Tag: Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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.

This unexpected edge could be difference-maker for Cowboys vs. Bucs

For all the hand wringing, multiple advanced stats say the Cowboys run defense is really quite good, but that’s not even the key to this game. | From @ProfessorO_NFL

The Dallas Cowboys started their 2022 season with a 19-3 defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, losing quarterback Dak Prescott, safety Jayron Kearse and left guard Connor McGovern in the process. All three would return and help the Cowboys finish with a 12-5 record, their first 12-win seasons in consecutive years since the 93-94 seasons.

As for the Bucs. they were unable to rekindle their success in the ground game and would suffer multiple injuries to their offensive line on their way to an 8-9 record.

Each week we open up the Advanced Stat Notebook to analyze how each team ranks in EPA, DVOA, ANY/A and Toxic Differential. These four key metrics have a high correlation to win probability.

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs Wild Card Prediction Game Preview

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs NFC Wild Card game preview and breakdown for the game on Monday, January 16

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs Wild Card prediction, game preview, odds, how to watch, Monday, January 16

Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Playoffs Wild Card Prediction Game Preview

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Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers How To Watch

Date: Monday, January 16
Game Time: 8:15 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
How To Watch: ESPN/ABC
Record: Dallas Cowboys (12-5), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
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NFL Expert Picks Playoffs Wild Card
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Why Dallas Cowboys Will Win the NFC Wild Card

It might sound like a basic question, but …

Is Tampa Bay any good?

It got thrown a cookie as the 8-9 division winner who landed in the fourth spot, but there’s no running game, the defense can get picked on a bit too easily, and the passing game isn’t really all that great even with 12 throwing it more than anyone.

Dallas needs to get out of its own head. More on that in a moment, but as long as the offense takes a deep breath and does what it’s capable of, and as long as the defense can simply win third downs, all should be fine.

But back to the question – is Tampa Bay any good? Short answer, not really.

It has the weapons to get hot for one game, and it’s Tom Brady with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – there will be passing yards. Dallas has the playmakers to keep up.

The Buccaneer ground game is historically awful, the defense doesn’t do enough in the secondary, and for all the offensive talent, the team doesn’t really score.

The 30 against Carolina two weeks ago was an outlier – it’s been a struggle to get past 17, and that’s not getting it done against this Dallas offense.

If this attack finds its groove early, and if Dak Prescott is sharp in the first quarter, forget it. Even with Brady, the Buccaneers can’t keep up.

But …

– Why Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win
– Cowboys vs Buccaneers Prediction, What’s Going to Happen

NEXT: Why Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win the NFC Wild Card

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55-man roster: Cowboys add 2 key defenders for wild-card game vs Bucs

The Cowboys are adding Johnathan Hankins and Xavier Rhodes to their roster, along with an offensive lineman, in preparation for battle. | From @KDDrummondNFL

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had an ace up their sleeve for the wild-card game on Monday night, the Dallas Cowboys hope to counter with two. Earlier on Monday the Bucs activated center Ryan Jansen for the first time all season. Jansen had partially torn his ACL in training camp, and returns amidst some additional Bucs’ line issues. Dallas expected Jansen’s return, and the Bucs likely anticipated one on the Cowboys’ side as well.

After missing the last four contests due to a pec strain, midseason addition Johnathan Hankins was activated on Monday as well. Hankins has stated he believed he was ready before now, but IR rules mandated the continued absence. That’s not the only roster move of importance for Dan Quinn’s defense. Forever in search of help at cornerback Trevon Diggs after the loss on Anthony Brown, Dallas is elevating veteran Xavier Rhodes from the practice squad for his first action of the year with the club.

Dallas has tried slot corner DaRon Bland, second-year CBs Kelvin Joseph and Nahshon Wright as well as Treyvon Mullen in recent weeks. It’s not known how much Rhodes will play, but it may be extensive considering the number of passing-game weapons the Bucs can throw at a defense.

