Cowboys vs. Buccaneers updates: Score, highlights from Week 16 Sunday Night Football game

How ’bout them … Buccaneers?

That’s a remixed question some will be asking when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to face the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 17.

Tampa Bay is trucking along in the sluggish NFC South, following up a four-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak. The latest win was something of a statement: The Bucs put up a 40-spot against the tremendous Los Angeles Chargers defense in Week 15, with 506 yards of total offense. It was a well-balanced attack, too: Baker Mayfield threw for 288 yards while four rushers combined for 223 yards on the ground.

That type of success against a top-flight defense should have the Mayfield and Co. salivating as they enter AT&T Stadium on Sunday night. While the Cowboys are winners of three of their last four, their defense remains subpar, and is now without cornerback Trevon Diggs.

Dallas’ playoff hopes might be dashed, but they can throw a monkey wrench into the Buccaneers’ plans with a win Sunday night.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Week 16 “Sunday Night Football” matchup below.

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Cowboys 26, Buccaneers 14: Brandon Aubrey nails another field goal

The Cowboys passed midfield on the first play of their drive but only managed four more yards on the next four plays to set up Brandon Aubrey for a 53-yard field goal. Aubrey drilled it to continue his impressive night with three field goals from beyond 50 yards.

Buccaneers can’t convert 3rd-and-40, settle for punt

Baker Mayfield couldn’t connect with tight end Payne Durham on 3rd-and-40 from the Buccaneers’ 44. Tampa Bay was in that spot after Mayfield fumbled the ball on a sack and it went out of bounds after Cowboys linebacker couldn’t corral it in time.

Dallas takes over on its own 35 after a short punt.

Cowboys 23, Buccaneers 14: Brandon Aubrey nails 58-yard FG to close half

Dallas managed to move the ball 30 yards within the final minute of the second half to set up kicker Brandon Aubrey for another long field goal. Aubrey made it inside the left upright from 58 yards out as time expired in the second quarter. Dallas holds a two-score lead to close the first half.

Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush completed 18 of 24 passes for a 224 yards, a career-high for a half. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb has six catches for 100 yards.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s gone 14 for 19 for 142 yards and a touchdown. Tampa Bay’s run game has been more effective than Dallas’ ground attack with rookie Bucky Irving leading the way with a game-high 47 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Cowboys 20, Buccaneers 13: Baker Mayfield hits rookie WR for late score

Tampa Bay’s offense managed to move 71 yards in less than a minute of game time to cut the deficit to one score ahead of halftime. Baker Mayfield extended the play on 1st-and-10 from the Dallas’ 11-yard line and found rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan for the touchdown. Chase McLaughlin’s extra point is good and the Buccaneers get on the board again with 48 seconds left in the half.

Cowboys 20, Buccaneers 7: Ezekiel Elliott pushes into the end zone

The Cowboys marched 80 yards in two and a half minutes to extend their lead late in the second half. Ezekiel Elliott scored his first touchdown since Oct. 27 with a one-yard run on the left side. Brandon Aubrey’s extra point is good and the Cowboys take a 13-point lead with 1:45 to go in the second quarter.

CeeDee Lamb made multiple crucial catches, including a 52-yard deep shot from Cooper Rush, to get the Cowboys into scoring range. He briefly left the field due to what appeared to be pain in his right shoulder.

Cowboys sack Baker Mayfield on 3rd down, force another punt

The Buccaneers’ offense made it past midfield but on 3rd-and-5 from the Dallas 40, Cowboys’ defensive end Chauncey Golston brought down Baker Mayfield for a sack and a loss of five yards. Tampa Bay couldn’t pin the Cowboys deep and Dallas will take over at their own 20-yard line with 4:14 to go in the first half.

Cowboys 13, Buccaneers 7: Aubrey makes second FG of the half

Dallas was driving into Tampa Bay territory but Cooper Rush overthrew CeeDee Lamb on 3rd-and-5 from the Buccaneers’ 31-yard line. The Cowboys settled for a field goal and Brandon Aubrey extended the lead with a 49-yard field goal, his second make of the night, with 9:15 to go in the first half.

Cowboys 10, Buccaneers 7: Bucky Irving puts Tampa Bay on the board

Rookie running back Bucky Irving broke a tackle on 2nd-and-goal from the 2-yard line and powered forward for the Buccaneers’ first score of the night. Chase McLaughlin’s extra point is good to cut the deficit to three with 11:30 to go in the half.

Irving had four carries for 28 yards on the drive and Baker Mayfield found Mike Evans twice for 29 yards.

Jake Ferguson can’t hold on, Cowboys kick first punt

Cooper Rush threw just his second incomplete pass of the night on 3rd-and-8 as tight end Jake Ferguson couldn’t hang on to move the chains. Dallas kicked its first punt of the night and Tampa Bay will take over on its own 43-yard line with 14:45 to go in the half.

