NFL Football BETTING PREVIEW - Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys

NFL Football

2026-10-08 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Dallas Cowboys
United States : NFL Week 5
Thursday 8th October 2026 - Scheduled 8:15pm EST
1:15am (British Time)

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Preview

Injuries to key players have hurt the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, while the Philadelphia Eagles have made a couple of moves over the last few days that suggests they do not think they are capable of winning the Super Bowl this season.

It is the Giants who lead the NFC East, but the Dallas Cowboys (2-2) have to be the favourites to win the Division and return to the Playoffs having missed out in each of the last two seasons. After three consecutive 12-5 finishes, the Cowboys have had back to back losing seasons and there is some pressure on this roster to finally make a big impact in the post-season.

They rallied to beat the Houston Texans in Week 4 and the Dallas Cowboys are big favourites when playing on Thursday Night Football when Week 5 gets underway. Bouncing back from the defeat in Brazil to the Baltimore Ravens has pulled the Cowboys back up to 0.500, but the fans will be expecting the team to have a winning record by the end of this game.

The Cowboys have big road games at the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles coming up, but it would be a big mistake to overlook the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4) even if the NFC South team have begun this season in poor form.

Like many other teams, the Buccaneers have suffered an injury in the starting Quarter Back position, although Baker Mayfield had not been playing that well before sitting out. It does mean the Buccaneers have to play on a short week with rookie Jalon Daniels at Quarter Back and it is a big ask for any inexperienced player to perform on a short week, never mind one who was Undrafted.

Tampa Bay would have hoped Jalon Daniels could have been a project, but he was thrown into the deep end in Week 4 after Baker Mayfield was forced to sit out, and he did have issues throwing the ball. Jalon Daniels provides a dual-threat out of the Quarter Back position as he showed against the Green Bay Packers, but he had just 148 passing yards and produced a single Touchdown pass with a couple of Interceptions.

It is really important for the Buccaneers to lean on the Offensive Line who have been able to open some running lanes and they will note that the Dallas Cowboys have had some problems trying to stop the run. As long as they are in this game, Tampa Bay can try and keep the pressure away from the rookie Quarter Back, while Daniels may have a bit more time when stepping back to throw down the field considering the lack of Sacks produced by the Cowboys.

Pounding the rock and bleeding the clock will be the main plan for the Buccaneers to put themselves in the best position to win- keeping the powerful Cowboys on the sidelines for long periods is the only way Tampa Bay can hope to be successful.

Slowing down the Cowboys on the field will be much more challenging considering the way Dak Prescott and company have begun the 2026 season.

Dallas have played with some balance on this side of the ball, but they are going to be tested when it comes to trying to establish the run. Like they have for many years, the Buccaneers have looked be stout up front and they have been restricting opponents to 3.2 yards per carry to open this season, which will offer Tampa Bay some encouragement.

However, Tampa Bay have struggled to generate much of a pass rush and giving Dak Prescott time is only going to lead to the Cowboys moving the chains with some consistency.

Any Quarter Back that is given time to scan the field is going to have success and the Dallas Cowboys should be able to expose some of the vulnerabilities in the Buccaneers Secondary.

With the troubles that the Buccaneers have had in scoring enough points, the Dallas Cowboys are expected to have too much for Tampa Bay and especially on a short week.

This is a big spread, but the Dallas Cowboys could be tough to drag back if they get into a lead and force Tampa Bay to try and keep up by throwing the ball and the NFC East team can cover at home.

Prediction

Lay the points with the home favourite in this Thursday Night Football opener in Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season.

The Pick :

Dallas Cowboys 28-13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Dallas Cowboys - 7.5 Points at -110 with EveryGame Sports