfield’s contract is too much of a distraction inside the building, despite how big a story it’s become in the sports media world. Despite all the noise, Mayfield has made it clear he wants to stay in Tampa Bay. The organization has made it clear they want to re-sign Mayfield. It’s tough to say if a deal gets done before the season, as Mayfield set a deadline of training camp before he pauses talks until the offseason. My gut feeling is that the two sides find a happy medium and strike a deal in the coming weeks to avoid Mayfield playing out a contract year.Â
Q: Tampa Bay lost franchise legends Mike Evans and Lavonte David this offseason. What have the Bucs done to fill their voids, and is there faith that they can make up for those losses?
A: The loss of two franchise legends stings, but the Bucs have the pieces in place to fill the voids. The wide receiver room remains stacked with Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and rookie Ted Hurst. Godwin, who has arguably been a more vocal leader than Evans over the years. will be able to seamlessly fill the leadership role. On defense, the Bucs brought in veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone to replace Lavonte David. Anzalone was a captain in Detroit for five consecutive seasons. It’s safe to say the Bucs have a quality mix of proven veteran leaders and young, hungry guys that will help them survive the loss of Evans and David.Â
Q: What was the biggest or most impactful move that the Bucs made this offseason?
A: I think the most impactful move the Bucs made was upgrading the rush by drafting Rueben Bain Jr. and signing Al-Quadin Muhammad, who is coming off an 11-sack season. Not only are Bain and Muhammad quality players themselves, but the boost to the edge rotation will also make life easier for Yaya Diaby, who has led Tampa Bay in sacks in two of his three NFL seasons. Pass rush could go from a major weakness to a strength thanks to a great job this offseason by the front office.
Q: Do the Bucs have a clear weakness that the Cowboys can exploit during this matchup?
A: The obvious weakness that could haunt the Bucs against the Cowboys is the cornerback position. Tampa Bay has a young cornerback room with a lot of potential, but they’re unproven. Zyon McCollum is coming off a down year. Benjamin Morrison, whom the team drafted in the second round last year, has been a disappointment with injuries becoming a big concern. Jacob Parrish is competing for a starting outside CB job, but he’s unproven there after spending his rookie year in the slot. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens could be in for a field day if the young Bucs’ corners don’t perform.Â
Q: Is there a roster strength that Tampa Bay has that is currently being underrated by rival fanbases or the media?
A: The roster strength being underrated by both rival fanbases and the media is the Bucs’ WR room. Losing Mike Evans has seemingly made the football world forget how deep Tampa Bay is at the wide receiver position. Veteran Chris Godwin Jr. leads the way, followed by Emeka Egbuka coming off a standout rookie year. The room is rounded out by a fully-healthy Jalen McMillan, an explosive rookie in Ted Hurst, and a deep threat in Tez Johnson. It’s quietly an embarrassment of riches that is being overlooked.Â
The Dallas Cowboys will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season on Thursday Night Football at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. CT.
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