Dallas holds lead to close first quarter

The first quarter comes to a close in AT&T Stadium and the Cowboys are in control early up 10-0. Dallas will face 3rd-and-8 from their own 22-yard line to open the second quarter. Quarterback Cooper Rush is 9-of-10 for 70 yards and a touchdown after the first 15 minutes of action.

Buccaneers punt after first three-and-out

Tampa Bay’s offense sputtered in their second drive of the night. Baker Mayfield’s pass deep down the middle to Sterling Shepard fell incomplete again on 2nd-and-4. Rachaad White couldn’t get the last yard needed to move the chains on third down and the Buccaneers punted for the first time on the night.

Dallas takes over at their own 20 with 1:12 left in the first quarter.

Cowboys 10, Buccaneers 0: Cooper Rush finds Jalen Tolbert for TD

Dallas needed just over two minutes to march 48 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Cooper Rush threw to Jalen Tolbert in the back of the end zone on 3rd-and-9 for the score. Brandon Aubrey’s extra point is good and the Cowboys extend their lead at home.

Buccaneers turn over on downs after Sterling Shepard drop

Tampa Bay was facing 4th-and-3 from the Dallas 48 and decided to go for it. Baker Mayfield’s pass well beyond the first-down marker hit Sterling Shepard in the hands, but Shepard couldn’t hold on. The Cowboys take over on downs with 4:57 left in the first quarter.

Cowboys 3, Buccaneers 0: Brandon Aubrey drills 58-yard field goal

Dallas’ offense picked up three first downs in the opening drive of the game but Tampa Bay’s defense stepped up on 3rd-and-6 to force a long field goal. Former MLS draft pick Brandon Aubrey was reliable as ever and knocked down the kick from 58 yards out to open the scoring of the game.

It’s the 12th made field goal of the season from 50-plus yards for Aubrey.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers start time

• Start time: 8:20 p.m. ET (7:20 p.m. CT)

The Cowboys and Buccaneers are set for kickoff for 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday night.

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers TV channel

• TV channel: NBC

NBC is the broadcast home of “Sunday Night Football.” Mike Tirico will be on the call, and he will be flanked by Cris Collinsworth (play-by-play).

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers live stream

• Live stream:  Fubo | Peacock

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.

Peacock, the proprietary streaming service of NBC, will also carry the game.

Buccaneers inactives vs. Cowboys

Pro Bowl safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) is inactive for a second straight week. Tampa Bay also will be without the services of tight end Cade Otton (knee).

• LB K.J. Britt
• DL Earnest Brown
• OG Royce Newman
• TE Cade Otton
• LB Jose Ramirez
• S Antoine Winfield Jr.

Cowboys inactives vs. Buccaneers

• DB Juanyeh Thomas
• RB Deuce Vaughn
• LB Eric Kendricks
• WR Jalen Brooks
• OL T.J. Bass
• DE Tyrus Wheat
• DT Justin Rogers

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers predictions, picks

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the “SNF” tilt between the Cowboys and Buccaneers will play out:

• Tyler Dragon: Buccaneers 27, Cowboys 20
• Jordan Mendoza: Buccaneers 31, Cowboys 20

Cowboys  vs. Buccaneers odds, moneyline, over/under

The Buccaneers are favorites to defeat the Cowboys, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week.

• Spread: Buccaneers (-4)
• Moneyline: Buccaneers (-210); Cowboys (+170)
• Over/under: 47.5

Where is Cowboys vs. Buccaneers?

The Cowboys defend AT&T Stadium as the Buccaneers travel to Arlington, Texas.

AT&T Stadium has hosted one Super Bowl — Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. It also was the host site for the 2018 NFL draft. The stadium also hosted the first College Football Playoff national championship game in 2015, which was won by the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Oregon Ducks.

➤ Ranking NFL’s stadiums from 1 to 30: Where does Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium rate?

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers weather updates

The roof is closed at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, so weather will not be a factor in Sunday night’s game.

NFC South standings

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-6
2. Atlanta Falcons: 8-7
3. New Orleans Saints: 5-9
4. Carolina Panthers: 4-11

NFC East standings

1. x – Philadelphia Eagles: 12-3
2. Washington Commanders: 10-5
3. Dallas Cowboys: 6-8
4. New York Giants: 2-13

x – clinched playoff berth

Cowboys’ playoff picture

After the Washington Commanders’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention.

This season will mark the first time since 2020 that the Cowboys have not qualified for the postseason. The Cowboys have six playoff appearances in the last 11 seasons, with the furthest the team advanced in the postseason being the divisional round. The Cowboys haven’t reached the NFC championship game since the 1995 season, when the team went on to win Super Bowl XXX.

Buccaneers’ playoff picture

With the Atlanta Falcons’ win over the New York Giants on Sunday, the Buccaneers enter “Sunday Night Football” with a half-game edge in the NFC South.

The Buccaneers need to stay ahead of the Falcons in the standings, with Atlanta owning the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay.

Which teams have already clinched playoff berths?

