It’s widespread here but the Bucs are at home where they snagged the latest Super Bowl Championship so expect them to run up the score for their fans against a Dallas defense that’s still rebuilding.
Our Pick:
Buccaneers -8.5
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Can Dak Prescott Bypass His Injury Rust?
Due to a season-ending ankle injury and subsequent surgery plus a shoulder situation, Dallas Cowboys’ franchise quarterback Dak Prescott hasn’t taken a real snap since Week 5 of last season so there is bound to be some rust in this Week 1 matchup.
Thankfully, Prescott can not only depend on his slew of top-notch receivers including CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup, he can also count on his best friend RB Ezekiel Elliot and TE Jarwin Blake who can all find extra yards after a catch.
Last season, the Cowboys defense was ranked in the bottom third of the league in part due to injuries, so any dust on Dak’s arm could be nicely offset by a decent showing by new DC Dan Quinn’s upgraded squad who need to somehow keep Tom Brady’s polished offensive crew at bay.
Can Tampa Bay’s Defense Continue to Dominate?
After winning the Super Bowl last season, HC Bruce Arians and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers have basically run it back on both sides of the ball, so with essentially the same roster expect limited rust from this team in Week 1.
Yes, Tom Brady’s football IQ and accurate passing helped the Bucs snag the Lombardi Trophy, but it was truly their killer defensive front – Ndamukong Suh, Vita Vea, William Gholston – that won them that championship, a group that opposing quarterback dread facing.
Look for a healthy WR Mike Evans in Week 1 along with the virtually unstoppable TE duo of Rob Gronkowski and OJ Howard plus a solid running game from Ronald Jones II to keep Tom Brady successful in yet another run for NFL glory.
Editor’s Picks
Cowboys Key Player: (LB) Rookie Micah Parsons
One of the new keys to the somewhat rebuilt Cowboys defense is rookie linebacker Micah Parsons, who in three seasons at Penn Stated accumulated 6.5 sacks, 5 passes defended, 6 forced fumbles, and 191 total tackles.
Parson will be joining a defense now run by ex-Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, who was brought in by owner Jerry Jones to straighten out an injury-riddled defense that finished last season 23rd best in the league.
Dallas could use a stronger pass rush that DEs Bradlee Anae and Randy Gregory are expected to bring, but for a squad that allowed almost thirty points per game last season, the Cowboys have a long way to go towards improving, especially when it comes to stopping the run.
Buccaneers Key Player: (WR) Mike Evans
The Bucs didn’t exactly need WR Mike Evans to win the Super Bowl last season, the star receiver only catching on one target of a 31-yard gain during that victory, though he did draw four penalties that day.
But for this team to be effective offensively, they count on Evans deep route running to stretch out defenses and allow the other Tampa Bay playmakers some extra leg room to get open, something that Tom Brady counts on when he’s not getting rid of the ball immediately.
Evans is 6’5” and weighs 231 pounds, so the 3xPro Bowler can use his size to win most battles for the football, and now that he seems fully healthy after that nasty-looking knee injury in Week 17 last season he will play an important part of this Week 1 matchup.
How to Watch Cowboys vs Buccaneers
| Cowboys vs Buccaneers Information |
| Teams | Dallas Cowboys vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Where | Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida |
| When | Thursday, September 9, 2021; 8:20 PM ET |
| How to watch | NBC |
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