In addition, the club has elevated Aviante Collins to be the eighth offensive lineman. The NFL relaxes their regular season rules for the playoffs and players can be elevated at a club’s leisure now, regardless of how many times they were elevated during the regular season. Here’s a look at the 55-man roster Dallas will deploy for the game.

Bucs’ Pro Bowl center activated from IR, set to make season debut vs. Cowboys

Ryan Jensen suffered a severe knee injury during Tampa Bay’s training camp, but he’s expected to return in time for Monday’s wild-card game. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Things may have just gotten a little more difficult for the Cowboys defense as they prepare to face a Buccaneers offensive line that’s been hurting all season.

Tampa Bay center Ryan Jensen was activated from injured reserve on Monday and is expected to make his season debut against Dallas in the wild-card round.

Jensen was a key piece to the Bucs’ Super Bowl-winning season in 2020 and was named to his first Pro Bowl for the 2021 campaign. But a severe knee injury suffered on the second day of the team’s training camp has kept him sidelined for the entirety of 2022.

The 31-year-old had his practice window activated in late December, and he took practice reps with the Bucs’ first team last week.

Given that development, as per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Jensen’s return had been expected by the Cowboys.

According to Bucs Wire, the extent of Jensen’s injury had not been revealed all season long; the team had only called it “serious.” Only now has Carmen Vitali of Fox Sports explained that Jensen “partially tore multiple ligaments in his knee, including his ACL.”

Five months later, he’s expected to reclaim his spot in Tampa Bay’s starting lineup.

Second-year man Robert Hainsey had been playing center for quarterback Tom Brady this season, but a hamstring injury forced him to withdraw early from Tampa Bay’s Week 18 loss to Atlanta.

Now Brady gets back a ten-year veteran who handled 97.4% of the team’s offensive snaps last year. And while the Bucs’ patchworked offensive line allowed just 22 sacks during the season-fewest in the NFL- that’s more a product of Brady’s quick delivery of the ball.

Overall, Tampa Bay’s line had been seen as a potential weakness for the Cowboys defense to exploit. The Buccaneers ranked last in the league in 2022 in rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and yards per carry.

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How to watch, stream, listen to Cowboys-Bucs wild-card, what awaits winner

A look at all of the key game information, including our favorite prop bet, listening, streaming and alternate broadcast options and more. | From @KDDrummondNFL

It’s finally arrived. After two days of chaotic NFL football action, the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the on-deck circle. The final wild-card game of the holiday weekend is less than 24 hours away and will help round out the divisional round picture.

The winner of Monday’s contest will travel to take on the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, who obliterated the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday and will enter that game on an 11-game winning streak and with two extra days rest. But there’s work to be done to get there. Here’s all of the info for Monday night’s rematch from Week 1.

Cowboys must be prepared for new NFL overtime rules

The NFL will be playing by new rules in overtime this postseason and they could impact how coaches strategize and decisions are made. | From @ReidDHanson

Overtime has not been kind to the Dallas Cowboys this season. Dallas went 0-2 in games that extended beyond regulation, losing to Green Bay and Jacksonville on the road. Over the past three seasons, the Cowboys only have one overtime win on their record.

If the Cowboys are forced into “extra innings” this postseason, the results could look differently. That’s because the NFL has changed the way they are handling overtime in the playoffs. The new method evens the balance and places less importance on winning the coin flip, and more on simple execution.

Under the new playoff rules, both teams are guaranteed an offensive possession. In a format that better resembles college football, the second team is allowed the opportunity to match, or even exceed, the first team’s results.

The overtime period will now be 15 minutes instead of 10. It will have three timeouts and zero coaches challenges per half. If the first team receiving the ball scores a touchdown, the second team still has a chance to answer. If the second team then scores a touchdown, a typical extra point will tie the game and a two-point conversion will win.

If the game is tied after both teams have had possessions, it will move to the familiar sudden death format of old. Next team to score wins.

Statistically, the odds no longer heavily favor the first team with the ball.

