Hmmm. Perhaps the NFL media shouldn’t have overlooked the fact the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were objectively lousy all season? That would’ve properly prepared the millions who tuned in for Monday night’s Wild Card game against the Dallas Cowboys, because the Bucs were out-classed on their home turf.
Outside of Brett Maher’s nightmare and some questionable effort from Trevon Diggs, Cowboys fans don’t have much to complain about, as Mike McCarthy’s unit walked into Tampa Bay and left 31-14 victors.
The Cowboys will now travel to the west coast for a date with the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round. The 49ers could be the best team left in the tournament — the Chiefs might have something to say about that — but this version of Dallas can beat anyone at home or on the road.
The media tried its best to manifest a Cowboys first-round exit, but Prescott and company had something to say about it. To celebrate the victory (Dallas’ first road win in 30 years !) let’s underline some ways Dak and the squad silenced their haters with the entire country watching Monday night.
How Dak Prescott and the Cowboys silenced haters in dominant Wild Card win vs Buccaneers
3. The running game got going again
It’s still not functioning the way Cowboys fans are accustomed to, but the rushing attack at least had some sizzle Monday night. That was no thanks to Ezekiel Elliot, however, as the veteran struggled to the tune of 27 yards on 13 carries.
Tony Pollard, meanwhile, proved this should be his backfield for the remainder of the postseason and beyond (2023, etc.). While the Bucs found it easy wrapping up Elliott in the backfield, Pollard prove elusive and a nuisance for Todd Bowles defense.
The first-time Pro Bowler rushed 15 times for 77 yards. As he often is, Pollard was just in a different gear relative to his 27-year-old running mate.
Let’s put some perspective on how encouraging that performance was, shall we? In Week 18 against Washington, Pollard and Elliott combined for 45 rushing yards on 1.9 yards per attempt. In Week 17 vs Tennessee (Pollard out due to injury), Elliott was bottled up for 37 yards on 1.9 YPC, and in Week 16 against Philly, Elliott and Pollard logged 74 yards on a lowly 2.7 average.
Again, it wasn’t a commanding game on the ground for Dallas, but you’ll take it all day against Vita Vea, and the Bucs vaunted front seven. Something to build on heading to San Francisco, for sure. All that matters.
2. Defense made Tom Brady miserable
With three minutes left in the third quarter, the Cowboys defense — sorry the Cowboys’ “soft” defense, as so many analysts put it in the second half of the season — held Tom Brady to 15-of-33 for 125 yards and an interception. His 43.1 passer rating was lower than his age (45).
How rattled was Brady? Well, he threw his first red zone interception as a Buccaneer in the second quarter on pass he clearly meant to throw out of the back of the end zone. When do you see Brady make a mistake like that?
We’re not going to take a huge victory lap here, as the Buccaneers offense has been a mess all season, but what do the haters have to say?
We heard all week that Dallas would have trouble slowing down the GOAT in the playoffs, the cornerback room contending with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and the run defense (a weakness for most of the year) stopping the 228-pound freight train that is Leonard Fournette in the trenches.
By the end of the third quarter, Dan Quinn’s group pitched a shutout. Fournette and Rachaad White combined for less than 60 yards on 4.3 YPC. Godwin found success underneath, but the Cowboys were clearly willing to give that up.
The big takeaway, though, is Brady’s miserable effort. The narrative all week was Brady’s undefeated record (7-0) against the Cowboys coming into the night. “The Bucs stink, but anything is possible with playoff Brady.”
We all heard it, and Dallas shut them up in emphatic fashion.
1. Dak Prescott was elite
Dak Prescott’s haters are punching air after the QB’s flawless performance against the Buccaneers, and you absolutely love to see it. It didn’t start off great for Prescott and Dallas’ offense, as he started 0-of-3 and the unit managed one positive play on the first two drives.
The NFL community (media, fans, pundits, and all) demanded perfection from Prescott Monday night after his turnover-prone season and the fact he entered the game with 1-3 career record in the playoffs.
Prescott delivered exactly that. He finished 25-of-33 for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns (zero interceptions!) through the air, equating to a 143.3 passer rating. He added 25 yards and a touchdown with his legs, meaning he accounted for five total touchdowns. Five touchdowns, folks. FIVE.
At one point in the third quarter, Prescott was fitting throws into impossible windows for fun. He had a throw up the sideline to Dalton Schultz that landed just beyond the out-stretched arm of Devin White. He did the same on his TD to Gallup minutes later, which somehow eluded Carlton Davis in the back corner of the end zone.
Prescott will be hard-pressed to top this performance against San Francisco’s top-ranked defense, but he turned in the second picturesque playoff game of his career Monday night; the first since his rookie year in 2016.
Dak is back, ladies and gents, and that’s bad news for the rest of the playoff field.
Chris Godwin trolls Cowboys fans with pregame attire before Wild Card clash
Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin trolled Cowboys fans by rocking a Dwayne Wade Heat jersey before Monday night's Wild Card showdown.