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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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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Game Preview

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 1 game on Sunday, September 11

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 1, Sunday, September 11


Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys How To Watch

Date: Sunday, September 11
Game Time: 8:20 ET
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
How To Watch: NBC
Record: Tampa Bay (0-0), Dallas (0-0)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Game Preview

Why Tampa Bay Buccaneers Will Win

It might go against everything Tampa Bay is about with Tom Brady back under center for a team that led the NFL in passing yards, but …

Run, run, run.

The Dallas defensive interior is soft enough to try keeping the ground game between the hashmarks with a power back like Leonard Fournette to settle things down.

Of course everyone will be wanting a high-powered offensive show like the 31-29 Buccaneer win to open up last year, but hammer away early, let Brady hit the third down throws to keep everything moving, and frustrate Dallas by keeping the offensive weapons on the sidelines.

That might be the idea in theory, but 1) of course it’s going to be 12 winging it around the yard, and 2) …

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Why Dallas Cowboys Will Win

Does Tampa Bay have anyone left on the offensive front?

The front five was decimated by injuries in the preseason, the parts that rotated in weren’t that great, and TB12 isn’t exactly the most mobile quarterback.

Tampa Bay was terrific at stopping the run last season and should be again, but – like the Bucs – Dallas needs to start out by giving it a try. The Cowboys have the depth and options at running back to get creative, the defensive front should be able to hold up, and …

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What’s Going To Happen

Sorry about all of these suggestions about the ground games taking over.

Tom Brady will throw for 300, Dak Prescott will throw for 300, and it’ll be an up-and-down fight throughout the third quarter. The problems on the Tampa Bay offensive front really will matter, though.

It’s not like the Dallas D will be a brick wall, but it’ll hold up just enough late to get revenge for last year’s opener.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Line

Dallas 27, Tampa Bay 23
Line: Dallas -1.5, o/u: 50.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Must See Rating: 4.5

5: US Open Week 2
1: Samaritan

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Game Preview

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys prediction, game preview, and fantasy player to watch.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys prediction, game preview, and fantasy player to watch.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Broadcast

Date: Thursday, September 9
Game Time: 8:20 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Network: NBC

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Tampa Bay (0-0) vs Dallas (0-0) Game Preview


Why Dallas Will Win

The offensive line is relatively healthy again after last year, and assuming Dak Prescott is able to shake off the rust – and the lack of full go practice time – the attack should be balanced and effective again after dying over the middle part of last year – and only getting back the groove when it was too late.

Dallas might not need the high octane offense to go full bore if the defense really has improved like it’s expected to.

With a defense that should be night-and-day stronger than last year’s disaster – especially when it comes to getting to the quarterback – this should be a different team with a whole new look from 2020.

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Why Tampa Bay Will Win

The run defense is still going to be the run defense.

Not only do the Buccaneers get just about everyone back, but the defense should be every bit the terror the 2020 version was. It won’t have too many issues holding down the Dallas downfield passing game, the pass rush that beat up Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl will still be deadly, and now Vita Vea is back in the middle of the run defense after missing most of last year.

The Buccaneers were No. 1 in the NFL against the run last year, and now they’re even stronger. That puts even more pressure on …

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Fantasy Football Player To Watch

RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas
He got the touches around the goal line last year, but he didn’t do much with them over the second half of the season. As soon as Dak Prescott went down, there went Zeke’s fantasy season.

Slimmer, quicker, and with a determined attitude to push past the fumbles and problems of last year, he’s going to be an elite fantasy running back every week – but maybe not against this Tampa Bay D. If he’s great against the Bucs, look out.

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What’s Going To Happen

Dallas will look and play differently than they did throughout last season, and Dak will be just fine. He’ll press too much, though, and he’ll be under constant harassment.

Tom Brady won’t be perfect, but the offense won’t need to be dominant with the defense taking care of the game with key stop after key stop early on. The defending champions won’t look perfect, but they’ll survive late in a fun season opener.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Dallas Cowboys Prediction, Line

Tampa Bay 27, Dallas 23
Tampa Bay -7.5, o/u: 51
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Bringing your snacks on the flight
1: Buying snacks at the airport

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