NFL Wild Card Match Preview: Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a distinct home-field advantage this Saturday when they host the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the NFL playoffs. It will be a matchup fans have waited all season for with plenty at stake, including memories from their Week One affair.

Few forget Brady and Fournette’s powerful duo as they pushed past Prescott and the Cowboys, 19-3, during an NBC Sunday Night Football showdown at AT&T Stadium.

All eyes will be on Brady, who managed to outshine Prescott entirely in that earlier matchup. Undoubtedly, this rematch serves as an exciting introduction to what is sure to be the highlight of all sports weekends: the NFL Playoffs!

NFL Wild Card: Cowboys vs. Buccaneers Odds

Odds Via BetMGM Online Sportsbook

 SpreadTotalMoneyline
DAL Cowboys-3 (+100)Over 45.5 (-110)-145
TB Buccaneers+3 (-120)Under 45.5 (-110)+120
How many points will Buccaneers Record?
Over 21.5 (-110)Under 21.5 (-115)

Odds Via FanDuel Online Sportsbook

 SpreadTotalMoneyline
DAL Cowboys-3 (-104)Over 45.5 (-105)-146
TB Buccaneers+3 (-118)Under 45.5 (-115)+126

The stated NFL betting odds may change, depending on news and other relevant updates. More betting markets may be accessed through the legal online sportsbooks in your area.

NFL Wild Card Round

Cowboys-Bucs Rivalry

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have created a competitive rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys, earning their second consecutive victory against them on NFL 2022 Week 1.

Led by QB Tom Brady and featuring two touchdown receptions from tight end Rob Gronkowski, the Buccaneers used a 36-yard field goal from kicker Ryan Succop to secure the 31-29 win right as time expired. The teams combined for 882 yards of offense and four lead changes in what was an engaging back-and-forth match that kicked off the 2021 NFL season with a bang.

Tampa Bay has demonstrated itself to be a true force in the league and made an impressive statement against one of football’s most prominent franchises.

Cowboys Are Dangerous

The Bucs have Tom Brady with great supporting cats, but the Dallas Cowboys are not something that should be taken lighty, both on offense and defense.

While the Cowboys have fielded one of the most explosive offenses in this year’s NFL, led by a healthy and dynamic Prescott-Cooper Rush tandem, their greatest strengths truly lie in their red zone and third down conversion efficiency. The team managed to score 28.8 points per game in the regular season, ranking them second among all teams, while also boasting an impressive 47.4% third down conversion rate and an eye-catching 70.9% red zone touchdown efficiency percentage.

Even amidst Prescott’s injury layoff that saw him miss five games this season, the Cowboys still managed to post an average of 35.1 points per week since his return; these statistics bode well for their upcoming playoff matchup against Tampa Bay.

They also had a successful defensive campaign, standing out in the league as the seventh-best scoring defense. Anchoring the back end of their team was stellar linebacker Micah Parsons, proving himself to be the DPOY candidate through 17 weeks with 13.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and three recovered ones.

Carrying a prodigious amount of confidence in his position, cornerback Trevon Diggs contributed immensely with three interceptions and 14 pass breakups leading up to Week 18. Setting the tone for an exuberant future, it is safe to say that these key players have left many fans impressed.