Cowboys set to face 0-4 Buccaneers Thursday

The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday amid a difficult stretch for Tampa Bay and a demanding schedule for Dallas, which is playing its third game in 11 days. Tampa Bay’s four losses have each been decided by a touchdown or less, but it will be without Baker Mayfield, leaving rookie Jalon Daniels to make his second start, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is also injured. Dallas enters after a late win over Houston, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb leading an offense expected to challenge a Buccaneers defense that has struggled with missed tackles and blown coverage. Tampa Bay will look to running back Bucky Irving to help its young quarterback, while Dallas hopes to use the matchup to build confidence on defense. A loss could intensify calls for Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles to be fired, though the team’s owners have not previously dismissed a head coach midseason.