The Dallas Cowboys entered the weekend with high hopes that with help they could keep their playoff hopes alive. They needed the Washington Commanders to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles early in the afternoon games. Unfortunately, the Eagles couldn’t win after Jalen Hurts was ejected from the game, and Jayden Daniels’ late-game magic sealed the victory and the Cowboys’ postseason fate. However, the Cowboys played gamely on Sunday night as if they were playing for more. Here’s what stood out in their win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brandon Aubrey was automatic

Although the Cowboys scored 26 points, they didn’t punctuate as many drives with touchdowns as they would have liked. That’s okay because they have Brandon Aubrey. Once the Cowboys crossed midfield, Aubrey immediately became an option the Cowboys could turn to. He managed several big kicks with ease. After the Buccaneers scored a touchdown before the end of the second quarter, the Cowboys needed an answer to prevent Tampa Bay from giving up the ball and opened the second half with just a six-point lead.

Once again, Aubrey answered the call and casually kicked a 58-yard field goal, his second of the game, to give the Cowboys a 23-14 lead before halftime. This season, Aubrey has made 14 of 16 field goals from 50 yards or more, including a career goal from 65 yards. Aubrey is great and gave the Cowboys just enough offense to win.

The secondary school was excellent

The physicality shown by the Dallas secondary is unlike anything we have seen in such a long time. Donovan Wilson is known for being a blast in the secondary, and he has done just that. He placed the boom on the receivers in the middle of the field to force the ball away from the receivers, including a sack on Baker Mayfield. Jourdan Lewis in particular was excellent. His coverage of Sterling Shepherd forced several incompletions, including a fourth-down stop in the first quarter. His interception of Mayfield in the end zone on a deep pass where he was intercepted by Jalen McMillan was one of the Cowboys’ best plays of the year.

Lewis’ play with a chip on his shoulder and a big elbow brace had something to say about fans who were disappointed that the team won when there was nothing to win. Lewis also contributed with a sack against Mayfield. As a unit, the secondary held the ageless Mike Evans to under 70 yards receiving. DaRon Bland scored with a strip fumble against Rachaad White to seal the victory. Hats off to that session last night.

The team has heart

Although we have often questioned the heart of the team in recent seasons and asked if they are ready to fight when challenged, we have seen that they have the desire to win even when you don’t expect it of them . So much has gone wrong for the Cowboys this season that some fans would think a loss would be more beneficial, that their win on Sunday night represents a disappointment at the least and a shock at the most, especially against a team that leads its division and around the postseason struggles.

The Cowboys have had several players sit out on injured reserve this season, and they still chose to compete even when there was nothing to play for. Head coach Mike McCarthy is in most people’s crosshairs when it comes to what needs to happen first to get the team back on its feet in 2025, but there’s no denying that the team seemed ready to take on a quality opponent play. Offensively, the team had a great game plan to counter the Buccaneers’ blitz-happy scheme. Dallas had Cooper Rush ready to read the blitz, get the ball quickly to his best options and carefully choose where he had the best chances in man coverage.

It was Week 16 of the regular season. Many players are struggling and could easily fold up their tents to prepare for the offseason, but that’s not the case. CeeDee Lamb embodies this more than anyone. He has had to miss games for weeks due to a shoulder injury that has limited him, and every week he can be seen writhing in pain after a hard fall to the ground. Yet he still plays, fights through double coverages and puts up numbers to help his team win. Lamb posted another 100-yard game to lead all players in receiving while missing several portions of the game to rest his shoulder. For a player whose footballing character has come under criticism in recent years, this is a testament to his genuine commitment to the sport.