Bucs vs. Cowboys: Pewter Preview And Predictions

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BUCCANEERS vs. COWBOYS

WHEN: Monday, January 16, 2023 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 8:15 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN

Sport day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report employees to make its weekly sport predictions and supply up our sport preview of this week’s matchup. Tell us what you suppose within the article feedback part and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Bucs Protection, Brady Save The Day For Tampa Bay

Bucs LB Lavonte David – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

When Todd Bowles elected to not fireplace Byron Leftwich in the course of the season he made a calculated gamble. Bowles determined to belief his protection and the late-game heroics of quarterback Tom Brady for the remainder of the yr after which make a change at offensive coordinator after the season ended. Clearly there have been no different candidates on the employees that Bowles felt might be an improve over Leftwich. Consequently, Tampa Bay’s offense has scored a median of 18.4 factors per sport, which makes it one of many league’s worst scoring offenses. For Tampa Bay to win on Monday evening, it should do it with the formulation that Bowles has leaned on in the course of the group’s NFC South title run – good protection and sufficient performs from Brady.

Tampa Bay matches up nicely with Dallas, evidenced by profitable, 31-29, within the 2021 season opener and once more in Week 1 this season, 19-3. Bowles’ protection bought to quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 1, holding him to finishing simply 14-of-29 passes (48.3%) for 134 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. Earlier than he left the sport attributable to an injured throwing hand, Prescott was sacked twice. Anticipate Bowles to dial up some blitzes because the Bucs had success with them in Week 1. Linebacker Devin White had a pair of sacks and performed his greatest sport of the yr in opposition to Dallas.

Tampa Bay’s protection can stymie Dallas’ offense sufficient to carry the Cowboys underneath three touchdowns. That needs to be sufficient leeway to permit Brady and the offense the possibility to place over 20 factors on the scoreboard. The important thing might be profitable the turnover battle, because the Bucs have confirmed they don’t have a giant margin for error and might’t beat themselves and the Cowboys. Tampa Bay’s protection has performed a greater job of taking the ball away and that might be key in serving to to arrange Brady and the underachieving offense to attain sufficient factors to win.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Cowboys 19REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 7-10

Matt Matera: Bucs Take One other From The Cowboys And Advance

It solely appears proper that the Bucs and Cowboys would end off the Tremendous Wild Card spherical of the playoffs by enjoying on Monday evening. You’ve gotten a star-studded matchup with Tom Brady main the Bucs in opposition to the group that followers love or hate probably the most with the Cowboys. These groups meet for the second time this yr, with their first sport opening the season in Week 1. However that was a very long time in the past and each groups have modified since they first met.

Bucs QB Tom Brady and WR Mike Evans – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Whereas I nonetheless consider it’s going to be the Bucs’ protection that finally will determine if the Bucs could make a deep run within the playoffs, the offense has to do their half as nicely. They’re considerably driving momentum after a 30-point outburst in Week 17 that was primarily a playoff sport. Although not as many starters performed in Week 18, Tampa Bay did rating a landing on their opening drive, which they haven’t performed a lot this season. Dallas has performed off-coverage this season, so Tampa Bay can take benefit with Chris Godwin getting yards after the catch. Mike Evans at all times asks for 1-on-1 protection, which he may get with Trevon Diggs overlaying him. Who wins that matchup might decide the end result of the sport.

The 2 offensive rookies, Rachaad White and Cade Otton, are fully totally different gamers this time round. That’ll work to the Bucs benefit. They’ll must depend on the protection, although, if they’re going to advance. The excellent news is the Bucs are getting wholesome within the secondary as Carlton Davis is anticipated to return at nook together with Mike Edwards and Logan Ryan at security. If they will restrict CeeDee Lamb once more, that’s about it for the Cowboys’ passing sport, which has seen many turnovers from Dak Prescott currently. The Bucs know they’ll must cease the operating sport of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, however with Vita Vea, Akiem Hicks and Will Gholston in there, they need to be up for the problem. Ought to the Bucs recover from 20 factors, they’ll transfer onto the subsequent spherical.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Cowboys 17MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 8-9

JC Allen: Bucs

It hasn’t been the season the Bucs wished or many anticipated, however right here we’re. Because the group prepares for it’s house playoff sport versus the Cowboys there are a couple of causes to have hope the season will proceed previous Monday. After spending a lot of the season banged up the Bucs are comparatively wholesome. Whereas damage considerations loom on the middle and left guard spot, the protection seems it should subject it’s total protection for one of many few instances this season. The talent positions are as wholesome as they’ve been all yr, and look to select up the place they left off in opposition to the Panthers in Week 17.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Internet hosting a house playoff sport is a spot Tom Brady has been earlier than and there’s not doubt he’ll have the offense able to go. The Brady to Evans connection lastly heated up in Week 17 with the pair exploding for 207 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Godwin is lastly trying like himself and the pair of receivers will present a giant problem for Dallas’ protection.Although with a purpose to enable Brady and his receivers to get going the road has a giant take a look at in containing Michah Parsons who sacked Brady twice in Week 1.

