The Cowboys were eliminated earlier in the day. They aren’t playing like an eliminated team.
Dallas controlled the first half, outgaining Tampa Bay 243 to 194 to take a 23-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Cooper Rush threw for 226 yards, with CeeDee Lamb catching six passes for 100 yards. Lamb now has 100 receptions for the season after leading the league with 135 last season.
Rush completed 18 of 24 passes, and he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. He nearly had another one, with replay overturned an 11-yard touchdown to Lamb to a 10-yard reception, setting up Ezekiel Elliott’s 1-yard run with 1:45 left in the half.
Lamb aggravated his shoulder injury on a 52-yard reception but returned a couple of plays later after the Cowboys deemed him questionable to come back.
Dallas scored on five of its six possessions, punting after a three-and-out on the other.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, the league’s best at what he does, kicked two 58-yard field goals and had a 49-yarder.
The Bucs scored their first touchdown on Bucky Irving’s 2-yard touchdown run. They trailed 20-7 before a seven-play, 71-yard drive to score on Jalen McMillan’s 11-yard touchdown catch with 48 seconds left in the half.
Baker Mayfield completed 14 of 19 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, with Mike Evans catching four for 59. He needs to average 84 in these final three games to keep his 1,000-yard streak alive.
Irving has eight carries for 47 yards.
Bucs safety Kaevon Merriweather (knee) is questionable to return as is Cowboys offensive lineman Matt Waletzko (knee).
