Cowboys Cut RB, Move On All-Pro; 5 Keys To Beating Bucs

The Dallas Cowboys will welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to AT&T Stadium on Thursday night as Brian Schottenheimer's team looks to win back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 12 and 13 of last season.

After the thrilling win over the Houston Texans, the Cowboys are in a confident mood.

On defense? They have a Buccaneers team coming to AT&T without Baker Mayfield.

Instead, it is rookie Jalon Daniels who will be starting, and it is there that the Cowboys could rip apart this game.

On offense? The Cowboys just waived running back Emari Demercado and officially activated guard Tyler Smith, who our Mike Fisher reports plans to play tonight.

So .. if they are to secure a much-needed win, how will the 10-point favorites from Dallas accomplish it?

By doing these five things.

1 - Start Fast:

With a team that is 0-4, the last thing you want to give them is hope, so starting fast, putting points on the board, and being stout defensively is the recipe here.

If the Cowboys get up by multiple scores early, this could become a really one-sided contest with Daniels at quarterback.

You have the weapons - including the three-time All-Pro Smith - you're in form, you're at home, go take the fight to them and end any hopes of an upset early.

2 - Curtail Daniels' running threat:

We know one of Dallas' biggest troubles has been stopping versatile quarterbacks, and Daniels fits the bill here.

He had 55 yards on eight carries against the Packers. The Cowboys simply cannot allow the rookie to rip off big runs and escape the pocket. Maintain your rush integrity and keep him in the pocket. Force the rookie to beat you with his arm.

If the defense gets dismantled by an undrafted rookie, the aftermath for Mr. Parker won't be pretty.

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3 - Get turnovers:

A rookie quarterback who threw two interceptions last week, and an offensive line that has given up 16 sacks in four games? Yeah, if there ever was a time for Christian Parker's defense to put it all together, this is it.

Dallas has just two takeaways in four games, and no interceptions.

Now there are injury issues in that secondary; the club today also elevated DBs Reddy Steward and Juanyeh Thomas from the practice squad for Tampa Bay.

But good defenses take the ball away - with players, yes, but also with scheme.

Let's do that on Thursday, shall we, Christian?

4 - GOTI has to show up:

Yes, the Buccaneers might be 0-4, but it isn't because of their defense.

In its last three games, Tampa hasn't allowed more than 23 points, 86 yards on the ground, or 223 yards through the air.

They also have the sixth-best third-down stoppage rate in football, allowing a conversion just 32 percent of the time, and are tied for the fifth-best in football at not allowing a touchdown when in the red zone.

That is a whole lot of good.

So Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens will have their work cut out for them here.

Everyone points to this being an "easy" game for Dallas because of Tampa's quarterback situation, but they forget what the Bucs' defense has done.

GOTI needs to fire here.

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5 - Stop Buccaneers' weapons:

The Cowboys were good against the run last week (just 62 yards), but here comes Bucky Irving and a Bucs offense that has rushed for 141 and 137 yards in games this season.

With a rookie QB, look for Irving to do the heavy lifting. Dallas has to curtail his influence.

But the Cowboys have to be wary of the passing weapons too. Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Cade Otton are all more than capable of ripping this game away from Dallas, much like Nico Collins did last week.

All of Tampa's top weapons, Otton, Godwin, and Egbuka, average at least 8.9 yards per reception, so they are chain movers.

Don't let them run wild and give this 0-4 team a reason for hope. ... and Fish's prediction of Cowboys 28, Bucs 17 can come true.