If This Is Buccaneers' QB Jalon Daniels' 1 Win, It's a Big One

It might be the only NFL game Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels ever wins.

Sure, there could be more.

Daniels has already beaten the odds in his NFL career, first by winning the Bucs' QB2 job out of training camp, then by becoming an NFL starting quarterback three weeks into his rookie season.

But with Baker Mayfield set to return eventually and Daniels being a rookie undrafted free agent, he might only get a few more chances to lead his team to a win.

If Thursday night in Dallas indeed becomes Daniels' only win, it would be one heck of a win.

On the road in primetime against one of the biggest brands in American sports is a triumph any QB would love to have, regardless of where they were drafted and how long they've been in the league.

Daniels didn't do anything spectacular, ending the night with 19 completions on 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown.

But he didn't turn the ball over and was lauded by coach Todd Bowles for doing an "excellent job" of taking care of the football.

Daniels not turning the ball over allowed the Bucs to keep the ball, which provided for running back Bucky Irving to go off to a career-best 165 yards on 21 carries, plus a touchdown.

It also showed that Daniels had improved in just four days. In his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday, he threw two interceptions, and those two picks led to 10 of Green Bay's 17 points in a 17-14 Bucs loss.

Tampa had lost or tied the turnover battle in each of its first four games, and lost those four on the scoreboard, too.

The fact that Daniels didn't turn it over and Dallas, led by 11-year veteran Dak Prescott, turned it over three times showed that Daniels did exactly what he's there to do as a fill-in.

Daniels was asked after the game whether he sees himself as an undrafted free agent starting QB or just a regular NFL starter.

The answer he gave was honest and showed perspective.

"At the end of the day, I know where I came from, and I think that's key: being able to remember where you came from. Obviously, you don't want to harp on the past. You don't want to look too far in the future,” Daniels said. “You want to stay where your feet are. But you have to be able to remember who you are and where you come from. Because at the end of the day, I think that's my main motivation and why I continue to keep being the person I am."

With Mayfield on the mend for at least another week, Daniels is expected to start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Raymond James Stadium. If Daniels can continue to play mistake-free football, there's a real chance that Thursday's triumph in Big D won't be the only one.