Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) vs. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys December 22 2024 – As the end of the NFL season gets closer, the December 22nd, 2024 game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys at the AT&T Stadium remains crucial in terms of qualification for the playoffs due to the implications it has for the Buccaneers in their quest which is to earn the playoffs. Given the fact that Tampa Bay has a better win-loss ratio while Dallas is looking to be more consistent, this Week 16 is expected to be an interesting game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys December 22 2024 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 8:20 PM ET |
| Where: | AT&T Stadium |
| TV: | NBC |
| Stream: | NFL Game Pass |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Buccaneers | +196 | +5.5 (-120) | Over 47.5 (-120) |
| Cowboys | -240 | -5.5 (-120) | Under 47.5 (-120) |
The Buccaneers are labeled as road underdogs even coming into this contest with the better record which tells a story of how unpredictable they can get especially when playing away from the comforts of home. The totals have been set at OVER so judging by the patterns that the two sides showed lately, this should be a high-scoring contest.
Baker Mayfield QB vs. Cooper Rush QB
Baker Mayfield has been crucial for Tampa Bay in their quest for success this season, displaying a lot of arm strength and the ability to perform in difficult situations. Mayfield’s ballsy style of play could be exactly what the Buccaneers require to penetrate the defenses of the Dallas Cowboys, considering he has 32 touchdowns and a validité ratio of 70.8 percent. Bubut, his 14 interceptions will also be memories of his attempts to throw caution to the wind which could go against them win.
In comparison, Cooper Rush‘s performance has been subpar this season. He only managed to throw for 10 touchdowns, and his horrible passer rating of 84 was lower than Mayfield‘s. Even with a low number of games played, there was no denying that Rush’s showing was troubling for Dallas. He was inaccurate, and his passes even lacked depth. However, the one thing that continues to be a question is how he would perform when faced off against a big opponent like Tampa Bay.
Buccaneers’ Offensive Firepower
The team looked truly impressive in their recent wins against the Chargers and Raiders as they highlighted their offensive depth. In the backfield, Bucky Irving has been impressive having over 850 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns adding balance to their attack. Also, Mike Evans remains Baker Mayfield’s favorite target raking in 9 touchdowns while averaging 68.1 yards per game. This means that Dallas will have to defend against both the run and the pass which could be a problem.
Dallas Cowboys’ Struggle for Consistency
Even after a somewhat decent performance against Carolina, the Cowboys lost to Cincinnati which cemented their inconsistency over the season. This season, Rico Dowdle and CeeDee Lamb both provided a glimmer of hope as Lamb was able to get over the 1000 receiving yards mark. But for Dallas to have a shot against Tampa Bay’s scoring power, both will have to not only repeat, but go beyond their most recent form, and that will mean bringing much more aggressiveness and accuracy to the game.
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 Previews
In light of recent events, the Tampa Bay team is likely to perform better than the expectations set upon them. With an aggressive and all-rounded offense, it might just be enough to cancel out what would seem to be a home advantage for Dallas. The trend goes with the stats leading to this game, so putting your money on Tampa Bay to win or at least cover the spread is a sound choice. With regards to prop bets, placing a bet on Mayfield for over 250 passing yards or Evans as a touchdown scorer makes sense.
Score Prediction: Buccaneers 28, Cowboys 24.
