Here are our bold predictions for Cowboys/Bucs.
The Dallas Cowboys are back in action on Sunday night as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While this game does not mean much for the Cowboys, Tampa Bay is currently leading the NFC South and needs this win to maintain their division lead.
Before the two teams square off, here are three bold predictions for the matchup.
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1)Mike Evans continues his hot streak, recording 150+ receiving yards and a touchdown
Even at age 31, Buccaneers’ wideout Mike Evans is still producing at a consistently high level. Evans has been less than 100% almost all season, but despite the nagging injuries, the wideout has had another productive season.
On the year Evans has caught 52 passes for 749 yards and nine touchdowns. After missing three straight games during the middle of the season, the veteran has been at his best in Tampa Bay’s last four games. Evans’ production has played a large part in the Bucs making a strong playoff push, catching 26 passes for 414 yards and three touchdowns over that four-game span.
This week, Evans has a chance to continue his hot streak against a Cowboys’ pass defense that has struggled to slow down elite wide receivers. When Dallas faced a Bengals team with star receiver Ja’Marr Chase two weeks back, the All-Pro wideout had a dominant day, recording 14 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
Evans will follow suit and have a big day in his home state, going over 150 receiving yards for the second straight week.
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2) DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis both record interceptions
Fresh off signing a three-year, $100M deal last March, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has had a very productive season. The former number-one pick ranks third in the NFL with 32 passing touchdowns and fourth in passing yards with 3,617. Mayfield is also in the top 10 in EPA + CPOE (0.133), EPA/Play (0.184), and Success Rate. (51.5%)
If there’s one thing Mayfield has struggled with during this breakout season it’s been protecting the football. The 29-year-old has thrown 14 interceptions this year, which is good for the second most in the league. Mayfield also leads the league in interceptable passes (23) and is second in danger plays. (34)
While the Bucs are on a four-game winning streak, Mayfield has thrown five interceptions during this span. With his multi-interception games against the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders, Tampa Bay has overcome his mistakes due to the talent gap between their team and the opponent. This week, they face a Cowboys team that is good enough to take advantage if Mayfield continues to make these mistakes.
Mayfield continues to be extremely aggressive, leading to a pair of Dallas interceptions. DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis both join the pick party as Baker records his third multi-interception game in the last four weeks.
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3) Jonathan Mingo scores his first NFL touchdown
Last week against the Carolina Panthers we saw 24-year-old wide receiver Jalen Brooks score the first touchdown of his young NFL career. This week, another wideout will follow suit, and that guy will be Jonathan Mingo.
Mingo has not made much of an impact after being acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline, but this is the week he finally makes a play. Late in the third quarter, Dallas throws Mingo a jump ball in the end zone that the 6’2 wideout comes down with, scoring the first touchdown of his NFL career.
