# Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Preview, NFL Week 5: Prediction, Odds, Injuries, How to Watch

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/news/tampa-bay-buccaneers-vs-dallas-cowboys-preview-nfl-week-5-prediction-odds-injuries-how-to

> Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys, NFL Week 5: odds, injuries, players to watch and our pick.

By Rhett Zone · Published 2026-10-08 21:41 UTC · Updated 2026-10-08 21:41 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

**A winless team without its starting quarterback walks into AT&T Stadium as a two-touchdown underdog on Thursday Night Football.**

## The Matchup

### [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/tampa-bay-buccaneers) at [Dallas Cowboys](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/dallas-cowboys)

- When | Thursday, October 8 at 8:15 PM ET
- Where | AT&T Stadium
- TV | Prime Video
- Stream | Watch live on NFL+
- Line | Dallas Cowboys -8.5 | O/U 48.5

The [Buccaneers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/tampa-bay-buccaneers) are 0-4 and limping into Arlington with Baker Mayfield out with a thumb injury, which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about Vegas making Dallas a 475 moneyline favorite. Tampa Bay hasn't won a game by any margin this season, averaging just 19 points a contest while giving up 96, and now they're doing it without their starting quarterback on the road against a team that just hung 34 on Houston.

The [Cowboys](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/dallas-cowboys) are bouncing back nicely after dropping a shootout to Baltimore in Week 3. Dak Prescott and that offense put up 122 points through four games, tied for one of the better scoring paces in the league, and CeeDee Lamb remains the engine that makes it go. Dallas isn't flawless — they've allowed 112 points themselves — but against a Tampa Bay team starting a backup quarterback, this should be a track meet that favors the home side from the jump.

This is as lopsided as it gets on paper. Dallas is 2-2 overall but 1-0 against the spread with an over hitting in their lone graded game, and this high-scoring, banged-up Bucs defense screams "over" written all over the O/U at 48.5.

**Players to Watch:**

- **CeeDee Lamb** (DAL, WR) — Projected for 24.5 fantasy points and the clear focal point of Dallas's attack against a Tampa Bay secondary missing Antoine Winfield Jr. and Benjamin Morrison.
- **Dak Prescott** (DAL, QB) — Coming off a 34-point outburst against Houston, he gets a Bucs defense that's allowed 96 points through four games.
- **Bucky Irving** (TB, RB) — With Mayfield out and Easton Stick under center, expect Tampa Bay to lean on the ground game to keep the offense on schedule.

**Injury Watch:**

- Baker Mayfield (TB, QB) — Out, thumb injury, backup Easton Stick gets the start.
- Antoine Winfield Jr. (TB, S) — Out, rib injury, a big loss for a Tampa Bay secondary facing Lamb and company.
- Benjamin Morrison (TB, CB) — Out, quadricep injury, thins out the Bucs' corner depth further.
- Tyler Smith (DAL, OG) — Questionable with a thumb injury after being activated off IR this week.

**Pick:** Dallas Cowboys 31-17. Tampa Bay without Mayfield on a short week against a Dallas offense rolling with Lamb and Prescott is about as bad a matchup as the schedule could've handed the Bucs.

## Fantasy Angles

- Start CeeDee Lamb with confidence — 24.5 projected points against a Bucs secondary down two key defensive backs is about as good a matchup as you'll find.
- Javonte Williams (19.0 projected) is in play for a big workload if Dallas controls the clock with a lead against a struggling Tampa Bay defense.
- With Mayfield out, don't expect much from Tampa Bay's passing-game pieces like Emeka Egbuka — target volume could dip behind a backup QB in a likely blowout script.

## Quick Hits

- Dallas activated G Tyler Smith off injured reserve this week after placing him there just days earlier, a sign the Cowboys want their line as healthy as possible for this one.
- The Cowboys are 1-0 ATS this season with the over hitting in that game, while Tampa Bay has covered just once (a push) and stayed under the total in its lone graded contest.
- Tampa Bay elevated QB Easton Stick to the active roster ahead of this game, all but confirming he'll be thrust into action with Mayfield sidelined.

[NFL Standings](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/standings) | [Full Schedule](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/schedule) | [Injury Report](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/injuries)

**Who wins? Drop your picks in the comments.**

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