Dallas boasts a formidable forged of talent gamers, anchored by a two headed dashing assault behind Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott. Nostril deal with Vita Vea might need been snubbed from Professional Bowl honors, however he’ll must have an All-Professional efficiency if the Bucs hope to close down the duo. The Bucs protection matches up nicely with the Cowboys forged of receivers. Although Carlton Davis might want to ship one other lock down sport on Cee Dee Lamb as he did in Week 1. Dallas went 4-4 on the street this yr, with all 4 of their losses approaching grass enjoying surfaces. The Bucs are hoping that development continues Monday evening.

ALLEN’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Cowboys 24

ALLEN’S SEASON RECORD: 6-11

Bailey Adams: Bucs Flip It On, Hold Their Season Alive

Bucs LB Devin White – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

On the floor, you take a look at the 8-9 Bucs internet hosting the 12-5 Cowboys and suppose: “It is a mismatch, and it’s a testomony to how poor the NFL’s playoff construction is that Tampa Bay will get to host this sport simply because it gained the league’s worst division.” However a deeper take a look at this matchup reveals that there’s a lot working within the Bucs’ favor. Tom Brady being undefeated all-time in opposition to the Cowboys, Dallas being winless on the street within the playoffs because the early Nineteen Nineties and Mike McCarthy’s group having a nasty 1-4 document on pure grass this season might indirectly influence the sport, however that’s all working in Tampa Bay’s favor. It doesn’t finish there, although.

The precise matchup itself seems like a superb one for the house group as nicely. No, Brady and the offense haven’t instantly reverted to their 2020 and 2021 type, however there have been some enhancements in current weeks. Specifically, Brady and Mike Evans getting on the identical web page once more again in Week 17 felt like a superb omen for the playoffs. Chris Godwin completed his Comeback Participant of the Yr bid with 104 catches, 1,023 yards and three touchdowns. And the final time these two groups met, Leonard Fournette ran wild in what ended up being his greatest efficiency of the season. So long as the offensive line is wholesome sufficient, I believe this group places up sufficient factors to enrich one other sturdy defensive effort.

I believe the Bucs will deal with Dak Prescott nicely as soon as once more, particularly given the truth that he’s thrown 11 interceptions over the past seven video games (with at the very least one in every of these seven video games). The defensive position must win the road of scrimmage and cease each Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. From there, let Carlton Davis III and the secondary maintain CeeDee Lamb in verify like they did in Week 1 and you’ve got a profitable formulation. It’s not a given, in fact, because the Bucs may simply as simply come out and seem like the group they had been for a lot of the season. However I believe Brady, this Bucs protection and the house crowd sends Dallas packing and propels Tampa Bay into the NFC Divisional Spherical for the third straight yr.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Cowboys 20ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 9-8

Josh Queipo: A Season That By no means Fairly Felt Proper Ends In Disappointing Style

Bucs DT Akiem Hicks and Cowboys RG Zack Martin – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR

Are there paths to a Bucs’ victory in opposition to the Cowboys? There certain are. Afterall, these are largely the identical groups that confronted off in week one the place the Bucs gained in convincing style. However simply because the Bucs can win doesn’t imply they will win.

And please keep in mind these are additionally two groups who’ve a 170-point unfold in level differential for the season (and it doesn’t go within the Bucs favor in case you’re questioning). Wanting extra granularly, I consider the Cowboys have a bonus when evaluating their defensive position to the Bucs offensive line, and vice-versa. The trenches are often the primary place I begin when evaluating which group may win a matchup and when one group holds a bonus over the opposite on either side of the ball that often ticks the matchup to that group in my thoughts.

Add in that the Cowboys had been the highest-scoring group within the league after quarterback Dak Prescott returned from the damage he sustained in opposition to the group in Week 1 and I simply don’t see Tampa Bay’s offense having the ability to sustain for a full 4 quarters. Brady’s late-game heroics can solely take the Bucs to date and I believe that is the top of the road on Monday evening. Tampa Bay will primarily end the season 8-10.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Cowboys 24, Bucs 23QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 11-6

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