Prescott outshines Brady, Cowboys dominate Buccaneers 31-14

TAMPA — Dak Prescott outplayed Tom Brady, throwing for 4 touchdowns and operating for an additional to steer the Dallas Cowboys to a 31-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card playoff sport on Monday evening.

Prescott accomplished 25 of 33 passes for 305 yards and performed turnover-free ball for the primary time in eight video games because the Cowboys (13-5) dominated the listless Bucs (8-10) in what could grow to be Brady’s final sport in a Tampa Bay uniform.

Dallas beat Brady for the primary time within the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion’s profession and gained within the postseason on the highway for the primary time in 30 years to earn a visit to San Francisco to face the 49ers within the NFC divisional spherical subsequent Sunday.

The Cowboys had dropped eight straight playoff video games on the highway since profitable the NFC championship sport in San Francisco on Jan. 17, 1993.

Brady, who signed with Tampa Bay in 2020 and led the Bucs to a Tremendous Bowl title two years in the past, will probably be a free agent this winter. He retired briefly final February earlier than altering his thoughts and returning for a twenty third season at age 45.

About the one factor that went mistaken for the Cowboys on Monday evening was kicker Brett Maher lacking his first 4 further factors, turning into the primary participant in NFL historical past to overlook that many in a sport. Maher lastly transformed on his fifth try after coach Mike McCarthy determined towards sending him out to strive a area purpose from roughly the identical distance as a PAT.

Tampa Bay receiver Russell Gage was strapped to a backboard and carted off the sphere after an harm late within the fourth quarter. Gage slipped and fell to the turf whereas operating a route and took a blow to the neck space as he went down. He was unable to get to his ft and silence fell over the stadium as gamers took a knee and medical personnel tended to him.

Brady, who had been 7-0 towards the Cowboys, accomplished 35 of 66 passes for 351 yards, together with second-half touchdowns of 30 yards to Julio Jones and eight yards to Cameron Brate. He was sacked twice and likewise threw a pricey interception — a second-quarter, end-zone decide from the Dallas 5 that prevented the Bucs from doubtlessly taking the lead after they had been solely trailing 6-0.

Prescott tossed the primary of his two TD passes to Dalton Schultz to get the Cowboys going, then turned Brady’s first red-zone interception since 2019 into factors by ending a 15-play, 80-yard drive by circling left finish for a 1-yard TD run on fourth down.

The Dallas quarterback expanded the result in 18-0 with an 11-yard TD throw to Schultz, then threw 2 yards to Michael Gallup for a 24-point lead early within the third quarter. It may have been 28-0 if not for Maher lacking all 4 further factors.

Prescott’s final TD cross, an 18-yarder to CeeDee Lamb, put the Cowboys up 31-6 with 10:13 remaining.

Little got here simple this season for the Bucs, simply the fourth crew in NFL historical past to make the playoffs with a dropping report in a non-strike 12 months.

Whereas Brady broke his personal league report for completions in a season and ranked third in passing yards behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, Tampa Bay completed twenty fifth in scoring at 18.4 factors per sport and by no means gained greater than two in a row whereas holding off Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta to repeat as NFC South champions.

Dallas rebounded from a 19-3 loss to Tampa Bay in Week 1, weathering Prescott being sidelined 5 weeks with a fractured proper thumb suffered in that sport to resemble a Tremendous Bowl contender a lot of the season.

Prescott, nevertheless, entered the playoffs on a career-worst, seven-game interception streak and had a decide returned for a landing in three of the final 4 video games, together with an unpleasant 26-6 loss to Washington within the regular-season finale.

Cowboys: TE Peyton Hendershot (thigh) left the sport within the first quarter. … T Jason Peters (hip) limped off within the second quarter and didn’t return.

Buccaneers: C Ryan Jensen was activated from injured reserve to the lively roster after lacking the complete common season with a knee harm suffered on the second day of coaching camp. He was instantly inserted into the beginning lineup.

Cowboys: At San Francisco subsequent Sunday within the divisional spherical.

Buccaneers: The wait begins to be taught if Brady will retire, return for a fourth season with Tampa Bay or signal with one other membership in free company.