Buccaneers vs. Cowboys: Key matchups and predictions

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have very few, if any, times this season where they will be the underdog in a matchup, and this holds true for their first game of the 2021 campaign against the Dallas Cowboys next Thursday.

The Cowboys are coming off a disappointing 2020 campaign where they managed a fairly pathetic season for a franchise that’s considered “America’s team,” going just 6-10.

Not much has changed with their roster besides the gargantuan contract for the aggressively average quarterback that is Dak Prescott.

Conversely, The Buccaneers finished with an 11-5 record in the regular season, then went on to go undefeated in the playoffs where they won the Super Bowl. Miraculously, the Bucs were able to return their entire starting roaster from last year, a feat unheard of in nearly any sport.

The key matchup for the game will surely be the pass rush and the Bucs’ ability to dominate the Dallas offensive line. With the caliber of skill and speed between the players composing the Buccaneers pass-rush, combined with the aggressiveness of defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ coaching style, the Cowboys will certainly have their hands full.

There were very few teams that could keep up with the Bucs’ rushing ability all last year, as they put on impressive displays against top tier teams like the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs when they set up the run through the pass.

This should predictably lead to the Bucs putting a great deal of pressure on the Cowboys quickly and most-likely playing with a lead for the majority of the game. This should provide Ronald Jones with a plethora of opportunities to make his mark on the game.

Look for a dominant Bucs defense that stifles the Cowboys offense into submission and a strong showing from Ronald Jones and the rest of the Buccaneers running core.

The Bucs should coast to an easy first victory: Bucs 31, Cowboys 12

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