cowboys backs
when: Sunday, December 22, 2024 | where: AT&T Stadium – (Arlington, TX) | Expedia kick off: 8:20pm ET | tv set: NBC
Play by play: Mike Tirico | Analyst: Cris Collinsworth Side job: melissa stark
wireless: 98 Rock 97.9FM | Play by play: Gene Deckerhoff Analyst: Dave Moore | Side job: TJ Rives
As game day approaches, it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make their weekly game predictions and provide game previews. This week’s match. Let us know what you think in the comment section of the article. Please also add your predictions.
Scott Reynolds: “Cowboys can’t keep up with Bucks’ offense”
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
While statistics don’t always tell the whole story, I believe two statistics do determine the outcome. Tampa Bay game at Dallas on Sunday Night Football. No, I don’t care that the Bucks are 0-3 in prime-time games this season. The team is playing so well right now that the Bucks are facing the 6-8 Cowboys instead of a tough opponent like the Chiefs, Ravens or Falcons. do not have Win Sunday night.
The statistic I’m talking about is that the Bucks have scored 30 points in seven of the team’s 14 games so far. Tampa Bay is 5-2 in those games. Dallas has lost every game in which its defense has given up 27 or more points, and all eight of those games. So it’s amazing that the Bucks are averaging 28.8 points per game, which ranks fourth in the NFL, and the Cowboys have the 30th-ranked scoring defense, allowing 27.1 points per game. That’s not the point.
Considering the fact that the Cowboys have yet to win on Sunday at home (Dallas defeated the hapless New York Giants 27-20 on Thanksgiving Day), I think Todd Bowles & Co. have won their fifth straight season. I like to do it. . The Bucks will return home to face two division rivals in the Panthers and Falcons after a very important win that put them ahead of the Falcons for first place in the NFC South. Here’s another statistic: Tampa Bay has performed better on the road than at home this year, with a record of 5-2 on the road.
Reynolds game prediction: Bucks 31, Cowboys 17
Reynolds season record: 9 wins, 5 losses.
Matt Matera: Bucks dominate Cowboys
Bucks RB Bucky Irving – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Bucks come into this primetime game on a four-game winning streak, but have lost all three of their primetime games this year. But I’m not too worried about their lack of wins in prime time. All three games were close, and the Cowboys aren’t the most difficult prime-time opponent they will face. This game ultimately comes down to whether the Bucks can stop the Cowboys’ two star players, and they should win.
Tampa Bay is in great shape offensively and shows no signs of slowing down. If the Bucks want to run with Bucky Irving and Rathard White, they can do that. The Cowboys’ secondary takes a step back with Trevon Diggs out, but with Baker Mayfield out and Jalen McMillan contributing, Mike Evans could have another 100-yard game. All they have to do is stop Micah Parsons and then everything is in front of them.
There’s no question that the Cowboys have been playing better lately. They have been successful running the football with Rico Doodle, and quarterback Cooper Rush continues to find wide receiver CeeDee Lamb when a pass is needed. But Dallas has dealt with forwards like Vita Vea and Kaliyah Kanshi. Corners Jamel Dean and Zion McCollum will also be asked a lot to slow Lamb down, but they’ll be ready for that. The Bucks have found a recipe for gaining big leads and forcing opponents into one dimension. Not many teams can consistently go drive-to-drive with the Bucs, but the Cowboys won’t be able to do that. The Bucks have won five in a row.
Matera Game Prediction: Bucks 31, Cowboys 20
Matera’s season record: 9 wins, 5 losses
Bailey Adams: Bucks on track for 5th straight win
Bucks WR Mike Evans Photo courtesy of USA Today
I felt pretty good about picking the Bucks over the Chargers last week, but I felt 40-17 wasn’t great. That was a pretty great performance by Tampa Bay, and this type of game leaves room for disappointment this Sunday night against Dallas, but I don’t think this team will allow it. I think these backs are locked in now.
Tampa Bay’s offense is doing well in all aspects, and unless Baker Mayfield falls victim to the turnover bug in this game, I love the matchup between Liam Cohen’s offense and the Cowboys’ defense. Bucky Irving and Rashard White should be able to lead the way, but Mayfield has a chance to find Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan, and Cade Otton, especially with Trevon Diggs out. Probably.
The Buccaneer defense is also playing better football, which is an encouraging sign considering how many injuries the team is dealing with on that side of the ball. CeeDee Lamb and Rico Doodle will be the focus of this group, and after being suspended for last week’s game against Los Angeles, I like Tampa Bay’s chance to do it again. The Bucks are playing complementary football right now and I think that will lead to them winning five straight and entering the final two weeks with a 9-6 record.
