Cowboys will need more than Rico Dowdle to beat Tampa Bay on Sunday: 3 burning questions with Bucs expert
The Dallas Cowboys are 3-1 over their last four games but their competition level is surely increasing in Week 16 when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Baker Mayfield has been on fire and if Dallas is going to win, they'll have to keep up with an offense that keeps producing […]
The Dallas Cowboys are 3-1 over their last four games but their competition level is surely increasing in Week 16 when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football.
Baker Mayfield has been on fire and if Dallas is going to win, they'll have to keep up with an offense that keeps producing 400-yard performances like it's nothing. To get a better grasp on what to make of the Bucs, I reached out to A to Z Sports' Bucs beat writer Craig Smith with three burning questions.
Let's dive into what he had to say about the Bucs' offense and his take on what the Cowboys offense will need from QB Cooper Rush to steal the victory.
1. Baker Mayfield appears to be having one of the best seasons in his career. We've known about Mike Evans making the Bucs dangerous but what's been the difference this year to make the entire offense as consistent as it's been?
Smith: A few reasons. Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been nothing short of a genius this season. He’s schemed great plays each game to get guys open and has figured out quickly how to get the most out of players. Next, the offensive line has been excellent. The tackles have been a strength as they were last year, but rookie C Graham Barton has lived up to the hype, and RG Cody Mauch has improved greatly in year two. Add in one the best young playmakers in the league in rookie Bucky Irving, and it’s been a year to remember on offense in Tampa.
2. Micah Parsons vs. Tristan Wirfs should be a heck of a matchup every time they go up against each other. But Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer likes to use him against the offense's weakest link across the OL. Where would that be for the Bucs?
Smith: Well, I think Parsons is obviously good enough to beat just about anyone, which you know. However, twisting him inside and trying to confuse LG Ben Bredeson seems like a potential recipe for success.
3. The Cowboys offense have found something in Rico Dowdle, who has averaged 131 rushing yards per game in the last three weeks. A lot of that has had to do with good blocking up front, mostly through the interior iOL. How good have the Bucs been stopping the run and do you see that being an issue for Tampa Bay on Sunday?
Smith: The Bucs, at least statistically for the season, have been poor against the run, allowing 5.2 yards per carry for the year. However, they’ve shored that up pretty well over their four-game winning streak. Vita Vea provides a good anchor up front, and Lavonte David is as good as any linebacker in football at seeing plays develop and playing gap sound in the run game. They’ve managed to get by in the secondary despite the loss of one of the best run-stuffing safeties in the NFL in Jordan Whitehead, who’s on IR with a pectoral injury.
That all being said, I feel like Dallas is going to have to be able to throw the ball to create opportunities to run on Sunday. This defense is playing well and with a lot of confidence right now.
