How the Dallas Cowboys will punch their playoff ticket

After a bad road loss last week for the Dallas Cowboys, they once again, can clinch the NFC East win a today. Will they do so? Here’s what to watch for.

There are few words that can truly describe how embarrassingly frustrating last week was for the Dallas Cowboys. Their offense was exposed, held scoreless for the first time in fifteen years. The defense could not get stops. They even had a field goal attempt blocked. Literally, nothing went right for this team.

After such a debacle, there are only two possible explanations. The performance was either an aberration or a harbinger of things to come. Oddly, I believe the loss to Indianapolis qualifies as both. Several factors went into why the Dallas Cowboys left Lucas Oil Stadium without a win or even a point on the scoreboard. In a season full of oddities and lackluster performances, this one was clearly the worst.

It took fifteen years for Dallas to be held to zero points. I feel safe in saying that won’t happen again. They also missed the second most tackles in a game all year last week. You can bet on two things. The tackling will get cleaned up and both sides of the ball will play much better. The harbinger comes in the form of a deja vu of sorts.

Last year, at home on Christmas Eve, the Dallas Cowboys controlled their own destiny. A win over the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas would clinch a playoff spot, despite a difficult season full of few ups and several downs. They failed, despite allowing just 93 passing yards and 136 total yards.

This year, at home, a day before Christmas Eve, the Dallas Cowboys control their own destiny. A win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would clinch a playoff spot, despite a difficult season full of few ups and several downs.

Can the Dallas Cowboys right their wrong of Christmas past? Will this organization and its fans have something to be happy about this Christmas present? Are the playoffs in the Cowboys’ Christmas future?

Here’s what to watch for this Sunday versus Tampa Bay.

• Tampa Bay does not respect the football. Both of their quarterbacks love throwing the ball to the opposition. A lot. Jameis Winston has 13 picks on the year. Ryan Fitzpatrick has 12. Thrown in seven fumbles and the 32 turnovers for Tampa Bay is tops in the league.

The Dallas Cowboys must take advantage of this disdain and help the Buccaneers increase that number. Dallas has just 16 takeaways on the year, but 10 of those have come in their victories.

If Dallas can get two or more turnovers today, it will likely result in a victory. The Buccaneers are just 2-9 in games with two or more turnovers this year.

• The Buccaneers do possess a dangerous passing game, however. At nearly 320 yards passing per game, they are the best in the NFL through the air.

Some of this comes from having a bottom five rushing attack. Some of their success is because they are often behind in games and need to throw. Still, their aerial attack needs to be respected.

Receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson will require a lot of attention today if Dallas is to prosper. The Buccaneers live for the big play with two touchdowns over 50 yards and two over 70 yards in their five wins.

The Cowboys needs to limit their downfield assaults and make Tampa Bay earn any points they get. Limiting big plays will help out greatly.

• Offensively, the Cowboys should be able to get back on track today. The Buccaneers are 27th in the league against the run and the pass. They are 30th in points allowed.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott should have a big day. Last week, two different Ravens combined for 199 yards rushing against Tampa Bay. Rushers Saquon Barkley and Joe Mixon had big days against this defense earlier in the season. Yards will be available.

If the Cowboys are to be successful, Elliott’s final stat sheet will likely include a 100-yard+ game and at least one touchdown.

Just as it was last week, everything the Dallas Cowboys could want is right in front of them. A win guarantees this will not be the final home game of 2018. A loss and things get awfully scary around here, barring help from the Houston Texans.

The Cowboys are 6-1 at home. Tampa Bay is 1-6 on the road. If Dallas loses this game, they do not deserve the playoffs. My gut says they’ll make it interestingly nauseating for a good part of the game, but figure it out late.

Prediction:
Buccaneers 21, Cowboys 31