Brian Burke, the unofficial Godfather of NFL Analytics, ran it through 120,000 simulations and found the first team with the ball wins 50.29 percent of the time, considerably more even than the 57 percent advantage the old rules offered.

Teams that value the informational advantage of being the second team may ignore the odds and prefer to actually kick away in OT rather than receive. The second team would be more likely to play aggressively, go for it on fourth downs, and go-for-two after a score (an action the odds favor if the second team scores)

But willingly asking to be the second team ignores the advantage the first team potentially gets regarding the number of possessions (the first team with the ball is assured to have equal or more possessions).

The Cowboys offense plays better when they are unleashed and pushing to score. Perhaps Mike McCarthy would like to play to his offense’s strengths and ignore the slight odds that favor the first team.

The final factor the Cowboys would want to consider is wind. If the margins are so narrow between being the first team with the ball and being the second team with the ball, deferring and playing to the wind may be the wisest move.

Dallas has a kicker they believe in and field goals are still likely to determine a large chunk of overtime games under the new format. Picking the direction rather than the order might be the best way to gain an advantage (if the wind is significant, it most assuredly would).

This is all something to keep in mind as the Cowboys head into their wild-card showdown with Tampa Bay on Monday night.

Cowboys’ secondary, not pass rush, key to sacking Tom Brady

It doesn’t matter how well the Cowboys pass rush plays if Dallas can’t force Tom Brady to hold the ball. | From @ReidDHanson

Pressure the quarterback and good things will happen. It’s a tried and true defensive strategy employed since the dawn of the forward pass. And it’s a strategy Dan Quinn takes to heart as the general of the Dallas Cowboys defense. As Dallas prepares to face Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in their wild-card matchup on Monday, it’s a strategy that’s easier said than done.

The reason Tom Brady is here today, playing  his 23rd NFL season at the ripe age of 45, is because he knows how to survive. Brady knows pressure leads to mistakes and injuries, both of which can end seasons. He’s made a career of avoiding it. Not through game-breaking athleticism and escapability, but by way of quick release and limited exposure in the pocket.

Brady is known for getting the ball out quickly and accurately and this season is certainly no different. Per PFR, his average time in the pocket currently sits at 2.2 seconds. Among starting quarterbacks, that ties him for the lowest in the league.

Keep in mind, ESPN measures pass block win-rate on a 2.5 second baseline because most offensive lines should be able to sustain blocks for at least 2.5 seconds (only two teams are outside of 50% success rate in PBWR). Brady’s getting the ball out with time to spare.

By this logic, the Cowboys pass-rush could be absolutely dominant at the snap, winning battle after battle, and still walk away with a blank on the stat sheet.

If the ball is out faster than the defense can get home, it’s not a pass rush issue, it’s become a coverage issue.

Penalty nosedive among 3 keys to Cowboys victory over Bucs

Things are much different than they were in Week 1, for both teams. Here are three factors to help Dallas reverse the outcome. | From @cdpiglet

As bad as last Sunday’s loss against the Washington Commanders looked, the team came away healthy and the result had zero impact on the overall standings for the Dallas Cowboys. Both the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers won their respective games in Week 18, so Dallas was destined to play Tampa Bay regardless. The Buccaneers lost their season finale as well, resting their starters for most of the game and insuring quarterback Tom Brady the first losing season of his career.

Neither of these teams are the same as they were in their Week 1 matchup. Tampa Bay, for a multitude of reasons, doesn’t have one of the best defensive units in football any longer, the Cowboys have Michael Gallup and T.Y. Hilton at receiver instead of Dennis Houston, and Dallas is down two starting cornerbacks in Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown.

The keys to victory in Week 1 mainly focused on both offensive lines, whether it was running the football for the Cowboys, or handling Micah Parsons for the Buccaneers, but is that still the case for their playoff matchup? Here are the keys to the Cowboys living to play another week this season with a win over Tampa Bay.