Week 1 of the 2022 NFL schedule has a number of tantalizing games on tap with none better than the Sunday Night Football clash between NFC contenders the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys. Both squads are favored to win their division after combining for 25 wins last season, but they ultimately saw their dreams of a Super Bowl end early in the postseason.
And in an unusual twist they’ll play on opening week for a second straight year. The Bucs got a late field goal to upend the Boys 31-29 avoiding the upset at home as a 10-point favorite on the closing line. And once again the Bucs are favored, though the number has shrunk to -2.5.
Tampa Bay Bucs vs Dallas Cowboys Date/Time
The Week 1 Sunday Night Football contest between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys will take place at ATT Stadium in Arlington, TX at 8:20 p.m. ET on September 12, 2022 and will be televised on NBC.
Tampa Bay Bucs vs Dallas Cowboys Odds
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5
Dallas Cowboys +2.5
Over/Under 50
Odds Analysis
The line hasn’t budged since emerging at Tampa -2.5 after Tom Brady announced he was coming out of his brief retirement for another season. It hasn’t reached the key number of 3 and likely won’t with both teams appearing to be evenly matched. We have seen a slight drop in the total down a point to 50 in early betting action. The teams have played four times since 2015 splitting the games with all being one-score contests. The Bucs are 2-1-1 ATS in that span. Both Dallas wins came at home by seven and six points before the arrival of Brady in Tampa. And though they lost last year’s opener, the Cowboys showed that they were a force winning 12 of their next 16 games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is a bit of a transition year for the Bucs, who turn to former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to replace Bruce Arians as head coach. One thing still the same is Brady, who retired then unretired for another go at age 45. We all know Father Time is undefeated and at some point he will catch up with Brady. And there is speculation that Brady’s home life is suffering causing his break from the team during training camp. You would have to think that would play a role in his effectiveness. Otherwise, the GOAT continues to flip off Father Time leading the NFL in pass completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns in 2021. He also looked sharp in the preseason finale following his return to the team.
Brady lost comfort blanket Rob Gronkowski to retirement, but he does have a number of talented pass catchers at his disposal. Returnees Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are joined by Julio Jones, Russell Gage and Kyle Rudolph. There are some concerns up front with centers Ryan Jensen out and backups Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett banged up. A patchwork offensive line and an immobile QB against a strong pass rush could be disastrous.
Dallas Cowboys
There’s this thing going on in Dallas where the professional football team swaps good seasons with bad ones. Last year was a good season with the Boys winning 12 games and the NFC East title. That came after a 6-10 disaster in 2020, the first year with Mike McCarthy at the helm. The team does appear poised to end the flip-flopping with a solid roster on both sides of the football. The Cowboys led the NFL in scoring and total yards last season behind Dak Prescott, who completed nearly 69 percent of his passes for 4,449 yards and 37 touchdowns. He had a big game in last season’s opener going 42 of 58 for 403 yards and three scores. The offense will look different with Amari Cooper gone and Michael Gallup injured.
Repeating what the club did on defense last year will allow the offense time to get straightened out. The Cowboys ranked seventh in points allowed and led the NFL in interceptions and takeaways. Micah Parsons was a unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year winner with 13.0 sacks and 20 TFLs. The pressure he helped create led to Trevon Diggs snaring a NFL best 11 of the teams 26 interceptions. Getting help from Ezekiel Elliott will take pressure off Prescott and the passing game keeping the ball out of Brady’s hands.
Buccaneers vs Cowboys Prediction
Both teams have concerns on the offensive line, and while that’s not enough to warrant an UNDER pick on the total it’s certainly a good reason. Last year’s game was the first time in seven meetings the teams went over the total and I don’t anticipate a repeat. Instead, both clubs have promising defenders and you know Brady’s home life has to be something he’s thinking about giving me confidence to back the home team with the points.
Prediction: Dallas Cowboys +2.5 / UNDER 50
