Preview Week 1: Bucs @ Cowboys
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ DALLAS COWBOYS
Time: 8:20 PM ET, Sep. 12, 2022
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas.
Given the quality of the defenses of both teams, particularly when you factor in that Tom Brady has missed time in training camp for the first time in his storied career, I expect the offensive units in this game to struggle early before hitting their respective rhythms. For that reason, I would be inclined to take the UNDER on the 49.5 total.
Up first on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ schedule this season is a tough matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. This game is a Week One rematch of last season when the Cowboys spoiled an impressive performance by quarterback Dak Prescott, giving up a Bucs field goal in the waning seconds to lose 31-29.
Many of the same characters return for opening matchup this season. Following Brady’s return after a short lived retirement, the Bucs are +700 to win it all in 2022, trailing only the Buffalo Bills as Super Bowl favorites.
Gone is Rob Gronkowski who has retired, although speculation remains that he is simply saving his body and could return at some point during the season, in order to boost the Bucs chances for another championship. Coming into the opener, the Buccaneers offensive line is hurting, with a litany of injuries to key players including Ryan Jensen. Expect the veteran Brady to get the ball out of his hands early and often to a group of playmakers that includes Mike Evans, Leonard Fournette, and newcomer Julio Jones.
Bruce Arians, the Bucs Super Bowl winning coach, has stepped aside and allowed Todd Bowles to take the coaching reins, so that will also be an interesting storyline to watch.
As for the Dallas Cowboys, they will try to pressure that banged up offensive line with their all-world linebacker Micah Parsons and a host of other dangerous pass rushers. Dak Prescott is again leading this offense, although he’ll do so without former Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper, who was traded to Cleveland this offseason. Right out of the gate, this will be one of the most difficult games on the Dallas Cowboys schedule so they will need to start fast and keep pressure on the middle of that injured Buccaneers line, with the hope of forcing the NFL’s G.O.A.T. into a few mistakes.
Dallas also has a significant problem on their own offensive line, having lost perhaps their most important player, left tackle Tyron Smith, to a hamstring injury. They are now in the precarious position of counting on a 1st round rookie, Tyler Smith, to step in and protect their franchise quarterback’s blind side.
The Cowboys also find themselves a dark horse candidate for a Super Bowl championship, as Vegas handicappers currently see them as having the 10th best odds (+2000) to hoist the Lombardi trophy this February.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are currently giving -1.5 points in this game, and the total sits at 49.5.
Tom Brady missed a significant portion of the Buccaneers training camp schedule due to personal reasons, so we’ll see how much rust he has from that layoff when the action starts for real. The underrated Prescott will find his hands full with the difficult Bucs defense, but if last year’s opener was any indication, he has the potential to handle that with ease.
Given the quality of the defenses of both teams, particularly when you factor in that Tom Brady has missed time in training camp for the first time in his storied career, I expect the offensive units in this game to struggle early before hitting their respective rhythms. For that reason, I would be inclined to take the UNDER on the 49.5 total.
Author: Dan Anderson