Gameday Tampa Bay
November 15th, 2015
Game Nine
Cowboys (2-6) at Bucs (3-5)
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT-TV Channel 13; DirecTV Channel 710.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (WDAE-AM 620 and WFUS-FM 103.5 in Tampa-St. Petersburg region); SiriusXM Channel 83.
Weather: Pretty awesome day for both tailgating and watching the game, per AccuWeather.com. It will be a bit chilly early in the morning but will warm up quickly beginning mid-morning. By the time kickoff rolls around it should be 79 under sunny skies with a temperature of 78 expected at game’s end.
Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Bucs -1.
Outlook: Well, it is do or die time for both clubs. On the outskirts of a playoff run, the Cowboys, on a six-game losing streak with an overrated defense that is banged up and garbage at quarterback since Tony Romo went down, would have to run the table if they want to make the playoffs, if they lose to the Bucs. Meanwhile, the Bucs will pretty much urinate on their wild card prayers if they lose this game. Joe figures the Bucs would have to finish no less than 5-3 the rest of the season to have a shot and Joe doesn’t see five wins remaining on the schedule. Losing this afternoon, that’s just too much of a hill to climb. Dallass’ defense isn’t godawful and the injuries the Bucs have sustained to the receiving corps sure helps Dallass. Want to know why America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, targeted Mike Evans so much last week? The next three receivers are a special teams guy and two undrafted rookies. We will find out at 11:30 a.m., officially, if Austin Seferian-Jenkins will play, but Joe isn’t holding his breath. For the Bucs to win today, more receivers have to pitch in. Jameis shouldn’t force passes to these guys, just because. They have to get open and contribute. Of course, Doug Martin having a nice game would sure help, but Joe guesses Dallas, like the Giants, will focus on shutting down the run game and making Jameis beat them. Against the Giants, he almost did.
Nuggets: The Bucs have lost the last five meetings with the Cowboys and have only beaten them three times, the last when the Bucs shut out the then-Tuna Parcells-led Cowboys 16-0 in 2003. … Jameis Winston is second in franchise history for yards passing by a rookie (1,897). … Last week in a loss to the Giants, the Bucs tallied 385 yards of offense, the seventh straight game with 275 yards or more. It is the second-longest streak of 275 yards per game (or more) in team history. … The Bucs are tied with the Jets and Saints for most fumble recoveries (nine). … The Bucs lead the NFL in fewest 3-and-out drives (10). … Doug Martin is tied with Carlos Hyde and Jonathan Stewart for most forced missed tackles (32) … If WR Mike Evans has 150 yards receiving today, then it will mark the first time in franchise history a receiver had back-to-back 150-yard receiving games. … The last time the Bucs played the Cowboys (2012), Gerald McCoy had two sacks and a forced fumble. … Cowboys TE Jason Witten is second in NFL history for receptions by a tight end (897) and receiving yards (10,905). He trails only Tony Gonzalez in both categories. Only Michael Irvin has more receiving yards in Cowboys history. … In his first five years in the NFL, WR Dez Bryant has more touchdowns (56), catches (381) or yards (5,424) than any other Cowboys receiver in franchise history during the same career window. … The Cowboys lead in the NFL in time of possession, 34:05 per game.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:15 am
A win today will be special. Go Bucs!!
November 15th, 2015 at 11:32 am
@Joe
Don’t you believe at some point in our current desperation Koetter is going to have to move Sims out wide more frequently..at least in the slot.
I would like to see both Sims and Doug on the field simultaneously today.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:37 am
If the Cowboys are smart, they’ll tank the season. The odds of them being in a position to pick first again soon are slim, and Romo is showing his aging body.
Perfect time for them to draft a QB at #1 and prep him to replace Romo in a year or two.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:40 am
@StPeteBucsFan
I agree.
I wish we had a hard hitting FB to plow the field too. Wear out that dline and watch Martin go wild.
Sims is an okay relief runner…but his strength is in the passing game. I’d love to see him used more that way. Make the defense guess.
Of course, Koetter might be holding back some as he teaches his offense.
