Tag: 2022 Wild Card

WATCH: Prescott 5th TD of game comes on Cowboys 4th-down gamble

The Cowboys chewed the clock, took a risk on fourth down and Prescott decided four touchdowns wasn’t enough. | From @CDBurnett7

On the final play of the third quarter, the Buccaneers showed their first bit of life against the Cowboys. The impressive rookie cornerback DaRon Bland was beat on a rare occasion by Julio Jones and Tom Brady delivered the touchdown pass. Due to kicker Brett Maher’s blunders, it was a three-possession game but a stop on the two-point attempt kept it that way.

Looking to close out the game, quarterback Dak Prescott went to work. A pair of first down conversion throws sprung Dallas into Tampa Bay territory while digging deeper into the clock. Facing a fourth-down, Maher started to walk onto the field but Mike McCarthy elected to keep the offense on the field to bury the Buccaneers and that they did. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was somehow forgotten by the defense and Prescott delivered a backyard throw to close the door on Brady.

Prescott’s 18-yard throw to Lamb was his fifth touchdown on the night, a monstrous performance on the road against the greatest to play the game. Following the score, chants roared out after Maher finally relieved the stress by making the extra point, a great sign heading forward. With less than ten minutes remaining, the Cowboys hold a commanding 31-6 lead.

Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse suffers knee injury late in 3rd quarter

The Cowboys star safety hobbled in the endzone and needed help getting to the sideline, reaching for his left knee. | From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys defense has dealt with a slew of key injuries in 2022 but their playoff unit is the closest they’ve been to 100% in recent weeks. During the season, safety Jayron Kearse battled with a compilation of injuries but stayed relatively healthy for 18 weeks.

Late in the third quarter in Tampa Bay, Kearse came up gimpy after a stop and waited in the endzone for trainers to come check on him. He was grabbing at his knee and needed help to reach the sideline after the mishap.

Kearse was unable to put weight on his left leg and it would be a big loss if Dallas holds on to move to the divisional round. For now, the group of Donovan Wilson, Malik Hooker and Israel Mukuamu step up in his place.

WATCH: Cowboys’ Prescott continues magical night with fourth TD

Prescott’s red-hot night continued with his third touchdown pass, and an odd rule allowed Michael Gallup to haul in the score. | From @CDBurnett7

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott played near-perfect in the first half and the momentum carried into the second half. After the Dallas defense forced a three-and-out, Prescott continued orchestrating a signature night. The drive started with a 26-yard beauty to tight end Dalton Schultz and then he added a pre-snap change that netted another 26-yard gain, this time to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Approaching the red zone, running back Tony Pollard found a crease for an 18-yard gain, shrugging off defenders to set up first-and-goal. Following a short gain on first down, Prescott threw a pass that squeaked by the hands of cornerback Carlton Davis and into those of wide receiver Michael Gallup for the touchdown.

Gallup teetered near the back of the endzone and may have stepped out of bounds before making the catch in the field of play but Davis tipping the throw allows the Cowboys receiver to reestablish his place. An odd rule helps Dallas and Prescott has his fourth touchdown of the night.

After the score, Mike McCarthy elected to send out kicker Brett Maher for another field goal. This one looked better than the first three, but it clanged off the top of the upright and went out.

WATCH: Prescott delivers masterful 2-minute drive, Maher’s nightmare continues

The Cowboys quarterback’s momentum continued for another touchdown drive while the Dallas kicker’s mistakes are cause for worry. | From @CDBurnett7

Holding onto a double-digit lead, the Dallas defense continued their stellar day, forcing a punt near midfield where Todd Bowles could’ve elected to go for it with three yards to convert. He didn’t and quarterback Dak Prescott set up shop with 3:32 left in the first half.

Since three incompletions on catchable passes on the first drive, Prescott has played lights out and flew down the field on an 11-play, 91-yard drive where he mixed precision passing with some swiftness that Cowboys fans have missed over the last couple years. On the final moment of the drive, Prescott extended the play and threw a strike across his body to tight end Dalton Schultz in the crease of the defense for a touchdown, his second of the game.

In the first half, Prescott went 15-for-20 for 189 yards and two touchdown passes while adding 20 yards and a score on the ground. Coming off a lot of doubt from outsiders, he’s playing his best football in the biggest moment of the season so far.

After the score, kicker Brett Maher shanked another extra point. That’s four-straight missed extra points for him dating back to the Week 18 loss and it’s a growing worry that even set off Prescott on the sideline.

Dallas has a worry at kicker after a year where Maher has played well-above expectations. For now, the Cowboys have an 18-0 halftime lead to hold onto with those concerns looming.

Cowboys LT Jason Peters checks out of game with hip injury

The nine-time Pro Bowler was slow to get up and the Dallas offensive line made another shift late in the first half. | From @CDBurnett7

Late in the first half, the Cowboys started churning down the field with a chance to make it a safer lead in Tampa Bay. Right after the two-minute warning, starting left tackle Jason Peters was slow to get up and walked to the sideline under his own power.

Peters and the Dallas offensive line has started strong in this wild card duel and the nine-time Pro Bowler’s status is in question for the second half. In his absence, rookie Tyler Smith shifts out to left tackle and Connor McGovern takes over at the left guard spot. Peters didn’t return during the drive and is questionable to return in the second half with a hip injury.

