When- January 16, 7:15 PM, ESPN
Where- Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Dallas- 5 Seed (NFC East)
Rating- 39.11
Record- 12-5
Strength of Schedule- 10 out of 32
Tampa Bay- 4 Seed (NFC South)
Rating- 31.77
Record- 8-9
Strength of Schedule- 18 out of 32
Why Dallas will win- Despite entering the Playoffs under the radar the Cowboys are still a very talented team that posted 12 wins in the toughest division in the NFL. On paper this a very favorable matchup for Dallas. Their biggest weakness on defense has been stopping the run, allowed 123 yards per game. Tampa Bay, however, has struggled to generate any kind of rushing attack all season long ranking dead last in the NFL in yards per game on the ground (76.9). If it comes down to kickers they have the upper hand.
Why Tampa Bay will win- It’s Tom Brady and it’s the Playoffs. Brady carries a record of 24-8 in the playoffs at home. He also enters Monday night’s game a perfect 7-0 against the Cowboys in his career including a 19-3 win at Dallas in Week 1. Despite an anemic running game, the Bucs O-line has given up the fewest sacks in the NFL and should be able to contain the Cowboy’s formidable pass rush that has wreaked havoc on opponents all season.
Eye Test Analytics Predicted Outcome- Dallas by 4.59 points
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