Buccaneers Upset Cowboys 24-16 as Todd Bowles Says Helmet Hit Will Be OK

Q: Could a freak sideline celebration injury to Todd Bowles derail Tampa Bay's newfound momentum?

Probably not, unless the injury turns out to be more serious than early reports suggest. Everything known so far points to a brief scare, not a setback that would disrupt Tampa Bay’s rise. Bowles was hurt when a helmet struck him in the stomach during the postgame celebration after the late interception that sealed the 24-16 win in Dallas. ESPN and multiple follow-up reports said he is expected to be OK. That matters because Tampa Bay’s momentum was built more on execution and identity than on one emotional moment. The Buccaneers controlled the Cowboys with 39-plus minutes of possession, 241 rushing yards, three takeaways and a clean, low-risk game from Jalon Daniels. Bucky Irving’s 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns gave Tampa Bay a formula that can travel to next week as well. The bigger variables are elsewhere. Baker Mayfield’s thumb injury remains a more meaningful storyline than Bowles’ sideline knock, and Bowles has already indicated Daniels is the current plan against Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay is also still dealing with injuries across the roster, including Antoine Winfield Jr. and others. Those health issues are far more likely to affect the team’s momentum than a postgame bump to the coach’s midsection. If Bowles is available as expected, the incident should register as an odd footnote to an important win, not a turning point. The real question for Tampa Bay is whether it can repeat the run-heavy, turnover-winning formula that finally ended its losing streak.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 9

Todd Bowles dropped to one knee grimacing late in Tampa Bay’s 24-16 win, but ESPN reported the 62-year-old coach was struck in the stomach by a helmet during the post-interception celebration and said he will be OK.
The scare came after Tampa Bay sealed its first win of the season by picking off Dak Prescott, capping an upset on the road against a Dallas team the Buccaneers entered as heavy underdogs against.
39 minutes of possession, three forced turnovers and a 50-plus-yard edge in total offense drove the result, with Prescott throwing two interceptions and KeVontae Turpin losing a kickoff-return fumble.
Jalon Daniels — an undrafted rookie making his second start in place of Baker Mayfield — went 19-of-25 for 189 yards and a touchdown, while Bucky Irving ran for 165 yards and scored twice.
The victory stopped an 0-4 start in which Tampa Bay had lost by a combined 20 points, giving Bowles momentum heading into next Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh.