Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Full Tampa Bay Game Preview
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will look to get back in the win column this week, playing host to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10.
The Bucs sit at 3-5 on the season, alternating wins and losses since Week 4 and coming off a 32-18 home loss to the New York Giants last week.
The Cowboys began the season 2-0, but after losing quarterback Tony Romo to a broken collarbone, they've dropped their last six games in a row. Even the return of injured receiver Dez Bryant couldn't get them a win last week, as they lost at home in overtime to the Philadelphia Eagles, 33-27.
Tampa Bay has been inconsistent but has shown glimmers of hope and improvement with each week. The Cowboys are reeling without their star quarterback and will be desperate for a win this week to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive.
Bucs fans, here's everything you need to know heading into this week's matchup.
Viewing Info
Date: Sunday, November 15
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
TV: Fox
Week 9 Results and Recap
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| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | Streak |
| Carolina Panthers | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 228 | 165 | W8 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 229 | 190 | L2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 241 | 268 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | 181 | 231 | L1 |
Last week was yet another "close but no cigar" game for the Bucs, as a late comeback bid fell short in a 32-18 home loss to the New York Giants.
Tampa Bay's inability to turn red-zone possessions into touchdowns proved to be its undoing, as four of the team's trips inside the 20-yard line failed to find the end zone. A pair of fumbles in the running game didn't help; neither did a lackluster pass rush that failed to register a single sack on Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Missed opportunities were a theme for the Bucs throughout this game; none were more glaring than Mike Evans' six drops. He did catch eight balls for 152 yards, but his drops were costly, coming at the most inopportune times and failing to take advantage of big-play opportunities.
Sterling Moore picked off Manning on the first play of the game, but the Bucs could only manage a field goal from the takeaway. The Giants' answering field goals with touchdowns helped them build a decent lead in the first half, but the Bucs clawed their way back, with a diving touchdown run by Jameis Winston bringing them within two points of tying it up late in the game.
But a two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Bucs would get no closer to a victory. With just a few seconds remaining and no timeouts, a failed lateral play resulted in an easy garbage touchdown for the Giants defense, giving New York the two-score victory on the game's final play.
News and Notes
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Dotson Returns, Misled about Starting?
The Bucs activated right tackle Demar Dotson from the injured reserve-designated to return list this week. He has missed all of the regular season so far with a knee injury suffered in the preseason.
Dotson says head coach Lovie Smith told him he would return as the starter, but the player had the rug pulled out from under him, per Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune. Dotson said:
"It’s disappointing, especially when you were told last week by the head coach. But I guess you quickly realize it’s a business. I just take it day to day because I don’t know anything.
I want to be out there playing. That’s kind of what I was preparing myself to do. Not to come back and play, especially when you were told that you were going to play, that’s disappointing to me.
"
Smith told Kaufman he never indicated Dotson would start, saying he "doesn't give out starting positions a week in advance." It looks like what should have been the return of a key veteran to bolster the offensive line could end up building trust issues between Smith and his players.
Winston's Development Continues to Impress
Rookie quarterbacks are expected to struggle, but while Jameis Winston has certainly had his head-scratching moments, this year's No. 1 overall draft pick is already making great strides and impressing his veteran teammates with his abilities.
Team captain Vincent Jackson had plenty of good things to say about his new field general, per JoeBucsFan.com:
"We go in here and we evaluate each and every play multiple times, and we’re going very in depth on his performance and on each and every one of our performances in here in this building and on that offense. So to see the plays that he’s making here now that maybe he wasn’t making in training camp and in the preseason, it’s night and day. That amount of improvement so quickly, I’m not saying he wasn’t ready and we weren’t excited about him then. But what he’s doing now, I mean, it’s like he’s doing it in his sleep.
He’s matured and progressed as just a confident and knowledgeable quarterback, you know, in a matter of what, five, six, seven weeks. It’s very impressive. Again, not even close to a finished product. I think the sky’s the limit for this guy for his ability to just ad-lib.
Those kind of plays where he’s able to just use his athleticism and his IQ of the game and say, ‘You know what? It’s not there. I can make it happen.’ He makes those plays over and over again. And keeping plays alive with his feet is a strength of [his].
"
Since throwing four interceptions in a Week 4 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Winston has gone four straight games without turning the ball over. He's consistently putting the Bucs in position to win games, and it looks like he's just getting started.
Frustrated McCoy Knows He Needs To Do More
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has taken plenty of criticism over the last few weeks, as he's managed just four tackles over his last three games and hasn't tallied a sack since Week 5.
