Buccaneers break through with first win in Dallas, NFC South roundup

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally got on the board Thursday night. After an 0-4 start, Tampa Bay went into Dallas and stunned the Cowboys 24-16, a result that reshapes the outlook in a still wide-open NFC South.

Buccaneers upset Cowboys for first win

Heading into kickoff, just about everything pointed Dallas’ way. CBS Sports noted that the Cowboys brought a historically efficient scoring attack into the matchup against a winless Buccaneers team turning to rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. CBS Sports analysts had highlighted the game in their Week 5 picks, and the odds they cited clearly tilted toward the Cowboys.

On the field, Tampa Bay flipped the script, leaving Dallas with its first victory of 2026 and a 1-4 record, as reflected in the current standings. The Cowboys’ defense was already shorthanded on the back end: cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was ruled out of the Thursday night showdown, his second game since being traded from Pittsburgh, according to CBS Sports. To help cover that loss, Dallas elevated cornerback Reddy Steward and safety Juanyeh Thomas, while waiving running back Emari Demercado, per Pro Football Rumors.

Panthers add backfield depth

The Carolina Panthers (2-2) used the lead-up to Week 5 to tinker with their depth on offense. According to Pro Football Rumors, the team signed running back Anthony Tyus III to its practice squad, a move that gives Carolina another option in the backfield if injuries or performance issues crop up.

Elsewhere around the league, Pro Football Rumors also reported a few minor moves that brush up against the NFC South picture: the Packers signed running back Pierre Strong from their practice squad, and the Patriots did the same with safety Mike Brown. Those transactions don’t directly involve NFC South rosters but underscore the ongoing churn in backfield and defensive depth across the league.

NFC South remains tightly packed

Despite Tampa Bay’s breakthrough, the division remains bunched together. The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers share the lead at 2-2, followed by the New Orleans Saints at 1-3 and the Buccaneers at 1-4. With all four teams at .500 or worse and most of the season still ahead, no one has separated from the pack, and even minor roster tweaks could matter by the time the playoff race heats up.