Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) at Dallas Cowboys (11-2)
Sunday, December 18, 2016, 8:30 P.M. ET
AT&T Stadium (100,000)
Network Television: NBC
Play-By-Play: Al Michaels Analysts: Cris Collinsworth Sideline: Laura Okmin
Bucs Radio: US 103.5, Flagship Station (103.5 FM, 620 AM & 95.3 FM)
Play-By-Play: Gene Deckerhoff Analyst: Dave Moore Sideline: T.J. Rives
Last Game: Tampa Bay Won vs. New Orleans, 16-11; Dallas Lost at New York Giants, 10-17

The primetime stage is set.

Tampa Bay and its surging defense are set to travel into Dallas for Sunday Night Football with postseason implications. The Cowboys, winners of 11 of their last 12, have the NFL’s fifth-ranked offense and two MVP candidates in rookie sensations, Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. While the former has struggled a bit as of late – less than 200 yards passing the last three weeks – Tampa Bay isn’t expecting anything less than the athletic signal caller who took the league by storm.

For any uncertainty under center in Dallas, there’s little doubt with regards to the NFL’s second-ranked ground attack. Elliot leads all running backs with 1,392 yards, thanks in large part to an All Pro-laden offensive line. Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith spoke this week about the challenge of facing the elite front and matching the Cowboys’ jumbo personnel packages in an effort to limit Elliott and high-powered run game.

The Bucs defense has improved drastically since Week 9. Turnover differential and third-down rate tell the story, as the Bucs have taken the ball away 15 times since Week 10 and are 64 percent on third down this season. They’ll look to continue that trend against a Cowboys team that has converted 42 percent, with just four interceptions.

Offensively for Tampa Bay, much has been made (at least by the media) about Jameis Winston showing this Sunday why he was selected No. 1 overall: to lead his team on the big stage. The second-year quarterback, who will have Adam Humphries back, has thrown six TDs and three INTs during the win-steak but is looking to finish more drives in Dallas against the NFL’s 16th ranked defense.

By all accounts, this is the Bucs biggest game in six years. With a chance to tie the franchise’s longest win-streak, while beating an elite team in the process, Tampa Bay could assert itself as a team no one wants to face in January.

Read what the Pewter Reporters think of the Sunday night matchup in Dallas.

PewterReport.com Publisher & Bucs Beat Writer Scott Reynolds
The 8-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading into their biggest game in years as they travel to Dallas to face the 11-2 Cowboys. Tampa Bay is hot, coming off a five-game winning streak, while Dallas’ 11-game winning streak ended with a 10-7 loss at New York on Sunday Night Football. Both of the Cowboys’ losses this year have come at the hands of the Giants and have been by a combined four points. While Dallas hasn’t played well offensively on the road the last two weeks in a narrow, 17-15 win at Minnesota and last week’s loss at New York, converting just 2-of-24 third down opportunities, America’s Team is quite a different animal at home, where rookie quarterback Dak Prescott and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott have propelled Dallas’ offense to score 26 points per game.

The Bucs defense has been dominant throughout the team’s five-game winning streak, allowing only the Chargers (21) to eclipse the 20-point barrier. Tampa Bay’s defense has become a takeaway machine (14) and a monster on third downs (29.4 percent) during that five-game span and is firing on all cylinders. If the game comes down to turnover differential and third down conversions – and the Bucs continue to play they way they have on defense – Tampa Bay has a real shot of pulling off the upset in prime time and improving to 9-5.

What concerns me, as I alluded to in my recent SR’s Fab 5 column, is the inconsistency of Tampa Bay’s offense in terms of point production. Since a 27-point outburst in a 36-10 win against Chicago, the Bucs offense has scored 19 points at Kansas City, 14 points against Seattle, 21 points at San Diego and 16 points against New Orleans in recent weeks. The Bucs will likely need to score 24 points or more to win at Dallas, and while I applaud the job Dirk Koetter has done as a game-managing head coach in relying on the leg of Bryan Anger and the play of the defense to win games, his play-calling needs to improve outside the first quarter when his scripted plays, which have worked well early, run out.

