On Sunday night, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off their 2022 season on the road against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Todd Bowles will take over as head coach of the Buccaneers after Bruce Arians stepped down during the offseason. In Dallas, Mike McCarthy is in his third season as head coach and led the team to a Wildcard berth last season.
This game came down to the wire in 2021, and with Tom Brady on one sideline and Dak Prescott on the other, there’s a chance for fireworks once again. Each team’s running game will be critical. Dallas has a strong one-two punch in Ezekiel Elliott and
The Buccaneers have Leonard Fournette back and will pair him with rookie Rachaad White and veteran Giovani Bernard.
In the game, Dallas will be without starting wide receiver Michael Gallup. Zyon McCollum, the Buccaneers’ rookie cornerback, is out. However, wide receivers Chris Godwin and Russell Gage are expected to play, giving Tampa Bay a passing attack advantage.
Throughout the evening, BucsGameday will provide live updates on BucsGameday.com and on Twitter.
PREGAME:
— The Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin and Russell Gage are both active.
— Kyle Rudolph, the veteran tight end, is listed as inactive. This comes as a bit of a surprise.
Cam Brate, however, has the starting job locked down, and Cade Otton and Ko Kieft can contribute on special teams. Both rookies will see action to begin the season.
— Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn is not playing. Behind starter Leonard Fournette, rookie Rachaad White and veteran Giovani Bernard will see increased playing time.
QUARTER ONE:
— Tampa Bay wins the coin toss and chooses to defer. Dallas will receive the ball to begin the game.
— The Cowboys start their first possession at their own 13-yard line.
— Prescott completes a low throw to tight end Dalton Schultz for eight yards.
— Ekeziel Elliott gets a first down after finding a hole to the left.
— The Buccaneers detect a deception. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, a second-year linebacker, makes an eight-yard sack.
— Prescott sits in the pocket and throws a dart to CeeDee Lamb for a third and long conversion.
— Akiem Hicks brings Elliott down, but he still gains enough yards for a first down. Dallas is driving on the game’s first possession.
— Cowboys offensive lineman Connor McGovern has been injured. Off the field, he was helped by trainers.
— Cornerback Carlton Davis deflects a pass intended for Lamb over the middle.
— Dallas converts on third and 8 once more, this time thanks to a Prescott pass to Noah Brown. On the play, Jamel Dean appeared to lose Brown.
— Tampa Bay forces two consecutive incompletions to force fourth down. Dallas’ field goal unit is on the field for a 51-yard attempt.
— Brett Maher’s kick is squarely in the middle.
Tampa Bay forces two consecutive incompletions to force fourth down. Dallas’ field goal unit is on the field for a 51-yard attempt. (*)
