This is one of the Dallas Cowboys’ very worst losses in recent memory. And we just said that a couple of weeks ago in Rio. Things are getting dark for Brian Schottenheimer’s team and quickly.

Let’s dive into tonight’s winners and losers following the Cowboys’ 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Loser: TE Jake Ferguson

The Cowboys have to answer what does Ferguson bring to the table? For weeks, he’s been a liability in the run game and now he cost the Cowboys in the passing game. He finished with two drops, including one that led to a tip drill INT in crunch time, ruining what was shaping up to be the potential game-winning drive.

Loser(s): HC Brian Schottenheimer and DC Christian Parker

There’s a lot to say about the execution, and we will. But for yet another week, the Cowboys coaching staff was completely overwhelmed by the opposing team. Schottenheimer told reporters that “the minute you think Todd Bowles isn’t going to pressure, you’re probably making a mistake.”

He knew about it, but he had no clue how to stop it. The Bucs entered the game dead last in pressure rate. But the Cowboys had no way to pick up the blitz, as free rushers consistently avoided any resistance at all.

As for Christian Parker, I get that NFL defenses take time to gel. But do they take five weeks to look even competent? Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels deserves a lot of credit, but he should not look like an MVP candidate against your defense.

The Cowboys’ play callers were outclassed today and looked as tired as their players.

Loser: CB DaRon Bland

It might be over for Bland, man. He was badly burned on a 64-yard catch by Bucs WR Tez Johnson. And that wasn’t all, as he allowed four catches in five targets for 33 yards to Emeka Egbuka, per Sumer Sports.

At one point, he had a clear shot at a Pick 6 to turn back the clock to 2023. But he dropped it, making us wonder if even the playmaking spark is extinguished.

Loser: QB Dak Prescott

I wouldn’t put either of the two picks on Dak, as they were on-target throws. But the truth is he and Schottenheimer were outclassed by Todd Bowles’ blitzes. For a long time, Dak has been known as a great QB versus the blitz. On Thursday night, he was overwhelmed by them for the majority of the night.

Loser: KR KaVontae Turpin

You just can’t fumble as a returner when it’s the primary reason you’re on the roster. Two catches for 22 yards won’t change that. You just can’t turn it over on special teams.

Winner: WR George Pickens

Last week it was CeeDee Lamb’s night and now it was Pickens’ turn. He showed up when the Cowboys needed him the most, racking up 130 yards in nine catches, including an 18-yard leaping TD grab in which he seemed to pause in the air for a full second.

Winner(s): DT Otito Ogbonnia and LB Jaishawn Barham

Film will reveal more and this might turn out to be wrong upon further review, but watching live these two felt like the guys disrupting stuff. Particularly against the run game, they were consistently forcing running backs to stop their feet. Unfortunately, it wasn’t nowhere near enough.