# Buccaneers vs Cowboys predictions, graded

Week 5, 2026: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys

Oct 9, 2026 · final: Buccaneers 24, Cowboys 16 · 28 calls on record · updated Oct 9, 9:27 PM ET

Who do pundits pick in Buccaneers vs Cowboys? Of 20 pundits with a call on record, 19 take the Cowboys and 1 takes the Buccaneers. 7 named a score; the median has the Cowboys by 14. The Buccaneers won 24-16, so 1 of 20 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 18 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): all 5 Cowboys
- [DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/dlls-dallas-cowboys-podcast): Cowboys 2, Buccaneers 1
- [Sports Illustrated](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated): all 3 Cowboys
- [The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/the-richard-sherman-podcast-podcast): all 2 Cowboys

The other 7 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 7 Cowboys.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-5-buccaneers-at-cowboys

Picks:

- [Colin Cowherd](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/colin-cowherd) took the Cowboys; said Oct 8, 2026; on Fox Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ece798a4-5146-4cf5-a99a-af7c0ab17119
- [Chuck Pagano](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chuck-pagano) took the Cowboys; said Oct 8, 2026; on The Pat McAfee Show (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d6d40ffe-84df-4b13-94c3-8425a237cca3
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 34–Buccaneers 14; said Oct 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 21.43 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0db8e0a7-a648-4bcc-86ee-5a742577b3f4
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 34–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 28.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8468f3cd-9f41-46a2-8545-8d5a34dc0b55
- [Jordan Dajani](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jordan-dajani) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 30–Buccaneers 20; said Oct 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 45.24 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4d50be99-4873-4551-a8a4-9080a146a42e
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 27–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 45.24 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/52d89de0-455f-4d3b-873e-93cc21a45170
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 34–Buccaneers 20; said Oct 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 35.71 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3cdfd76b-ddeb-422d-a090-243e155bc63a
- [Mike Kadlick](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mike-kadlick) took the Cowboys; said Oct 8, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/844b4070-91ae-4d59-acda-dd3bcef13c1c
- [Caleb Skinner](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/caleb-skinner) took the Cowboys; said Oct 8, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7b99fe46-c845-42da-a237-cf74e42331b6
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 34–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 28.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bcb7df23-13bc-4418-91ad-cf3ddceea439
- [Jared Dubin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jared-dubin) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 34–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 8, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 28.57 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2388a069-fd65-4224-9079-7837b28667aa
- [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the Cowboys; said Oct 8, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/92a73b03-9644-439c-b0fc-8b04209830ab
- [Mitchell Eisenstein](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/mitchell-eisenstein) took the Cowboys; said Oct 8, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8371ccc7-743b-4e3e-9110-79c54cc913ac
- [James Yarcho](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/james-yarcho) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 30–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 7, 2026; on Locked On Bucs (podcast); scored 38.1 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b1b953dc-db99-4007-86ef-171e5b0d4282
- [Rich Eisen](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen) took the Cowboys; said Oct 7, 2026; on The Rich Eisen Show (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e212594d-93ad-4484-96ac-1527c75a8ed1
- [Tyler Sullivan](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tyler-sullivan) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 34–Buccaneers 20; said Oct 7, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 35.71 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e47d4e2c-8117-4706-9b6d-f8aa132b8a27
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 34–Buccaneers 14; said Oct 7, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 21.43 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9fb2da58-31c1-43f3-bf5e-fe858bdb877d
- [Colin Cowherd](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/colin-cowherd) took the Cowboys; said Oct 6, 2026; on The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8737d737-4134-4f50-94a9-48d5d55f4d95
- [Jason McIntyre](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jason-mcintyre) took the Cowboys; said Oct 6, 2026; on The Herd with Colin Cowherd (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cf7f59e6-b60e-4518-bf5d-aa24e535c6c4
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 27–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 6, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 45.24 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/adff8191-46ce-4758-bbee-d01fc48361d3
- [Walt](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/walt) took the Cowboys, Cowboys 38–Buccaneers 17; said Oct 6, 2026; on Walter Football; scored 19.05 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 32.2) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/44c44760-abe7-48e7-8117-5b427dce1c57
- [Rich Eisen](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/rich-eisen) took the Cowboys; said Oct 5, 2026; on Overreaction Monday (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/51be9b90-326a-4ff3-a69d-c704f063d73a
- [Shannon Sharpe](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/shannon-sharpe) took the Cowboys; said Oct 1, 2026; on Nightcap (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f0f941e1-6805-41f7-90da-12ea4f6b5e01
- [Michael Irvin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/michael-irvin) took the Cowboys; said Sep 5, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/321d5125-d077-43d6-b09a-5ea5886eec68
- [Clarence Hill](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/clarence-hill) took the Buccaneers; said Sep 3, 2026; on DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/012c1829-1611-4a5a-b27b-f592577a3e65
- [Jesse Holley](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jesse-holley) took the Cowboys; said Sep 3, 2026; on DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c8bf64dc-c1b3-42db-86f8-51b862676332
- [Jeff Cavanaugh](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jeff-cavanaugh) took the Cowboys; said Sep 3, 2026; on DLLS Dallas Cowboys (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d04cb132-e9f4-4e11-bb0b-cf0982762ad9
- [Michael Irvin](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/michael-irvin) took the Cowboys; said Sep 2, 2026; on The Rich Eisen Show (podcast); scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8c7e90c6-e16b-4ee6-8da6-e4dd4b9adb5d

## How they came in

The Buccaneers are 0-4 and have lost 4 straight; the Cowboys are 2-2. On win totals, 10 pundits put the Buccaneers at 8.5 wins on average, and 23 pundits put the Cowboys at 9.5 wins on average.

Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0-4, lost 4 straight (76 scored, 96 allowed)
  - Last games: L 14-17 vs Packers; L 16-23 vs Vikings; L 19-23 vs Browns
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 22nd, defense 6th of 32
  - Last season: 8-9
  - Win-total calls: 11 pundits, average 8.5, 2 to 17 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 2 of 3 Buccaneers games
- Dallas Cowboys: 2-2 (122 scored, 112 allowed)
  - Last games: W 34-30 at Texans; L 31-34 vs Ravens; W 37-20 vs Commanders
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 9th, defense 29th of 32
  - Last season: 7-9-1
  - Win-total calls: 23 pundits, average 9.5, 2 to 14 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 2 of 4 Cowboys games

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Baker Mayfield](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/baker-mayfield) (Starting QB, QB): 922 passing yards · 3 TD, 4 INT · 60.6% completions · 6 games; 32nd in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Sep 28, 2026: Mayfield would seemingly be good to go, based on Bowles' current timeline, for their game on Oct. 25 against the Carolina Panthers. (not settled yet)
  - No. 24 Rich Hribar, Aug 5, 2026: Baker Mayfield to outplay his draft cost (a QB2) (not settled yet)
- [Bucky Irving](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bucky-irving) (RB1, RB): 825 rushing yards on 167 carries · 8 TD · 22 catches for 106 · 9 games; 4th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 6, 2026: Bucky Irving to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Aug 11, 2026: Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (RB22, Overall RK57 | ECR vs. ADP: -13) (not settled yet)
- [Emeka Egbuka](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka) (WR1, WR): 31 catches for 278 yards · 2 TD · 7 games; 81st in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 25, 2026: Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 2, 2026: Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Cade Otton](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/cade-otton) (TE1, TE): 23 catches for 211 yards · 0 TD · 8 games; 118th in the NFL in receiving yards
- [David Walker](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/david-walker) (Sack leader, LB): 4 sacks · 15 solo tackles · 8 games; 30th in the NFL in sacks
- [Josiah Trotter](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/josiah-trotter) (Tackle leader, LB): 1 sack · 36 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in solo tackles
- [Dak Prescott](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/dak-prescott) (Starting QB, QB): 2,381 passing yards · 16 TD, 5 INT · 64.9% completions · 102 rushing yards · 9 games; 3rd in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Nov 3, 2026: Dak Prescott to stay with Dallas Cowboys (not settled yet)
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 11, 2026: Dak Prescott to outplay his draft cost (the middle rounds) (not settled yet)
- [Javonte Williams](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/javonte-williams) (RB1, RB): 629 rushing yards on 154 carries · 10 TD · 24 catches for 127 · 9 games; 9th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 5, 2026: Javonte Williams to finish top 15 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
  - No. 20 Jake Ciely, Aug 8, 2026: Javonte Williams to finish top 13 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [CeeDee Lamb](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/ceedee-lamb) (WR1, WR): 70 catches for 904 yards · 7 TD · 9 games; 2nd in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Oct 12, 2026: With extra time to recover after a Thursday-night game in Week 5, Lamb could be ready to go when the Cowboys face the Packers this week. (not settled yet)
  - No. 26 Bucky Brooks, Oct 7, 2026: CeeDee Lamb to finish top 1 at his position, by an unstated measure (not settled yet)
- [Jake Ferguson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/jake-ferguson) (TE1, TE): 19 catches for 136 yards · 4 TD · 8 games; 154th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 11, 2026: Jake Ferguson to fall short of his draft cost (TE12, Overall RK117 | ECR vs. ADP: -8) (not settled yet)
  - No. 30 Andrew Erickson, Sep 16, 2026: Jake Ferguson to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Quinnen Williams](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/quinnen-williams) (Sack leader, DT): 5 sacks · 20 solo tackles · 9 games; 14th in the NFL in sacks
  - No. 35 Albert Breer, Aug 12, 2026: Quinnen Williams to make team captain (not settled yet)
  - No. 60 Jared Dubin, Aug 10, 2026: Quinnen Williams to win Team MVP (non-QB) (not settled yet)
- [Caleb Downs](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/caleb-downs) (Tackle leader, S): 2 sacks · 33 solo tackles · 1 interception · 9 games; 30th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 23 Jordan Dajani, Sep 10, 2026: Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (not settled yet)
  - No. 48 John Middlekauff, Sep 8, 2026: Caleb Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (not settled yet)

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-5
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology