Regardless of report, Cowboys really feel like underdogs vs. Tom Brady, Bucs

Generally it’s exhausting to work out whether or not sports activities followers have a brief reminiscence or a extremely, actually lengthy one. Or, relating to speaking about and excited about Tom Brady, Dak Prescott and Monday’s blockbuster wild-card showdown, possibly each. 

If soccer was linear there can be no fathomable purpose why Tampa Bay/Dallas at Raymond James Stadium can be a choose ‘em in so many minds.   

If, as simplistic thought would dictate, the first standards for analyzing a staff’s readiness for the playoffs is its total physique of labor throughout the common season, then this shouldn’t be a combat in any respect, not to mention a good one.   

However the one issues linear about soccer are the markings on the sector, the postseason is a time when Captain Apparent goes on trip, and the notion of an 8-9 staff taking part in a 12-5 opponent boils all the way down to a few key issues. 

Soccer followers are conditioned, both by way of awe-struck statement or by having their staff’s coronary heart damaged by him too typically, to belief Tom Brady. Equally — and Cowboys followers will seethe as this suggestion but in addition know it is true — they’re primed to mistrust Dallas, particularly when it is the postseason, particularly after they’re on the street. 

Tom Brady is essentially the most harmful proper now than he is ever been in his profession

Skip Bayless provides a warning to his Dallas Cowboys.

Brady and the Bucs may so simply not have been right here, after a season stuffed with battle, and sufficient slender escapes that actually calls for even an 8-9 mark must be thought of considerably flattering. Nevertheless, the champ from two years in the past has an unmistakable gust of momentum behind it, which is the place the short-term reminiscence piece is available in.   

It took only a glimmer of the previous Brady to convey again perception. When he slung three landing passes to Mike Evans to steer a stirring comeback against the Carolina Panthers, in what was successfully the NFC South decider in Week 17, it did not really feel misplaced, even in any case these weeks (months?) when he admitted he was not performing as he’d have appreciated.   

What’s muscle reminiscence for Brady is psychological reminiscence for the remainder of us. Just a few eye-catching throws and our thoughts takes us again to a well-recognized spot, one the place we count on Brady to win. By no means has there been a extra popularly predicted sub-.500 staff going into the postseason, with many tipping a robust Tampa Bay run, evidence-backed by their Week 1 win over the Cowboys and the pondering that they may match up nicely with the Philadelphia Eagles.   

“He has seen each protection,” Tampa Bay security Logan Ryan informed reporters of Brady. “He did this 20 years in the past as a [young] quarterback successful the Tremendous Bowl. His preparation is his life expertise. It’s his life. He is good in these moments as a result of he is good daily. Whether it is best-out-of-one, in soccer, I will take Tom Brady to be the quarterback.”   

For the Cowboys there’s a differing sense, one that implies the second has handed. They should discover a new one, and shortly, or else one other alternative, one other marketing campaign, simply blows on by. 

There wasn’t a lot to love about Dallas’ closing 5 performances of the yr, and Prescott turned mightily interception-prone down the stretch, lifting his tally to a league high-tying 15 on the season.   

A lot of the positivity of October and November, and even the early weeks, when Cooper Rush subbed in for Prescott throughout his harm layoff and did admirably, has now been washed away.   

If Dallas does flip issues round and progress by way of to the subsequent spherical, some further satisfaction can be due, and the feat can have been achieved within the tempo of widespread prognostications of collapse.   

“Dak doesn’t have a legacy,” FS1’s Nick Wright stated on “First Issues First.” “Sure guys do not have legacies. He can begin to construct one, theoretically, this postseason. However, proper now, within the common season and the playoffs, he’s Kirk Cousins with mattress commercials.”   

Who’s beneath extra stress vs. Bucs: Dak Prescott or Mike McCarthy?

The Communicate crew analyzes heading into the wild-card sport vs. Tampa Bay.

Prescott, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and head coach Mike McCarthy are available in with some reputable stress. One other postseason flameout would see blame fall closely on the shoulders of all three.   

Even now, it’s beautiful how shortly the narrative on the Cowboys shifted. The protection stays resolute and able to large performs. Prescott’s targets, notably CeeDee Lamb, are really elite.    

However Dallas seems to be unsure, and Prescott might want to enhance his current kind to have an opportunity at avoiding seeing his profession postseason report drop to 1-4. Perhaps it’s only a momentary blip, led to by the Cowboys coasting to the end line after they wrapped up a playoff place. Perhaps it’s the stain of current historical past clouding the image. Or possibly the doubts are well-founded.   

How can it’s that we’re even speaking about such issues? Why is it that, after the most effective seasons in current reminiscence, the Cowboys are heading into the postseason carrying a way of gloom?   

And when was the final time two groups with a four-win differential met within the wild-card spherical, but it surely was the one with the poorer report that skips into the New 12 months, whereas the opposite appears to have every thing, abruptly, in opposition to it?   

Hmm … cannot keep in mind. 

Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports activities and the writer of the FOX Sports activities Insider e-newsletter. Observe him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the daily newsletter.

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