After refusing to speak with reporters following last week's loss, McCoy acknowledged his frustration on Monday, vowing to step his game up, per Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune:
"I was sitting in bed (Monday morning) thinking this his frustration level I have with myself right now feels like what I had during my first and second year in the league. There’s not a fan, a coach or a media member who’s more frustrated with me than myself.
If a team is going to make a turnaround or a change or be successful, the best players have to produce. So, I need to pick it up. And I know that. There’s a lot more I can do and I promise you I’m putting everything I got into it and it’ll turn around.
"
McCoy has been fighting through a shoulder injury since Week 2, and it's clear he's not at 100 percent. That said, much is expected of players who sign contract extensions for nearly $100 million, and the pressure on McCoy to perform at that level is palpable. The defensive line is the driving force behind the defense, and the Buccaneers need their defensive captain to play up to his full potential.
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Injury |
| Vincent Jackson | WR | Knee |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | TE | Shoulder |
| Gerald McCoy | DT | Shoulder |
| Ali Marpet | G | Ankle |
| Alterraun Verner | CB | Foot |
| Jacquies Smith | DE | Ankle |
| Bradley McDougald | S | Concussion |
| Tony McDaniel | DT | Non-Injury Related |
| Major Wright | S | Hamstring |
| D.J. Swearinger | S | Toe |
Wednesday's injury report was a mile long for the Bucs, and it's not encouraging. Many of the key names on the list didn't participate in Wednesday's practice, which doesn't bode well for Sunday.
Seven of the 10 names on this week's latest report are starters, and four of them—Jackson, Marpet, Smith and Verner—weren't able to practice Wednesday, which leaves their status for this week's game in doubt.
All three safeties were limited on Wednesday, making Thursday's practice key in determining just how thin the Bucs will be at that position this week. Seferian-Jenkins was still limited thanks to a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 2, but many Bucs fans are hopeful he'll make his return to the starting lineup this week.
McCoy was a full participant on Wednesday, despite the shoulder injury that has nagged him since Week 2. McDaniel's absence on Wednesday wasn't injury-related, so he should still be available Sunday.
*All injury information courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
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Top Matchups
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Bucs Linebackers vs. Jason Witten
The Tampa Bay secondary will play plenty of attention to Dez Bryant, but last week proved the Bucs are getting better at the bend-don't-break philosophy of the Tampa 2 defense. They let Odell Beckham Jr. have his underneath routes but did not allow him to make huge plays down the field.
But the Bucs shouldn't forget about Witten, one of the most productive tight ends in the history of the NFL. They have the athleticism at linebacker in Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander to hang with Witten, who excels at moving the chains.
Battle in the Trenches
On both sides of the ball, the Bucs will have to contend with the Cowboys' biggest strengths.
Dallas has the kind of explosive pass-rushers who can give any offensive tackle fits, and while rookie Donovan Smith has protected Jameis Winston's blind side for the most part, he'll face his toughest test yet this week against the likes of Greg Hardy, Demarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory and more.
On defense, Tampa Bay's front four will be going up against arguably the league's most dominant offensive line, especially when it comes to the ground game. The Bucs' best chance for victory will be forcing quarterback Matt Cassel into poor decisions, but they won't be able to do that if they get pushed around up front and can't contain Dallas' rushing attack.
Matchup X-Factors
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Bucs' X-Factor of the Week: WR Mike Evans
It's not often a receiver catches a ton of criticism despite posting more than 150 yards receiving, but that's just what Evans experienced last week after dropping six passes, most of which came at key moments or could have gone for huge plays.
Despite the gaudy box score, the only number that matters is in the win column. Evans will need a bounce-back game this week, not just in sheer production but in proving he can improve his concentration and consistency as a pass-catcher.
With the injuries the Bucs are dealing with at receiver, Evans will need to carry the load again this week, despite increased attention from his opponent.
Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Cowboys 24
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The Bucs still have plenty of issues to work out on both sides of the ball, but they're on the cusp of turning a corner and stepping out of the NFL cellar, thanks in large part to their new leader under center.
Jameis Winston has proved he can consistently put the Bucs in position to win games, while the defense has been a roller coaster when it comes to finishing games with late leads provided by the rookie quarterback.
The only thing the Cowboys have proved this season is they can't win without their hero under center, Tony Romo. Even the return of star receiver Dez Bryant hasn't gotten "America's Team" over the hump, and while the Cowboys are starving for a win, they'll face a tougher-than-expected matchup against a young, scrappy Bucs team that keeps showing improvement every week.
This time, Winston gets his hands on the ball last, driving the Bucs down the field for a last-minute score to secure the victory and putting the Cowboys' playoff hopes on the ropes.
Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Cowboys 24
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