2023 NFL Playoffs: Predictions for NFL Wild Card weekend

Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ABC/ESPN) Monday, 7:15 pm

In the final game of the weekend, the Cowboys travel to Tampa to take on the Bucs. While the Cowboys are favored to win, it seems insane to count out Tom Brady in the biggest of moments. When they played earlier this season, the Bucs came away with the victory. What in the world can we expect in a rematch?

The Bucs triumphed over a very weak NFC South and found themselves in a position to take the division in Week 17 over the Carolina Panthers. When they took the division, they were able to rest their starters for part of the game in the final week of the season. The Cowboys, with seeding potentially on the line, fell to the Washington Commanders led by rookie Sam Howell in a game that the Cowboys looked both unprepared and uninterested in playing. Now, the two teams face off for a chance to play for an NFC title game.

The Bottom Line

This is going to be a classic game that comes down to which team can make the most plays on defense. The Cowboys seem more likely in this regard, due to their high turnover differential. With that in mind, one always has to wonder whether some Tom Brady magic will reappear as soon as the playoffs begin. I expect that it will be another game that comes down to the wire, but in true Mike McCarthy fashion, the Cowboys lose a close one because of penalties and a late turnover.

Prediction: Bucs 23, Cowboys 21