Adams’ game prediction: Bucks 31, Cowboys 20
Adams’ season record: 10 wins, 4 losses.
Josh Quaipo: Bucks beat Cowboys in bar fight
Bucs NT Vita Vea, OLB Shaquil Barrett, DT Logan Hall – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
You may be surprised to hear that the Bucs are about to face one of the better defenses in the NFL. Since Micah Parsons returned to the Dallas lineup in Week 10, the Cowboys are 8th in NFL EPA/play and 14th in completion percentage allowed. Their pass defense ranks second in EPA/Dropbacks, largely due to Parsons recording 39 pressures and nine sacks (as measured by Pro Football Focus) during that span. A big factor was his rough running along the offensive line.
Tampa Bay’s passing attack is fresh off a game against the Chargers where a good defense looked bad, but Parsons and Dallas’ cornerbacks are on a different level. The good news is the Cowboys are still weak against the run. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but here’s the Bucs’ run game. Good good. Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen is expected to focus on his vaunted rushing attack, setting conditions early and maintaining control of the ball.
On the other side of the ball, the Bucks’ defense looked better on both ends. and Recent results. Yes, they have faced inferior competition. But there are also real, concrete, schematic and philosophical changes that will facilitate this resurgence. The most intriguing matchup in this game will be Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush against the Bucs’ onslaught. Over the past few weeks, Todd Bowles has gone all out on the ledge, increasing his blitz rate to 48.4% and hitting 62.2% against Los Angeles. And it’s working. Over the last four games, the Bucks have a pressure rate of up to 42% and have been sacked 10 times. Bowles’ defense works when it gets consistent pressure and forces negative plays.
To his credit, Rush has been very good against the blitz this year, posting +0.08 EPA/dropback, 14.2% sack-to-pressure ratio, and averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. He scored five touchdowns to one interception. If wide receiver CeeDee Lamb can play in rhythm and on time while getting the ball out quickly against Tampa Bay’s onslaught, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will be a rewarding addition to the Bucs’ back end. Ultimately, I think the overall talent difference between the Bucks and Cowboys will help Bowles and staff overcome the prime-time curse and win their fifth straight championship.
Quipo’s game prediction: Bucks 26, Cowboys 17
Quaipo’s season record: 9 wins, 5 losses
Adam Slivon: Bucks star shines in Dallas
Bucs OC Liam Cohen, QB Baker Mayfield, HC Todd Bowles – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucks enter Sunday night’s prime-time game against the Cowboys, who are on a four-game winning streak and looking to improve on a five-game winning streak against a 6-8 Dallas team that has looked much different on the field since the season began. Dak Prescott, Zach Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, DeMarvion Overshawn, Trevon Diggs and others will be out. Without that “star power,” they’ve made do with a ragtag group of supporting characters led by CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons.
Cooper Rush took over the quarterback reins and led the team to a 3-3 record this season. It’s a small sample size, but the team has won three of its past four games, with Rush completing 18-of-29 passes for 214 passing yards and three touchdowns as a starter against the Panthers by 30 points. I won with 14.
As good as Rush was against Carolina, he still rates as the worst signal-caller in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Lamb is his saving grace, and stopping him on offense can neutralize much of the passing game. Zion McCollum and Jamel Dean have a difficult task, but they are also capable of completing their own task. Rico Doodle has had an efficient year since taking over the run game from Ezekiel Elliott, hitting 100 yards in three straight games. He finished with 149 yards, so head coach Todd Bowles needs to game plan against those weapons and take advantage of Dallas’ offensive line, which is missing Martin and dealing with other injuries. There will be.
Offensively for the Bucks, you could say it’s been smooth sailing for them in Los Angeles. Baker Mayfield is coming off his best game in the red and pewter uniform, and with Mike Evans as the No. 1 player, both could have big games in the Lone Star State. Given the way the offensive line is playing, they should have no problem controlling things up front as long as they can contain Micah Parsons. Luke Goedeke will have more opportunities to draw him, but Tristan Wirfs will also have his hands full. One important statistic caught my eye when making my predictions. The Cowboys are 0-8 when allowing 27 or more points in a game, while the Bucks are averaged 28.8 points per game. I see these trends continuing and Tampa Bay coming away with a convincing victory.
Slivong’s game prediction: Bucks 34, Cowboys 20
Srivon’s season record: 9 wins, 5 losses
