Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football was pure chaos. We’re talking moments so crazy, even your favorite reality show looks chill-er in comparison.
Fans were absolutely losing it, and honestly, who can blame them? The game had everything, from wild twists to a final play that left everyone screaming at their screens.
Cowboys Snatch Victory From Buccaneers in Wild Finish
The Cowboys pulled off a 26-24 win over the Buccaneers — a fumble on a first-down play with barely a minute left, and BAM, Big D snags the ball and the victory.
Game over? Nah…just getting started.
It all went down with 1:41 left on the clock. The Bucs, down two, were looking to strike back. Baker Mayfield, dodging pressure, tossed a quick pass to RB Rachaad White.
Out of the blue, Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis forced a fumble, and DaRon Bland snagged it like a pro. The Cowboys took over at the Bucs’ 31 and ran out the clock. Mic drop.
Cooper Rush wasn’t playing around either — 292 yards and a touchdown, including a ridiculous 226 yards in the first half alone. The guy was dealing.
The Buccaneers, though, stumbled out of the gate with a brutal turnover on downs, thanks to a drop by Sterling Shepard.
The second half? A defensive battle, with both teams struggling to put up points. Mayfield threw a pick but bounced back with a clutch drive, putting Tampa Bay within two with a touchdown to Ryan Miller.
With the win, the Cowboys move to 7-8. And while their playoff hopes are toast, they’re certainly making some noise.
As for the Buccaneers? This loss snaps Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak, leaving them tied (but behind due to the head-to-head tiebreaker) with the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South lead.
Fans React to Insane Cowboys-Buccaneers Finish
“This game is f****** nuts.” That’s the kind of reaction fans had over the Cowboys-Buccaneers clash.
One fan put it best: “That’s crazy playing right there,” and honestly, it was. The Cowboys’ defense stepped up when it mattered most.
Others were fired up, shouting, “Committee needs to put Dallas in. I’ve seen enough.” (Maybe too soon, but we get the excitement.)
Tampa Bay no longer controls its fate; it needs the Falcons to lose again. pic.twitter.com/0Vf7PI0ogB
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2024
And then there’s the Mayfield sympathizers, with one fan saying, “Baker fought for his life for nothing there,” acknowledging how close the Bucs were to a comeback.
But as the game wrapped up, some fans couldn’t help but wonder, “Where was this fight all season?” (Maybe this was the Cowboys’ best performance when it was too late?)
And for a few, the refs became the punching bag: “The referees are running these NFL games.”
However, the general sentiment was one of confusion, especially for Cowboys fans who were hoping the team would play for a better draft position over a meaningless Sunday Night Football win.
“Absolutely no reason why Dallas should be trying to strip the ball. They needed Tampa to drive down and kick the game winner to help preserve their draft position. Every Buccaneer wondered what Dallas was doing all game,” said one fan.
Absolutely no reason why Dallas should be trying to strip the ball. They needed Tampa to drive down and kick the game winner to help preserve their draft position. Every Buccaneer wondered what Dallas was doing all game.
— Mike DeSantis (@MichaelDeSantis) December 23, 2024
Regardless, this game will live in infamy — and fans will keep talking about it for weeks.
