Notes and highlights from the Bucs 17-15 preseason victory over the Cowboys

- Tampa Bay’s defense created a short-field opportunity for the offense in the first quarter after OLB Shaquil Barrett generated a sack-fumble on Cowboys QBMike White that was scooped up by Buccaneers ILB Jack Cichy and advanced to the Cowboys’ 6-yard line. Barrett finished with 2.0 sacks in the 2019 preseason and now has 8.0 total over the course of his preseason career (4.0 in 2015, 2.0 in 2014). Later in the quarter, OLB Patrick O’Connor got to White for an 11-yard sack, also giving him 2.0 in the preseason. Barrett, O’Connor and DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches tied for the team lead with 2.0 sacks each in the 2019 preseason.

- Following the sack-fumble, the offense was able to take advantage as QB Ryan Griffin connected with TE Tanner Hudson for the Buccaneers’ first touchdown. Over four preseason games, Griffin and Hudson combined for 12 completions for 175 yards and three touchdowns. Griffin finished the 2019 preseason with 744 yards passing, which was the most by a Buccaneers quarterback in the preseason since at least 2000. Hudson also set a team record, notching 245 yards receiving, which stand as the most by a Buccaneers pass catcher since at least 2000.

- ILB Jack Cichy notched the first sack of his NFL preseason career, taking down White for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter. Cichy finished the game with four tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.

- K Matt Gay sent a 53-yard field goal through the uprights in the third quarter to put the Buccaneers on top 10-9 over the Cowboys with 10:41 remaining in the third quarter. Gay ended the preseason 5-of-6 on field goal attempts, converting two field goals of 50-plus yards.

- RB Bruce Anderson III added to the Buccaneers’ lead in the third quarter, capping off an eight play, 61-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run, pushing the score to 17-9. The touchdown was the first for Anderson in NFL preseason play. He finished the game with 20 rushes for 70 yards and one touchdown to lead the team.

- The Buccaneers defense forced another fumble in the fourth quarter as ILB Corey Nelson punched it away from Cowboys QB Taryn Christion, and the ball was recovered in the end zone by Buccaneers OLB Farrington Huguenin. Nelson led the Buccaneers with two forced fumbles in the 2019 preseason – the first two of his career during the preseason.

- S Lukas Denis intercepted Christion on the final play of the game, recording the first interception of his career in the preseason.

- The Buccaneers defense tallied 4.0 sacks in tonight’s game, pushing its total to 14.0 sacks over the four preseason games.

- Players making NFL preseason debut: QB Vincent Testaverde.

- Players making Buccaneers preseason debut: DL Elijah Qualls.