Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys 12/22/24 – The week 16 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) and the Dallas Cowboys (6-8) will see them looking to consolidate their playoff position at the expense of the ever-struggling members of both teams. For the Cowboys, this will be one of the many occasions this season where they can attempt to regain some lost pride after such an underwhelming season. This match will be broadcast on NBC and can also be streamed on NFL Game Pass.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys 12/22/24
| When: | Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 8:20 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | AT&T Stadium |
| TV: | NBC |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | +5.5 (-120) | Over 47.5 (-120) | +196 |  |
| Cowboys | -5.5 (-120) | Under 47.5 (-120) | -240 | |
| ||||
Our sights are set on something greater 😤#WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/uqPg9E2Ckf
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 22, 2024
The Buccaneers go into this game as underdogs, but with a Moneyline of +196 and a +5.5 point spread, it is argued that they may have a reasonable chance. Considering their current form and the Cowboys’ home woes, it might be possible for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to pull off an upset. The total is set somewhere around 47.5 which means it could be another high-scoring game by both teams which has been the trend for the last few fixtures for them.
Baker Mayfield QB vs. Cooper Rush QB
Baker Mayfield is having an impressive season with the Buccaneers, completing 70.8 percent of his passes for 3,617 yards and 32 touchdowns. His ability to throw deep has greatly contributed to the offensive performance in Tampa Bay. Even though he has been sacked 33 times, Mayfield is a tough player and a great playmaker. But his passing game is indeed susceptible there where he has been intercepted 14 times which can be of great concern on occasions against the tough and aggressive teams.
On the other hand, the Cooper Rush season appears less fruitful for Dallas. Cooper Rush’s statistics are not impressive, with 59.6% completions, 1,405 yards passed and only 10 touchdowns scored. It has been explained that he has an 84 rating and almost little depth of playmaking; it means that the Cowboy’s aerial attack may be a great challenge against that of the Buccaneers.
Buccaneers’ Ground and Air Attack
Bucky Irving and Mike Evans have been instrumental in Tampa Bay’s offense. Irving, with 852 rushing yards and six touchdowns, offers a robust ground game, complemented by Evans’ 749 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Their last two games have been particularly impressive, with the team scoring 40 and 28 points against the Chargers and Raiders, respectively. This duo’s ability to break open games will be crucial against a Dallas team that has shown vulnerabilities in containing dynamic offenses.
Cowboys’ Offensive Strategy
The offensive strategy of the Cowboys revolves around Rico Dowdle and CeeDee Lamb. With 880 rushing yards, Dowdle has established a strong running game, but scoring only one touchdown suggests the Cowboys will look for more from him in the red zone. Lamb who has 1,089 receiving yards still remains to be Rush’s favorite target and poses as a sizeable downfield threat. Other than a recent comprehensive win against the Panthers, the Cowboys suffered an unforgettable loss against the Bengals which shows that the team has quite some consistency issues according to their most recent games.
Trends
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Betting Trends
Tampa Bay are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Tampa Bay’s last 11 games.
Tampa Bay are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
Tampa Bay are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games against Dallas.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games on the road.
Dallas Cowboys Betting Trends
Dallas are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas’ last 5 games.
Dallas are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Dallas’ last 8 games against Tampa Bay.
Dallas are 1-8 ATS in their last 9 games at home.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys Betting Prediction
Considering the detailed breakdown and the last games played by both teams, the Buccaneers look set for winning the game while covering the spread as well. Taking into consideration the Buccaneer’s excellent performance against the spread and the Cowboy’s chronic failure to deliver at home, Tampa Bay seems the safer option. The game total is peculiar, yet due to the recent OVER trends by both teams, the idea of the game going over can be a good one.
With all aspects in mind, the suggested wager would be on Tampa Bay to cover +5.5, placing a modest amount on the moneyline for odds. Given his season statistics, there might be reasonable action on prop bets on Mayfield’s passing yards. In terms of the score, the game will be tightly contested but the Tampa Bay team will win in the last moments of the game.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 28, Cowboys 24
