Bucs' Daniels Win Highlights Surprising 8-4 Record for Backup QBs
Jalon Daniels led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys, extending a notable trend where NFL teams are 8-4 when starting backup quarterbacks this season. Daniels, an undrafted rookie, secured the No. 2 role behind Baker Mayfield earlier in the preseason and has now won one of two starts. The broader league data shows that backup quarterbacks have outperformed expectations, with teams winning twice as many games as they lose when starters are unavailable. Only the Atlanta Falcons have failed to win at least one game with a backup, going 0-2 with third-stringer Cooper Rush. This success suggests that losing a starting quarterback is not necessarily a disaster for NFL teams this season.