Buccaneers vs. Cowboys: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info, Game Time & More

Week 3 of the 2012 NFL regular season is upon us, and one of the best games on the schedule is between NFC rivals, the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While many experts and fans believed that this would be an easy win for the Cowboys before the season, Dallas' loss in Week 2 to the Seattle Seahawks has this matchup hotly contested.

As for Tampa Bay, they are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the tough New York Giants.

There are so many intriguing storylines coming into this game that casual football fans will have no choice but to be hooked into the action of this matchup.

You don’t want to miss a second of this wild NFL action!

Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX

When: Sunday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: FOX

Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Listen: Online at NFL Audio Pass 

Betting Line (via Covers)

Over/Under: 46.5; Spread: Dallas (-7)

With both teams coming off tough losses, this is the hardest kind of game to bet on. One aspect of this matchup that is certain is the defensive prowess of both units and the mediocrity on the offensive side of the ball. I would take the under here and take Dallas giving up seven points.

What’s At Stake?

Despite the fact that it is only Week 3, these teams are already fighting for their lives.

Dallas doesn’t want to fall to 1-2 in the tough NFC East and force themselves into a corner this early in the season; if they lose to Tampa Bay this week, that’s exactly what would happen.

As for the Buccaneers, the NFC South is wide-open, with the New Orleans Saints faltering to start the season. While Tampa Bay may never catch the Atlanta Falcons, a win against Dallas would give them momentum that could lead them to a wild-card spot.

It’s never too early to talk playoffs!

Injury Report (Via ESPN)

Buccaneers

No injuries to report.

Cowboys

Jay Ratliff, DT, Questionable

Jason Witten, TE, Probable

DeMarcus Ware, LB, Probable

Gerald Sensabaugh, S, Questionable

Barry Church, S, Questionable

Buccaneers’ Player to Watch: Doug Martin, RB

As much as LeGarrette Blount was heralded as the future of the Tampa Bay offense over the last two seasons, Buccaneers rookie running back Doug Martin has proved that he was worth the second-round pick and worthy of the starting role already.

After scampering for 161 yards on 44 carries with a touchdown in the team’s first two games, it is clear that the Buccaneers need Martin to be the featured offensive weapon in their arsenal.

The Cowboys are giving up a stingy 96 rushing yards per game to the opposition, but Martin has the unique ability to run between the tackles or hit the edge and make tacklers miss in the open field.

Whatever breaks first—the Cowboys run defense or Martin’s rushing ability—will ultimately decide the outcome of this game.

Cowboys’ Player to Watch: DeMarcus Ware, LB

Every time the Dallas Cowboys take the field, NFL fans across the world watch the play of stellar outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware and the havoc he can cause on every single play.

When Ware isn’t strip-sacking quarterbacks on his own or blowing a run up for a loss, he is drawing double coverage and giving his other teammates a chance to get to the QB unabated.

Tampa Bay’s offensive line isn’t the best in the league and the rookie running back Martin is still learning to pass protect at a NFL level, so Ware will be a serious threat to ruin the Buccaneers’ gameplan Sunday.

Prediction: Dallas 24, Tampa Bay 17

Despite the fact that Dallas only scored seven points last week and Tampa Bay scored 34, this week’s game will not look like either one of those matchups; this will be a defensive showcase with timely scoring and a fourth-quarter touchdown to seal the win for the Cowboys.

There is no question that new Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano has changed the culture of their team in Tampa Bay, but the physical play of the Dallas defense will get to young quarterback Josh Freeman.

The Cowboys offense will still not look as sharp as they should, but they will be consistent enough to control the clock and ultimately win the game.

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s NFL page to get your fill of all things football.

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