NFL scores and highlights: Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ playoff hopes hurt in 26-24 loss to Dallas Cowboys | NFL News

Cooper Rush threw for a touchdown and Brandon Aubrey kicked two for 58 yards among four field goals as the Dallas Cowboys beat Tampa Bay 26-24 on Sunday night, costing Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers control of their playoff fate.

The end of a four-game winning streak left the Bucs (8-7) even with Atlanta atop the NFC South with two games to play, but the Falcons have the tiebreaker because they won both meetings with Tampa Bay.

A three-year playoff streak for the Cowboys (7-8) ended when they were eliminated from postseason contention before kickoff by the Washington Commanders’ last-gasp victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

But it didn’t derail Dallas, which won for the fourth time in five games from a five-game losing streak that put playoff hopes in jeopardy.

Mayfield, a Texas native who played within striking distance of his high school and college roots, was in position to lead a rally from a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes when he escaped a sack and went throw the ball to Rachaad White on the last two. minutes

DaRon Bland ripped the ball from White’s hands before it hit the ground, giving Dallas possession at the Tampa Bay 32-yard line and allowing the Cowboys to run out the clock.

Statistics leaders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Passing by: Baker Mayfield, 31/43, 303 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
• rush: Bucky Irving, 16 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
• Reception: Mike Evans, 5 catches, 69 yards

Dallas Cowboys

• Passing by: Cooper Rush, 26/35, 292 yards, 1 TD
• rush: Rico Dowdle, 13 carries, 23 yards
• Reception: CeeDee Lamb, 7 catches, 105 yards

Mayfield threw two touchdowns, including a 13-yarder to Ryan Miller that pulled the Bucs within two with 2:36 left.

The Bucs got the ball back with 1:50 left before Bland’s big play, which forced his first turnover in an injury-plagued season a year after the cornerback set an NFL record with five punt returns interceptions for touchdowns.

A Tampa Bay defense that allowed an NFL-low 15 points during the winning streak had trouble trying to contain Rush and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who had a 100-yard first half for the second straight week.

Lamb, who has been struggling with his right shoulder for most of the season, came down hard again with a 52-yard catch in the second quarter. After going to the bench, Lamb returned to make the catch underneath and scrambled inside the 1-yard line to set up Ezekiel Elliott’s drop for a 20-7 Dallas lead.

Lamb finished with 105 yards after getting 100 before halftime a week after going for 105 in the first half against Carolina.

Mayfield needed less than a minute to drive his 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan in the final minute of the first half, but the Cowboys answered with Aubrey’s second 58-yard field goal in the final play before the break for a 23. -14 lead.

what was said

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield: “I’ve said it all along, this group won’t quit. That’s the standard we’re trying to set. It would be nice not to be in this situation, if we had taken care of business before the game. They made some plays when it mattered . It’s all about the ball, and they did well to get it out.”

what happens next

The Chiefs enter the penultimate week of the regular season when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day, while the Texans return home to host the Baltimore Ravens.

Watch New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers from 1.15am on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports NFL. Stream with ARA.