There’s just three games left in the season, and there’s plenty of pressure on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to close out strong. The question is whether there will be much stress involved, as the way the team has played recently suggests they should have an easy time with a trio of very beatable opponents.
Dallas is arguably the hardest of the remaining games, but that’s a very generous reading of the situation. The Cowboys are without Dak Prescott and Trevon Diggs, and are barreling toward a losing season. It’s been nothing but a string of disappointments for Dallas, which means they could be looking to spoil Tampa Bay’s fun and bring the Bucs down with them.
That’s why Sunday night feels like a trap game that needs to be avoided at all costs. Last Sunday we all saw the Bucs drop 40 points on the best scoring defense in the NFL, something that proves the offense is as potent as we’ve all believed it to be. Bare in mind Tampa Bay’s steam rolling of the Chargers came without Chris Godwin and a defense being held together by duct tape and bubble game allowed just 17 points — zero coming in the second half.
Tampa Bay is a really good team and they’re playing at a level that has some pundits thinking they could be a sneaky Super Bowl threat. There’s still work that needs to be done before a playoff ticket is punched, but a strong showing on national television will go a long way in proving the Bucs belong in the contender conversation.
Who are the announcers for Buccaneers vs. Cowboys tonight?
It’s a Sunday Night Football game, which means Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be in the booth calling tonight’s game. It’s the first time the Bucs are under the bright lights of SNF this season, however less than a year has passed since the announcing duo was working a Buccaneers game.
Tirico and Collinsworth were on the call for the NFC Divisional Round game in Detroit back in late January. The stakes are a little different now, but the same vibes exist as they did then as far as the Bucs riding a wave of momentum. It also affords Collinsworth a chance to wax poetic in his own unique way about Baker Mayfield and Liam Coen.
Hopefully it all happens against the backdrop of a low stress win for Tampa Bay.
Referees for Buccaneers vs. Cowboys in Week 16
Head Referee (Crew Chief)
Land Clark will be the lead official for Sunday night’s game, and it will mark the ninth time he’s called a game involving the Buccaneers. It’s been a mixed bag for Tampa Bay with Clark, as the team started out hot but has settled into a 4-4 record with him as an official.
The most recent game he officiated was last year’s Week 17 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. That was a game the Bucs needed to win in order to put away the NFC South, but failed to do so. Hopefully that’s not an omen for a game with similar circumstances tonight.
Full Officiating Crew
Here's the rest of Land Clark’s crew that will be calling the game with him in Week 16:
- Umpire: Paul King
- Down Judge: Tom Stephan
- Line Judge: Jeff Hucheon
- Side Judge: Dominique Pender
- Field Judge: Jabir Walker
- Back Judge: Brad Freeman
Buccaneers vs. Cowboys TV channel and start time (December 22nd)
Week 16 is a BINGO card game for the Bucs, as they will have officially touched all time slots and networks this season. Tampa Bay had already played games on CBS, FOX, Amazon Prime, and ESPN, and can now cross NBC off the list as well.
Technicall Peacock can be crossed off too, but here here’s to hoping the Bucs don’t draw the streaming exclusive game if they end up making the playoffs.
Here’s everything you need to know to catch tonight’s game:
- Date: Sunday, December 22, 2024
- Start Time: 8:20 pm ET
- Location: AT&T Stadium | Arlington, TX
- TV Channel: NBC
- Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth
- Live Stream: Fubo (Locally)
- Radio: WXTB 97.9 FM | More Radio Affiliates
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