I expect a close game, and the Bucs have a chance at winning on the road where they are 5-1. But the Cowboys’ loss to the Giants last week shook them up and they still need to win to clinch in the NFC East and secure a home playoff game and possibly homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Dallas has just as much to play for as Tampa Bay does and I’m giving the Cowboys the advantage because they are at home, have more experience in big games in primetime and do a good job lighting up the scoreboard in Dallas where they are averaging 27.5 points per game.
Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Cowboys win 23-20
Reynolds’ Pick To Click: Bucs QB Jameis Winston

PewterReport.com Editor and Chief & Bucs Beat Writer Mark Cook
Time to shock the world. Time to announce to the NFL that the Bucs are back and it isn’t a fluke. Time to beat a very good football team, on the road. Sounds like the headlines written before Tampa Bay traveled to Arizona in Week 2 to take on the Cardinals, a team many had advancing deep into the playoffs. Tampa Bay wasn’t ready, and left with their tails tucked between their legs after a 40-7 smack down by Arizona. But this is a different football team. A much better football team.

In my opinion it comes down to stopping Ezekiel Elliott. If the Bucs can limit Elliott and the Cowboys running game, they win this football game. Sorry, I am not a big believer in a fourth round rookie quarterback beating this Mike Smith-led defense. I could be wrong, but if they can shut down veterans like Russell Wilson, Alex Smith, Philip Rivers and Drew Brees, I am not losing sleep over Dak Prescott. 

Of course more will need to happen than just playing good defense, but I believe this is the week that the Tampa Bay offense gets back on track. Jameis Winston is due for a big game, and Mike Evans, who has been somewhat neutralized the last two weeks, is itching to get back on track. I think the Winston and Evans combination shows the national TV audience why they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come for opposing defenses. Doug Martin will have a solid game with over 80 yards on the ground, and Charles Sims showcases his speed in the open field on the fast turf under the bright lights. I expect a slugfest, but one that the Bucs finish on top of when the final whistle sounds.
Cook’s Score Prediction: Bucs win 23-20
Cook’s Pick To Click: Bucs QB Jameis Winston

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Writer Eric Horchy
The Bucs seem to be catching the Cowboys and an opportune time, but only time will tell.

Dallas dropped its second game of the year, quarterback Dak Prescott may be hitting the dreaded ‘rookie wall,’ and the Bucs are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. But last week’s loss to the New York Giants denied Dallas the change to seal up the NFC East title and gave a couple other conference contenders hope that they can still attain homefield advantage in the postseason.

The Tampa Bay defense knows the challenge it faces with the Cowboys’ offensive line and rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott. Stopping the run hasn’t been a strong point. The Bucs rank 21st in rushing defense on the year, surrendering 110.7 yards per game, but they’ve been a little better (99.2 yards per game) during the current five-game winning streak.

Sunday night, however, the Bucs in the box are going to rise up to the challenge. Tampa Bay’s going to do just enough containing Elliott and force Prescott to lead the charge. For as much credit as the Cowboys’ offensive line gets, the 21 sacks and 57 quarterback hits the unit’s surrendered are far from being tops in the league.

Speaking of running games, it’s going to be Doug Martin and Co. that win the day. Martin and the ground attack is due for a breakout. Coming against the NFL’s second-ranked rush defense doesn’t sound like a great time for that to happen, but the Bucs will top the 113 yards the New York Giants picked up Week 1 in Dallas – a season-high for an opponent.
Horchy’s Score Prediction: Bucs win 26-20
Horchy’s Pick(s) To Click: RB Doug Martin/LB Kwon Alexander

PewterReport.com Bucs Beat Writer Zach Shapiro
For Tampa Bay to win this game, one would think the Bucs would need to limit Ezekiel Elliott to less than 120 yards from scrimmage. That and create turnovers, and judging by how the secondary confused the likes of Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, that seems entirely possible against a rookie QB.

The defensive line for Tampa Bay is facing its biggest test Sunday, but Gerald McCoy called it one he’s looking forward to. For a D-Line that’s had success sacking and moving QBs off their mark, the matchup against the Cowboys front seven is primetime-worthy in itself.

Offensively, Jameis Winston acknowledged the excitement of a national stage with postseason implications but stressed the need for the Bucs to play within themselves. Tampa Bay’s offense has been one or two plays away from breaking a few explosives or finishing drives with a TD, and if they can protect the ball Sunday night, I expect them to get over the hump in that respect. Doug Martin, as I see it, will have a tough time against the league’s second-ranked run defense but Winston will show he’s ready to lead a playoff run and makes enough plays with his arm.

Vernon Hargreaves gets his second pick of the season and Lavonte David forces Elliott to fumble, two turning points to set up the Bucs upset and sixth straight win. Bucs go into Dallas and leave 9-5.
Shapiro’s Score Prediction: Bucs win 24-23
Shapiro’s Pick To Click: Jameis Winston