The Bucs’ final road game of the regular season came in no bigger setting than AT&T Stadium against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Looking to continue an impressive four-game win streak and make it five games, Tampa Bay was tested on both sides of the football.

The bright lights proved to be too much, as the team failed to play complementary football and fell 26-24. While they did not come away with a win, a few players put together some impressive moments and performances.

Let’s take the time to highlight them:

RB Bucky Irving

Bucky Irving got the Bucs into the end zone after a first quarter where the offense could not get much going. Irving took over the first drive of the second quarter, getting all four carries. Following Mike Evans’ first two catches of the night, the dynamic rookie running back ripped off a 15-yard run to get them into the red zone. Then, he ripped off an eight-yard run before punching it in from two yards out to make it a 10-7 game.

It was not the kind of game the offense wanted to have, but Irving was one of a few bright spots. He finished the game with 16 carries for 68 rushing yards and the touchdown while catching three passes for another 24 yards.

WR Jalen McMillan

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Jalen McMillan has firmly entrenched himself as the Bucs’ No. 2 wide receiver and he continued his stretch of impressive games on Sunday night. Needing a score to make it a close game heading into halftime, McMillan hauled in an 11-yard pass for a touchdown to make it a 20-14 contest going into the break.

He has been putting it all together lately with four touchdowns over the past three games, and this was the latest example.

It was a slow start for the rookie wide receiver in Tampa Bay, but he has now gained the trust of Baker Mayfield and it’s starting to pay off as he looks to end his first year on a high note. McMillan finished the game with five catches for 57 receiving yards and his fifth score of 2024.

Bucs Run Defense, Starring DT Vita Vea

This part of the Bucs’ defense held up, at least.

Coming off three straight 100-yard games, Rico Dowdle has set a new career high every week during that stretch, with his best game being a 25-carry, 149-yard day in Carolina against the Panthers last week. Against Tampa Bay though, it was a tough day at the office for Dowdle.

He simply had no running lanes to hit, finishing the first half with just seven carries for ten rushing yards and the game with 13 carries for just 23 rushing yards, a 1.8 yards-per-carry average. Credit nose tackle Vita Vea for plugging up the middle and the front seven wrapping up Dowdle quickly.

WR Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

When the ball was thrown his way, Mike Evans was productive. Evans hauled in five catches for 69 yards, but he disappeared from the offense’s game plan at times. It was a surprising choice, as he should have been more involved against a Dallas secondary missing Trevon Diggs.

Of note, he also inched toward his 1,000 receiving yards, now sitting at 818 on the season and needing 182 more over the last two games.

K Chase McLaughlin

Brandon Aubrey stole the show by booting long field goals with ease, but Chase McLaughlin has had an elite year of his own. McLaughlin drilled his lone field goal attempt of 45 yards, bringing him up to 26 of 28 field goals this season. He also connected on all three of his extra points and continues to do his job well.