I still say next year is our year.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:40 am
This is when we find out the future. Lovie wins and shows he can beat a backup quarterback or he LOSES AGAIN to another awful team with an awful QB and I believe his fate is signed sealed delivered with the nation knowing Dallas has lost 6 in a row
November 15th, 2015 at 11:41 am
Off topic…I’m not a gambler. What does “Bucs -1” mean?
November 15th, 2015 at 11:43 am
No ASJ today, he won’t play, soft as hay.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:44 am
Why would the Cowboys tank? Win today and with that division and their schedule, 9-7 should get them the division title. They aren’t losers like Lovie Smith.
ASJ out yet again, not that anyone actually expected otherwise.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:45 am
Back to just before the season, when Joe asked for predictions, I predicted 2-6 by mid season. We’re one game better than my prediction, so I’m happy.
At the time, I refused to predict anything beyond mid season, because there were too many variables.
The other day, I predicted two wins straight, this week and next. Crossing my fingers and hoping!
I think its possible we could go 7-9 by the end of season, but that’s not a prediction.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:45 am
It means the Bucs are favored by one point.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:46 am
Bucs are giving a point.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:47 am
@Lovie Is Dog Poo
Do you evren know the Cowgirls record this year? There is no chance they go 9-7! Do you really think they will lose only one more game?????????
November 15th, 2015 at 11:47 am
Thanks for the education 🙂
November 15th, 2015 at 11:48 am
The all knowing so smart mr “I’m smart cause I predicted something” act like you know something cause you watch ESPN buc bonzai.
Funny you all think the bucs have a chance
November 15th, 2015 at 11:51 am
Let’s see we have mike Evans Clayton on offense and no secondary. Yea should be an easy win for Dallas
November 15th, 2015 at 11:51 am
BuccaneerBonzai, and there’s no chance we’ll go 10-6 which is what it will take to get a WC this year. So are you saying we should tank too? Just pull Jameis and play Glennon to up his trade value? Only loser thinking says you should tank when you still have a chance.
November 15th, 2015 at 11:55 am
As far as the line…great that the Bucs are favored by a point but it’s generally accepted that the home team starts off with 3 point advantage. This means the odds makers think the ‘Boys are just a little better than the Bucs but not enough to beat us in RayJay.
Then again with our awful home field disadvantage maybe they are saying we’re improving enough to overcome the home field disadvantage we currently have. LOL
November 15th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
@”TheKevin”
Are you really trying to bait me? lol. Kids…
@Lovie Is Dog Poo
I never mentioned 10-6 this year…so don’t know where you are pulling that up from. The Cowboys have lost 6 straight. If they lose today (they will), they would have to go undefeated thru the rest of the season to meet the record you suggest.
Sorry, but I just don’t think that is possible. Don’t take offense just because you are wrong. It happens to the best of us.
November 15th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
We tanked last year, clearly. And it got our franchise quarterback. Possibly the best QB this team has ever had if things play out well over the next few years.
November 15th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
btw, I think I’ll try to avoid the “Open Hate Thread” this week. For the most part. Enjoyed the game more that way.
November 15th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Wow you aren’t very bright BuccaneerBonzai. My point clearly states the Bucs will not go 10-6 which is what it’ll take for a wildcard. So if Dallas should tanks, should we not do the same? Forget QB, we still need lots of other top talents as well. You don’t see very bright and seem to enjoy losing. Not much of a fan really.
November 15th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Dallas was the slight favorite early on. Enough people bet the Bucs to move the line their way. The game is actually a tossup. The fact that the Bucs are the home team but only giving up one point shows the Cowboys are the actual pick by bettors. If I was somewhere to bet this game, I would lay off. It will be a surprise if the Bucs win.
November 15th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
@Lovie Is Dog Poo
heh. Bait. Bait. Bait.
Maturity runs high in this one, Yoda.
November 15th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
@BucFan37
Excellent point! I didn’t hear about the line until this morning and so I don’t know where it opened which is what the actual odds makers believe.
You are correct…the -1 is actually a result of the bettors opinions not the oddsmakers.
Another interesting variable is the “smart money”. A lot of that waits until the last minute so as to not move the line in a way that might be bad for their bet.
November 15th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
We tanked last year, clearly.
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LMAO. Right because Lovie has coached soooo much better this season.