Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will start at quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Thursday night’s clash against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Daniels, stepping in for the injured Baker Mayfield, will make just his second career NFL start in what promises to be a challenging primetime matchup.
Daniels took over last week against the Green Bay Packers, completing 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions while rushing for 55 yards. The Buccaneers (0-4) are still searching for their first win this season after a narrow 17-14 loss to Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Cowboys (2-2) come into the game riding a 34-30 comeback victory over the Houston Texans and sit tied for second place in the NFC East.
Dallas enters as an 8.5-point favorite, according to the latest betting odds, despite a defense that ranks at the bottom of the NFL in several categories. The Cowboys allow the most expected points added (EPA) per play in the league, with a figure of 0.16. R.J. White, a SportsLine expert, questioned the size of the Cowboys’ home favoritism, pointing out that Dallas has not been favored by more than seven points at home all season. “This Cowboys team with a defense that ranks last in yards per play doesn’t seem like one worthy of breaking that stretch,” White said.
The SportsLine Projection Model has run 10,000 simulations of the game and estimates a 67% chance that the teams will combine for more than 48.5 points. It assigned a “B” grade to betting over that total and a similar grade to the Buccaneers covering the +10.5 spread. Daniels will likely lean on the running game to offset Dallas’ defensive weakness, having shown mobility and the ability to scramble during his debut.
The Buccaneers’ primetime record has been poor recently, with a 3-11 mark over their last 14 such games. The Cowboys’ struggles are similar, standing at 2-8-1 in their last 11 night appearances. Both teams have struggled to make a significant impact under the national spotlight, adding to the stakes for this Thursday night encounter.
The game will be broadcast on Prime Video and kicks off at 8:15 p.m. Eastern. It remains to be seen if Daniels can rise to the occasion and help Tampa Bay snap their winless streak or if Dallas will capitalize on their home advantage and struggling opponent.
Thursday’s NFL action continues alongside other major sports events, including Game 4 of the ALDS between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians and several college football matchups, offering a full slate for sports bettors and fans alike.
For Daniels and the Buccaneers, Thursday night offers a rare opportunity to turn their season around against a Dallas defense that has struggled to contain opposing offenses. The latest confirmed update is Daniels’ starting role, announced due to Mayfield’s thumb injury, setting the stage for a crucial test of Tampa Bay’s resilience.
According to CBS.