Seven teams had already clinched playoff berths entering Week 16. The Baltimore Ravens made it eight with their win Saturday over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

AFC

• Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West champions)
• Buffalo Bills (AFC East champions)
• Houston Texans (AFC South champions)
• Baltimore Ravens (playoff berth)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (playoff berth)

NFC

• Detroit Lions (playoff berth)
• Philadelphia Eagles (playoff berth)
• Minnesota Vikings (playoff berth)

Updated 2025 NFL draft order

Here’s the projected 2025 NFL draft order ahead of “Sunday Night Football” in Week 16, according to Tankathon.com:

1. New York Giants: 2-13 record; .554 strength of schedule
2. New England Patriots: 3-12; .463 SOS
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-12; .480 SOS
4. Tennessee Titans: 3-12; .512 SOS
5. Cleveland Browns: 3-12; .530 SOS
6. Las Vegas Raiders: 3-12; .545 SOS
7. Carolina Panthers: 4-11; .500 SOS
8. New York Jets: 4-11; .502 SOS
9. Chicago Bears: 4-11; .557 SOS
10. New Orleans Saints: 5-9; .506 SOS
11. San Francisco 49ers: 6-9; .563 SOS
12. Dallas Cowboys: 6-8; .518 SOS
13. Miami Dolphins: 7-8; .417 SOS
14. Indianapolis Colts: 7-8; .461 SOS
15. Cincinnati Bengals: 7-8; .476 SOS
16. Arizona Cardinals: 7-8; .532 SOS
17. Seattle Seahawks: 8-7; .508 SOS
18. Atlanta Falcons: 8-7; .520 SOS
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-6; .508 SOS
20. Los Angeles Chargers: 9-6; .474 SOS
21. Houston Texans: 9-6; .482 SOS
22. Denver Broncos: 9-6; .498 SOS
23. Los Angeles Rams: 9-6; .506 SOS
24. Washington Commanders: 10-5; .434 SOS
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-5; .488 SOS
26. Baltimore Ravens: 10-5; .530 SOS
27. Green Bay Packers: 10-4; .535 SOS
28. Philadelphia Eagles: 12-3; .452 SOS
29. Buffalo Bills: 12-3; .459 SOS
30. Minnesota Vikings: 13-2; .474 SOS
31. Detroit Lions: 13-2; .526 SOS
32. Kansas City Chiefs: 14-1; .490 SOS

Will the Cowboys fire Mike McCarthy?

Jerry Jones hasn’t shared his hand one way or another when it comes to Mike McCarthy’s future in Dallas. He recently noted that the endorsements given to the coach by Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons and Troy Aikman were “not surprising at all” and were indicative of the success McCarthy has enjoyed during his NFL career.

“He wouldn’t be in this job had he not had the kind of credibility that those endorsements reflect,” Jones said. “He’s a heck of a head coach in the NFL, and he’s got the skins on the wall to prove it.”

What happened to Dak Prescott?

Dak Prescott suffered a partial hamstring avulsion – a tear during which part of the tendon rips off the bone – during Dallas’ 27-21 loss to the Falcons in Week 9. He told reporters after the contest that he wasn’t sure if the injury occurred while he was running or being tackled. He is out for the season.

Micah Parsons trade rumors

Could edge rusher Micah Parsons be the odd man out after the Dallas Cowboys paid quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb last offseason?

If he is, Parsons doesn’t seem too worried about it.

“I understand how the business side goes,” he said when asked about the trade speculation on Sunday, per The Athletic. “There are no hard feelings in this business, whether I’m here or anywhere else. Obviously I’ve stated that I wanted to be here. But at the end of the day, I understand the business side.”

Jerry Jones squashed the trade rumors earlier this week.

“That’s never been uttered in this organization, that we don’t have a future with Micah Parsons,” he told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. — Jack McKessy

Baker Mayfield contract details

Baker Mayfield signed an extension with the Buccaneers this offseason to stay with Tampa Bay through the 2026 season.

• Term: 3 years
• Total value: $100 million
• Average annual value (AAV): $33.33 million
• Guaranteed money: $50 million

Mayfield’s cap hit per season varies across the contract. For 2024, Mayfield’s cap hit is $6.9 million. That escalates to $35.77 million in 2025 and $45.77 million in 2026. There are two void years tacked on to the end of the contract for 2027 and 2028.

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?

The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six.

The Dallas Cowboys and Steelers have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups.

The Cowboys have appeared in eight Super Bowls (that’s tied with three other teams for the second-most ever), but have not played in a Super Bowl since the 1995 season. In all, the Cowboys have won five Super Bowl wins. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have appeared in two Super Bowls, winning both. The Buccaneers’ most recent Super Bowl win came during the 2020 season in Super Bowl 55.

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

• New England Patriots — 6
• Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
• Dallas Cowboys — 5
• San Francisco 49ers — 5
• Green Bay Packers — 4
• Kansas City Chiefs — 4
• New York Giants — 4

➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game

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