5 things to know about the Buccaneers ahead of Cowboys wild card matchup

The Dallas Cowboys (12–5) will travel to Raymond James Stadium next weekend for a NFC wild card matchup against NFC South champions, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8–9). Here are five things Cowboys fans should know about the Buccaneers ahead of the contest:
Tom Brady’s historic season
As Tom Brady has battled personal issues off the field in the aftermath of his divorce from Gisele Bündchen, he’s also had an unprecedented year on the gridiron. Sure the 45-year-old quarterback won his division for the 19th time in his 23-year long career and qualified for his 20th playoff appearance (14th straight), but he leads a Bucs team that enters the playoffs under .500 and sat at that win percentage for significant stretches of the season.
This is the future Hall of Famer’s first time qualifying for the postseason with less than 10 regular season wins. The last time Brady didn’t post a double digit-win season was in 2002, when he and the New England Patriots went 9–7 to miss the playoffs. After an MVP-caliber 2021 season, Brady threw for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions in 2022. Brady started Sunday’s regular season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, finishing 13-of-17 for 84 passing yards and a touchdown and setting the single-season NFL record for completions (490) and pass attempts (733). Backups Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask finished the game, a 30-17 Buccaneers loss, after Brady left the contest with four minutes left in the first half. The seven-time Super Bowl champion is 7–0 against the Cowboys and 35–12 overall in the playoffs.
Mike Evans’ recent resurgence
When Mike Evans scored three touchdowns and exploded for 207 yards on 10 receptions in the Bucs’ 30-24 division-clinching win over the Carolina Panthers on New Years Day, he ended his three-month scoring drought. Yes, Evans, the Pro Bowl wide receiver who connected with Tom Brady for 14 touchdowns in 2021, had not caught a touchdown since Tampa Bay’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 2. That was the Galveston native’s first game back after a suspension due to an altercation he had with New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore in Week 2. Evans finished 2022 with 1,205 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns on 81 receptions. The Texas A&M alumnus made four catches for 81 yards before exiting in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Falcons with an illness.
Todd Bowles reaches milestone
Following the retirement of Bruce Arians in 2021, Todd Bowles took over as head coach of the Buccaneers. Bowles joined Tampa Bay’s staff in 2019 as its defensive coordinator, a role in which he led the Bucs to a No. 1 ranking for run defense in 2021. Before landing with the Bucs, Bowles served as head coach of the New York Jets from 2015 to 2018. Bowles went 24–40 and did not make the playoffs during his tenure in New York. This season, Bowles kept Byron Leftwich as offensive coordinator, a position he’s held since 2019, and has split defensive coordinator duties with assistants. The Bucs offense averages 18.5 points per game, and the defense has allowed 20.5 points per game and 203.3 yards per contest. Of the Buccaneers’ nine losses, four have been decided by a touchdown or less. Six of Tampa’s wins have been decided by a touchdown or less. It’s been a shaky season for the Bucs with Bowles at the helm, but he will coach a team in the playoffs for the first time in his career.
Offensive line a liability
Tampa’s offensive line has struggled this season. Tom Brady has been sacked 22 times, the Bucs have stumbled in the run game, averaging 76.4 yards per contest, and penalties on the line have racked up. The struggles make sense — injuries and offseason exits due to retirement and free agency have ravaged the unit that has allowed Brady and company to manage just 18.5 points per game, down from 30.1 points per game in 2021. Center Ryan Jensen, Luke Goedeke and Tristan Whirfs have all been out with injuries. Starting center Robert Hainsey left during the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Falcons with a hamstring injury.
Bucs’ defense halted Cowboys in Week 1
During the season-opening game on Sept. 11, when Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott exited the game with a fractured thumb on his throwing hand, the Buccaneers held Dallas to a field goal in a 19-3 loss at AT&T Stadium. Prescott went 14-of-29 for 134 yards and an interception before leaving the field. Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott finished with 10 carries for 52 yards. Dallas finished with 244 total yards and 12 first downs. Tom Brady went 18-of-27 for 212 yards and a touchdown to Mike Evans against the Cowboys defense. Brady threw one interception in the game.
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