Game 15

Bucs (8-6) at Cowboys (6-8)

Kickoff: 8:20 p.m.

TV: NBC (WFLA-TV Channel 8, locally) with Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark and Carrie Underwood.

Streaming: NFL+, Peacock (Geographic restrictions apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game also will be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 226 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed). Westwood One national feed can be heard on SiriusXM Channel 88.

Weather: For those tailgating today, the weather will be rather nice for north Texas considering it is Christmas Week, per AccuWeather.com. Tailgaters will enjoy sunny skies with temperatures in the low-60s. Temperatures will begin to drop into the high-50s from late afternoon until kickoff as the sun sets. AT&T Stadium is an enclosed dome (unlike the canopy/pavilion-like fixed roof that covers SoFi Stadium) and the roof is expected to be closed tonight. Temperatures after the game should be in the mid-50s.

Odds: Per Hard Rock Bet, as of midnight, Bucs -3.5 (-200); over/under 48.5.

Referees: Land Clark and his gang are pretty straight down the middle. Road teams are 7-6 in games in which his posse has worked. Clark and his outfit seem to swallow the whistle. This crew averages 11 flags a game, or just over two penalties a quarter. That’s not awful.

Injuries: Bucs — Out: WR Kameron Johnson (ankle), S TE Cade Otton (knee), Antoine Winfield (knee). Doubtful: K.J. Britt (ankle). Questionable: S Mike Edwards (hamstring). Cowboys — Out: WR Jalen Brooks (knee), CB Trevon Diggs (knee). Questionable:  G T.J. Bass (thigh), LB Eric Kendricks (personal/calf), CB Jourdan Lewis (elbow), DE Micah Parsons (illness),  S Juanyeah Thomas (knee), LB Nick Vigit (foot). onkey (knee/shoulder), LB Denzel Perryman (groin).

Outlook: So, are the Bucs who curb-stomped the Chargers going to show up tonight at Jerry’s World? Or will the Bucs go full Cybil, doing a 180 and stink out loud like they did against the Broncos or Stinking Panthers? The Bucs offense is red hot but how much will the loss of tight end Cade Otton hurt? He’s having a career year and seemed to be Baker Mayfield’s security blanket, especially when Mike Evans was hurt? This may be a game for the Bucs to lead on their strong run game. Partly because the Bucs are running so well but also the Cowboys are terrible defending the run. That is sort of what Joe expects, which some timely throws to Evans. However, with Otton out, Joe fully expects Evans to get hounded all night. Simply put, the Bucs must win this game, that’s all there is too it. The Bucs don’t have the luxury of any more slip-ups!

Fun facts: Last week Bucs QB Baker Mayfield had four touchdown passes against Los Angeles. He now has three four-touchdown games this season. Only Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson have as many. … RB Bucky Irving has 100+ scrimmage yards in three of his last four games. He leads all rookies in scrimmage yards (1,148) and rushing yards (852). … Last Sunday WR Mike Evans caught nine passes. That gave him 52 catches this year. As a result, Evans became just the fifth player in NFL history to have at least 50 catches in his first 11 seasons. … WR Jalen McMillan is looking for his third straight game with a touchdown. … ILB Lavonte David had 12 tackles last week giving him 104 this season. It’s his 11th season with at least 100 tackles. … DT Vita Vea has two sacks in his three games facing Dallas. … DT Calijah Kancey has a sack in four of his five road games this season. … Cowboys QB Cooper Rush looks for his third straight game with at least two touchdown passes. … RB Rico Cowdle has at least 110 rushing yards in his last three games. … WR CeeDee Lamb has 489 career receptions. That’s the second-most catches in the first five seasons of a career for any player in NFL history. … LB Micah Parsons had two sacks last week giving him 14 games with multiple sacks. … CB Daron Bland has eight passes defensed in his past five games. He is looking for his sixth-straight prime time game with a pass defensed.

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