Cowboys lastly beat Tom Brady, as Dallas routs Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. — Dak Prescott was medical because the Dallas Cowboys took care of enterprise on the street towards Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday within the closing recreation of the opening spherical of the playoffs.

The Buccaneers had been in a position to get the very best of the Cowboys within the season opener, 19-3, however Prescott’s 5 whole touchdowns and a dominant protection was an excessive amount of within the 31-14 wild-card matchup.

The Cowboys will journey to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox) within the divisional spherical.

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Dallas Cowboys

The Tom Brady curse? Over.

The eight-game street playoff shedding streak? Finished.

Monday’s thumping of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended Brady’s private seven-game successful streak towards the Cowboys and gave Dallas its first street playoff win because the 1992 NFC Championship Recreation.

It was the Cowboys’ most full efficiency of this season because the 40-3 demolition of the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 20 and it is perhaps the jolt the crew must make it again to a Tremendous Bowl for the primary time since 1995.

Since that win over the Vikings, the Cowboys had been chasing that form of efficiency and struggled in wins towards the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans, whereas shedding to the Jacksonville Jaguars in time beyond regulation. Now the Cowboys search for a street playoff successful streak after they tackle the 49ers on Sunday.

QB breakdown: Prescott stored assuring everyone the interception factor would finish. It isn’t clear if anyone believed him, however Prescott believed it. He set an NFL postseason report by operating for a landing and throwing a landing in his fourth straight playoff recreation. With 4 landing passes, he joined Troy Aikman (Tremendous Bowl XXVII) and Roger Staubach (1975 NFC Championship Recreation) because the third Cowboys QB with 4 scores in a playoff recreation. His confidence grew steadily. His second landing cross to Dalton Schultz was a factor of magnificence, scrambling to his left and throwing throughout his physique to the tight finish to provide the Cowboys an 18-0 lead. In his 4 earlier playoff video games, Prescott had a minimum of one interception in three video games. It wasn’t that he simply performed mistake-free. He made massive performs in key moments.

Purchase breakout efficiency: The protection seemed just like the protection from the start of the season when opponents could not crack 20 factors in six of the primary seven video games. Micah Parsons was a nuisance and noticed extra motion at off-the-ball linebacker than he had over the second half of the season. Jayron Kearse had the primary pink zone interception of Brady’s profession in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers could not run the ball, which is much totally different than when these groups met within the opener after they had 152 yards on the bottom. The Niners will current extra of a problem with operating again Christian McCaffrey, receiver Deebo Samuel, tight finish George Kittle and rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, however this has to lift the group’s confidence.

Troubling pattern: Kicker Brett Maher was as constant as he could possibly be within the common season. He missed simply three further factors all season. He missed 4 on Monday. And that comes on the heels of lacking his solely point-after try within the regular-season finale towards the Washington Commanders. His first two misses had been sliced to the suitable. His third was hooked the left. His fourth went off the highest of the suitable upright. In line with Elias, Brett Maher is the one participant in any NFL recreation since 1932 to overlook 4 further factors in a single recreation, common season or playoffs. So there’s that. Do the Cowboys want to have a look at a kicker as they transfer into the divisional spherical of the playoffs?

Underrated statistic to know: At one level within the first half, Prescott had 11 straight completions, which broke the Cowboys’ postseason report, beforehand set by Troy Aikman in Tremendous Bowl XXX vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Elias. — Todd Archer

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There shall be no second shot on the 49ers and no eighth Tremendous Bowl ring this season for Brady.

Monday marked Brady’s first loss to the Cowboys and was simply the third time that his crew was eradicated within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs, with the final loss approaching Jan. 4, 2020, in a 30-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans in his final recreation with the New England Patriots. Brady had gone 2-0 in wild-card rounds with the Buccaneers the final two years.

With Brady set to develop into an unrestricted free agent, common supervisor Jason Licht will make each effort to re-sign him this offseason, and they’ll give him on a regular basis he must decide — one which shall be closely influenced by household given his want to be near his kids. However his standing will decide whether or not they’re in a ‘win-now’ mode or compelled to rebuild.

There are additionally questions in regards to the teaching workers. Head coach Todd Bowles is anticipated to be again in 2023, however this wasn’t the workers he assembled. May there be adjustments? Brady will wish to hear what their plan is for subsequent yr.

QB breakdown: Regardless of the return of Professional Bowl middle Ryan Jensen, who missed your entire common season with torn ligaments in his knee and gave the entire crew a jolt this week, Brady was pressured closely, and the offense seemed out of rhythm. The offensive line could not block Micah Parsons and consequently, Brady had not accomplished a cross of 10 or extra yards within the first half. Brady accomplished 35 of 66 passes for 351 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

The interception got here at the start of the second quarter on an ill-advised throw supposed for large receiver Russell Gage with security Jayron Kearse getting the choose. It was Brady’s first interception within the pink zone in 409 cross makes an attempt. Brady’s first landing cross got here on the finish of the third quarter, discovering large receiver Julio Jones alongside the left sideline for a 30-yard landing, and his second got here 2:04 left within the recreation.

Greatest gap within the recreation plan: Even with their whole beginning secondary again, the Bucs’ disguised coverages weren’t sufficient to idiot Prescott. Their cross rush struggled to maintain him within the pocket, and so they could not cowl the Cowboys’ tight ends.

The primary landing to a decent finish was a 22-yard throw to Dalton Shultz. Prescott held off security Mike Edwards, who had considered one of his roughest video games as a Buccaneer. It was arrange by a roughing the passer name on defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. Then on fourth-and-goal from the 1, the Bucs offered out to cease the run with linebacker K.J. Britt shedding include and Prescott operating a bootleg into the top zone untouched.

Previous to that, the Bucs had a totally blown protection on a 35-yard reception by tight finish Jake Ferguson.

Prescott discovered Shultz as soon as extra on an 11-yard landing — with Edwards out of place as soon as once more — thrown on the run with 27 seconds left to go. Cee Dee Lamb additionally slipped by way of for a rating after lining up in a journeys left formation with Schultz and Noah Brown. Lamb was unaccounted for and ran large open for a 18-yard landing reception.

Underrated statistic to know: The Bucs recovered simply the fourth profitable onside kick within the NFL this season. — Jenna Laine