So, you’re looking for the Cowboys and Buccaneers score, but honestly, just seeing the numbers on a scoreboard doesn't tell half the story of what actually went down on that field. Football is weird. One minute you think a team is a Super Bowl lock, and the next, a kicker is missing four extra points in a row and everyone is losing their minds.
When people search for the Cowboys and Buccaneers score, they’re usually looking for that specific playoff demolition where Dak Prescott finally silenced the doubters—at least for a week—and Tom Brady’s legendary career started its final descent toward retirement. That 31-14 scoreline in the 2023 Wild Card round wasn't just a win; it was a shift in the NFL's tectonic plates. It was the first time Dallas had won a road playoff game in thirty years. Think about that. Three decades.
Why the Cowboys and Buccaneers Score Felt Like a Fever Dream
Most fans remember this game for one specific, agonizing reason: Brett Maher. It’s rare that a kicker becomes the lead story in a 17-point blowout, but watching a professional athlete miss four consecutive extra points is the kind of "train wreck" television you just can't look away from. It became a psychological thriller. By the third miss, the stadium air felt heavy. By the fourth, even the Buccaneers fans looked kind of bad for him.
Dallas dominated. They really did.
The Cowboys and Buccaneers score reflected a game where Dan Quinn’s defense basically lived in Tampa’s backfield. They pressured Brady on nearly every dropback. Micah Parsons was playing like a man possessed, showing exactly why he’s a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The Bucs' offensive line, which had been a shell of itself all season due to injuries and aging, simply couldn't hold the point of attack.
Dak Prescott's Masterclass
While everyone talked about the kicking, Dak Prescott played arguably the best game of his entire life. He went 25-of-33 for 305 yards and four touchdowns. He added a rushing touchdown too. It was a surgical performance. If you watch the film, he wasn't just throwing to open guys; he was manipulating safeties with his eyes and hitting tight windows that usually result in interceptions for lesser quarterbacks.
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It's funny how narratives work. Before that game, the talk was all about Dak's interception streak. He’d led the league in picks despite missing five games. Then, under the brightest lights, he turned into a flamethrower. That’s football. It makes no sense until it does.
The End of the Brady Era in Tampa Bay
On the other side of that 31-14 Cowboys and Buccaneers score was the GOAT. Tom Brady.
It was a somber night in Tampa. You could sort of feel it in the stadium—this was the end. Brady threw 66 times. Sixty-six! That’s an absurd number for a guy who was 45 years old at the time. The Bucs had zero run game to speak of. They were one-dimensional, predictable, and frankly, exhausted. Byron Leftwich’s play-calling had become stagnant, and the Cowboys knew exactly what was coming.
When the final whistle blew and that Cowboys and Buccaneers score became official, Brady lingered a bit longer on the field than usual. He tipped his cap to the fans. He walked through the tunnel with a look of "I'm done" written all over his face. A few weeks later, he’d announce his retirement (the second, real one) on a beach.
Breaking Down the Scoring Drives
To understand how we got to that final score, you have to look at the momentum shifts in the second quarter.
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- First Quarter: Dallas strikes first with a Dalton Schultz touchdown. 6-0. (The first Maher miss).
- Second Quarter: Dak runs one in. 12-0. (The second Maher miss). Then Schultz scores again. 18-0. (The third Maher miss).
- Third Quarter: Michael Gallup catches a 2-yarder. 24-0. (The fourth miss—total disbelief).
- Fourth Quarter: CeeDee Lamb puts the nail in the coffin. 31-6.
The Buccaneers didn't even get on the board until the very end of the third quarter when Julio Jones caught a 30-yard pass. By then, the game was effectively over. The final 31-14 score was only that "close" because of some late garbage-time production from Mike Evans and Cameron Brate.
The Tactical Edge: How Dallas Broke the Bucs
Dan Quinn, the Cowboys' defensive coordinator at the time, deserves a lot of credit. He didn't blitz Brady. That’s usually a mistake anyway because Brady eats blitzes for breakfast. Instead, Quinn used a "simulated pressure" look. He’d crowd the line of scrimmage, making Brady think a blitz was coming, then drop seven or eight players into coverage while only rushing four.
Tampa's receivers couldn't get open fast enough. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans were bottled up by Stephon Gilmore and Trevon Diggs. It was a defensive clinic in "bend but don't break" that eventually just became "don't break at all."
The Run Game Complement
Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott combined for a blue-collar performance. While they didn't have 100-yard individual games, they kept the chains moving. This kept the Buccaneers' defense on the field and exhausted. The time of possession battle was heavily skewed toward Dallas, which is the secret sauce to winning any playoff game on the road.
What This Game Taught Us About the Modern NFL
Looking back at that Cowboys and Buccaneers score, it highlights a few key truths about the league right now.
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First, the "quarterback age" is real. Brady was incredible, but the physical limitations of a 45-year-old behind a porous offensive line are insurmountable. Second, the kicker's mental state is the most fragile thing in professional sports. Seeing the Cowboys stick with Maher for the rest of that season was a masterclass in management, even if it didn't ultimately lead to a Super Bowl.
Third, the Cowboys are the most volatile team in sports. They can look like the greatest dynasty ever assembled one week, then lose to a bottom-dweller the next. This win was their peak. It showed their ceiling.
Surprising Stats You Probably Forgot
- Third Down Efficiency: Dallas was 7-for-13 on third downs. That’s elite.
- The Punting Battle: Bryan Anger only had to punt twice. That tells you how efficiently the offense was moving.
- Red Zone Success: The Cowboys scored touchdowns on nearly every trip inside the 20, whereas Tampa struggled to even get there.
Most people focus on the touchdowns, but the real story was the lack of turnovers by Dallas. In a season where they couldn't stop giving the ball away, they played a clean, disciplined game when it mattered most.
How to Use This Information for Future Matchups
If you’re a bettor or a hardcore fan analyzing future games between these two franchises, there are a few takeaways to keep in mind.
- Pressure is King: If you can pressure the QB with just four rushers, you win. Dallas proved that against one of the best to ever do it.
- The "Home Field" Myth: Playoff atmosphere matters, but talent gaps matter more. Tampa had the home game, but Dallas had the better roster.
- Watch the Injury Report: Tampa lost this game in the weeks leading up to it as their offensive line crumbled. Always check the "DNP" lists on Thursdays.
The Cowboys and Buccaneers score from that night is etched in history as the night the Brady era ended and the Dak Prescott "can he win the big one?" conversation took a very brief, well-deserved break.
If you're tracking the current season's matchups, look at the turnover margin first. These teams historically play tight games, but when one side starts coughing up the ball—as the Bucs did with that crucial end-zone interception early in this game—the floodgates tend to open.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the current NFL injury report for any offensive line starters out for either team.
- Compare the defensive pressure rates (specifically "hurries" and "QB hits") for the current Cowboys' edge rushers versus the Bucs' current tackle situation.
- Look at the "points off turnovers" stat for both teams over their last three games to predict if a blowout is looming.