ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cooper Rush threw a touchdown, Brandon Aubrey hit two 58-yarders among four field goals and the Dallas Cowboys beat Tampa Bay 26-24 on Sunday night, leaving Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers in control of their playoff fate.

At the end of a four-game winning streak, the Bucs (8-7) are tied with Atlanta atop the NFC South with two games left, but the Falcons have the tiebreaker because they won both meetings with Tampa Bay.

A three-year playoff run for the Cowboys (7-8) ended when they were eliminated from postseason contention before prime-time kickoff. Still, Dallas won for the fourth time in five games since a five-game losing streak that threatened its playoff hopes.

Mayfield, the Texas native who plays not far from his high school and college roots, was able to lead a recovery from a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes when he escaped a sack and scored the Ball scooped to Rachaad White in the final two minutes.

DaRon Bland ripped the ball out of White’s hands before it hit the ground, giving Dallas possession at the Tampa Bay 32-yard line and allowing the Cowboys to run out the clock.

Mayfield threw two touchdowns, including a 13-yarder to Ryan Miller that pulled the Bucs within two touchdowns with 2:36 left.

The Bucs got the ball back 1:50 before Bland’s big play, forcing his first turnover of an injury-plagued season a year after the cornerback set an NFL record with five interception returns for touchdowns.

A Tampa Bay defense that allowed an NFL-low 15 points during its winning streak struggled early to slow Rush and receiver CeeDee Lamb, who rushed for 100 yards in the first half for the second straight week.

Lamb, who had battled a right shoulder injury most of the season, was hit hard again in the second quarter with a 52-yard catch. After going to the bench, Lamb returned to make a catch underneath and fought his way to the 1-yard line to set up Ezekiel Elliott’s jumper to give Dallas a 20-7 lead.

Lamb finished the game with 105 yards rushing, having reached 100 yards before halftime, a week after rushing for 105 yards in the first half against Carolina.

It took Mayfield less than a minute to drive his 11-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan in the final minute of the first half, but the Cowboys answered with Aubrey’s second 58-yard field goal on the final play before halftime a 23 -14 lead.

Long distance duel

With his three field goals of at least 50 yards, Aubrey has made 14 this season, an NFL record. Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn has 13, so the record remains open.

Injuries

Tampa Bay WR Sterling Shepard was sidelined in the second half with a hamstring injury. … Cowboys LB Eric Kendricks was inactive after a pregame practice due to a calf injury.

Next

Buccaneers: Host Carolina next Sunday.

Cowboys: Next Sunday at Philadelphia.

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