Dallas Cowboys can’t sleepwalk through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hopefully, the loss to the Colts was truly wake-up call, because the Dallas Cowboys won’t be able to sleepwalk through the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Fortunately, the Dallas Cowboys get another chance to clinch the NFC East title this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Usually, it’s good for teams and players to have short memories.
They tell cornerbacks to forget about the big play they just gave up and be ready for the next opportunity to make a play. That tends to be good advice. After the devastating shut-out loss to the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 23-0, I want this team to remember everything.
The loss to the Colts wasn’t exactly a surprise. Last week, I listed many reasons why the Colts could defeat the Cowboys. I gave the Colts offensive line a lot of credit. That group of big guys in the trenches went five straight weeks without allowing a sack.
Against the Cowboys, Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck once again went untouched. They also opened enough holes for Colts running back Marlon Mack to have 139 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.
It was a tough day for Cowboys future Hall of Fame safety Jeff Heath and squad of defensive hitmen. Typically, opposing offensive linemen aren’t getting to the second level and blocking linebackers Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee – who surprisingly didn’t record a single tackle.
Offensively, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is now associated with two nefarious team records. In November 2017, Prescott led the Cowboys as they failed to score fewer than 10 points in three straight games for the first time in team history. Now, he joins former quarterback Quincy Carter and probably others – but the great Tony Romo definitely isn’t on this list – as the quarterback in the first shut-out since 2003.
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott simply called the Colts’ loss a very embarrassing performance. Should Cowboy Nation expect a better performance against the 5-9 Buccaneers? Definitely!
The Buccaneers have won five games, but they have been every team’s punching bag. Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson combined with running back Gus Edwards to total 199 rushing yards against the Buccaneers. The Cowboys should expect Elliott and Prescott to also follow suit and post big numbers with the running game.
Defensively – Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has been a turnover machine. He’s given up 13 interceptions in nine games. I remember in 2016, Heath intercepted Winston and returned it 19 yards. It was a fantastic play that should be on Heath’s highlight reel next to his bust in the NFL Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Somehow, the Buccaneers are ranked 1st in offensive passing yards with 4464 and 12th in points scored with 344. The Cowboys are ranked 24th in passing yards with 3018 and 26th in points scored with 276.
Clearly the Cowboys strength is running the football. If Tampa Bay manages to get an early lead like the Colts did, it will spell disaster for the Cowboys offense. The Cowboys offense simply doesn’t score a lot of points.
Next. Top 10 Undrafted Free Agents in Dallas Cowboys History. dark
I don’t expect the Cowboys to lose, but don’t expect the Buccaneers to play dead. This team can not afford to play down to their opponent. Let’s hope that the Colts defeat was truly a wake-up call, because this team won’t be able to sleepwalk through the Buccaneers.
#GoCowboys