Welcome to our coverage of tonight's showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a big game for both teams, but for very different reasons.
With a win, Dallas (2-2) would get over .500 for the first time this season and would close some of the gap between themselves and the Giants in the NFC East standings. The Cowboys boast the NFL's second-ranked scoring offense, but their defense has allowed the fifth-most points in the league through four weeks. The defense took a hit less than two hours before kickoff as recent CB acquisition Joey Porter Jr., was ruled out due to an illness.
Tampa Bay (0-4) is one of four teams that are still looking for their first win. For that to happen tonight, the Buccaneers will likely need to force turnovers and avoid making too many mistakes of their own. They will also need steady play from quarterback Jalon Daniels, who is making his second career start. In his first career start (a 17-14 loss to the Packers), Daniels went 19 of 27 for 148 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran for 55 yards on eight carries.
Be sure to follow along in our live blog below, as we'll be providing updates, highlights and analysis throughout the night.
Cowboys will not have Joey Porter Jr. tonight as he has been ruled out with an illness. Porter started and played 24 snaps after sitting out the season's first three weeks. Porter was traded from Pittsburgh to Dallas prior to Week 4.
Welcome to tonight's coverage between the Cowboys and the Buccaneers. You don't often see teams that are 9.5-point favorites, but that's what we have tonight. Dallas is a big favorite over a Tampa Bay team that is still in search of its first win.
We'll have both teams' inactive reports shortly.
