Week 5: Winless Buccaneers Visit Cowboys on Thursday Night With a Rookie Under Center
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, October 8. Tampa Bay is 0-4 after a 17-14 home loss to Green Bay in undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels' first start; Baker Mayfield is out at least two more weeks with a dislocated thumb and receiver Jalen McMillan is on injured reserve. Dallas is 2-2 after a 34-30 win at Houston in which Dak Prescott threw for 335 yards, CeeDee Lamb caught 17 passes for 189 yards and Javonte Williams scored three touchdowns; cornerback Joey Porter Jr. made his debut after the trade from Pittsburgh.
Daniels' second start
Nineteen of 27 for 148 yards with two interceptions against Green Bay.
Lamb's volume
Seventeen catches in Houston, and 39 career touchdowns from Prescott.
Dallas' defense with Porter
Still 112 points allowed in four games, the most of any 2-2 team.
AI Prediction
Buccaneers 
Cowboys The quarterback gap is the widest of the week
Prescott has 10 touchdown passes; Tampa Bay's rookie has one in a game and a half.
Tampa Bay keeps it close with defense
All four losses by one score, and the Buccaneers held Green Bay to 283 yards.
Dallas' defense gives up points to everyone
Thirty from Houston, 34 from Baltimore, which is why Tampa Bay is projected at 17.
A High-confidence home lean. The model's record against replacement quarterbacks argues for caution, but Tampa Bay's offense has not topped 19 points since Week 1.
Cowboys Leaders
Buccaneers Leaders
Team Stats
| Buccaneers | Stat | Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| 19.0 | Points Per Game | 30.5 |
| 296.8 | Total Yards | 355.8 |
| 190.8 | Yards Passing | 266.3 |
| 106.0 | Yards Rushing | 89.5 |
| 24.0 | Points Allowed Per Game | 28.0 |
| 292.8 | Yards Allowed | 392.8 |
| 214.3 | Pass Yards Allowed | 242.5 |
| 78.5 | Rush Yards Allowed | 150.3 |
Venue
Closing Line
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Cowboys Injuries