After the Dallas Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention, they continued to impact the NFC playoff race with a 26-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Despite already being out of the postseason race, the Cowboys showed no letdown and secured the win with a fourth-quarter forced fumble by DaRon Bland. The loss was detrimental to Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes, dropping their chances from 94% to 67% with two games left in the season.
The Cowboys, who had struggled at home all season, improved to 2-6 at AT&T Stadium with the win. With the victory, the Falcons moved into first place in the NFC South, overtaking the Buccaneers. Quarterback Baker Mayfield led a late rally for Tampa Bay, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Dallas.
Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33, while the Buffalo Bills overcame a 14-point deficit to beat the New England Patriots 24-21. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor redeemed himself with a stellar performance, rushing for 218 yards and three touchdowns in a crucial win against the Tennessee Titans.
Despite their playoff fate already being sealed, the Cowboys were playing for more than just pride, with coach Mike McCarthy’s future hanging in the balance. The team showed resilience and determination, demonstrating that they still had something to play for in the final games of the season.
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