Update: Peters has been ruled out for the game.

Dak Prescott just set this Cowboys’ all-time playoff record

The Cowboys quarterback went on a playoff heater in the first half against Tampa Bay. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Things did not start out well for the Cowboys and the passing offense. Dallas did what fans have been clamoring for, forgoing the first-down run for a pass, but Dallas was unable to complete any of the three pass attempts on a 13-second three-and-out. The next drive was a three and out as well, but Prescott did complete a pass on the drive.

Little did anyone know that was going to be the beginning of 11 straight completions. Across that streak, Dallas went on two touchdown drives that included a 22-yard pass to Dalton Schultz on the first. The second drive ended with Prescott running it in for his own touchdown. That made him the sixth player in NFL history to pass and run for a touchdown in fourstraight playoff games, but then he set a franchise record on the next drive.

Prescott’s 11 straight completions were the most in Dallas Cowboys’ history. Better than Troy Aikman. Better than Roger Staubach. Better than everyone in between, before or after.

WATCH: Brady’s INT gift leads to Moore trickery for Cowboys TD

Jayron Kearse collected a gift from Tom Brady and the Dallas offense went to work with some impressive play-calling from Kellen Moore. | From @CDBurnett7

Following the Cowboys’ first touchdown drive, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers found rhythm on their third possession. Tampa Bay marched down on a 14-play, 70-yard drive and were knocking on the door with first-and-goal.

Linebacker Micah Parsons broke up a wide receiver screen on first down and the following play was a rare mistake from Brady. With no one open, he lofted a pass in the back of the end zone to a waiting Jayron Kearse, who welcomed an easy takeaway and touchback for his offense.

The turnover is Brady’s first playoff interception as a Buccaneer and relieved the pressure from an otherwise impressive drive.

With momentum, quarterback Dak Prescott got to work with a perfect 5-for-5 start to the drive before a holding penalty on the Tampa Bay front door set things back. This didn’t stop Dallas, who faced a 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Kellen Moore drew up some excellence, with a motion from running back Tony Pollard and a fake to Ezekiel Elliott that left Prescott all alone for a walk-in touchdown.

Moore saved the best for last on a strong drive and the Cowboys have a 12-point lead on the road after a second uncharacteristic miss from kicker Brett Maher, a storyline to watch as the game progresses.

Cowboys TE Hendershot questionable to return

The Cowboys tight end room took a hit early in Tampa Bay, with their impressive UDFA suffering a thigh injury. | From @CDBurnett7

Editor’s note: Hendershot returned later in the second quarter.

The Cowboys and Buccaneers are out of the gates as both offenses find rhythm, and Dallas may be without one of their secret weapons. Tight end Peyton Hendershot suffered a thigh injury during the first quarter in Tampa Bay and is questionable to return to the game.

As an undrafted free agent, Hendershot exceeded expectations and has three touchdowns on the year while adding some edge to the offense in a deep tight end room. If he’s unable to return Dallas will continue to rely on Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson, with the former already scoring a touchdown in this wild card matchup.

WATCH: Cowboys open scoring with Prescott-Schultz hookup

Following an ice-cold start from both offense, the Cowboys struck first with a quick drive to take a lead on the road. | From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys and Buccaneers offenses started the game ice cold, with four three-and-out’s back-to-back from kickoff. Following the second stop from the Dallas defense, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore found some rhythm for his guys starting with a 15-yard sideline gain by wide receiver Michael Gallup.

After the Cowboys broke the ice, a roughing the passer paired with a 17-yard run by Tony Pollard moved Dallas into striking distance. Two plays later, quarterback Dak Prescott delivered a strike over the middle to a wide-open Dalton Schultz to take the first lead in Tampa Bay.

With the defense starting hot, an early score for the Cowboys allows Dan Quinn to keep the pressure on Tom Brady and company. On the ensuing extra point, kicker Brett Maher hit it ugly and it sailed wide right so it’s 6-0 Dallas with six minutes left in the first quarter.

Wild-card Inactives: Cowboys rolling with Rhodes, Joseph as backup CBs vs Bucs

The Cowboys made several interesting decisions in their inactives list and starting lineup on Monday night. From @CDBurnett7

The Cowboys welcome back a slew of key contributors on both sides of the ball for their Monday night wild-card matchup. For the offense, center Tyler Biadasz returns after missing the final regular season game with an ankle injury. Considering the outlook when the injury occurred, it’ll give quarterback Dak Prescott more confidence with the offensive line no longer a revolving door at multiple positions.

For Dan Quinn’s unit, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins returns from IR to give the front some much-needed run support. It’s give-and-take with fellow defensive tackles Neville Gallimore and Quinton Bohanna both out vs Tampa Bay, so Hankins will have high expectations in his return. Behind him, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is also back and healthy and the defense is as close to 100% as they can be. The wild card for the Dallas defense is cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who impressed in practice and was elevated to the active roster for his Cowboys debut in Tampa Bay.

The inactives list leaves Kelvin Joseph as CB4 for the game.

On the opposing side, Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards is active after being listed as questionable with a hip injury. Tom Brady will miss some protection up front with starting left guard Nick Leverett out. That said, Ryan Jensen makes a surprise return at center after missing the regular season with a knee injury. Take a look at the inactives for the wild card showdown between Dallas and Tampa Bay.