The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have met 22 times since Tampa Bay joined the NFL in 1976.
Dallas has won 16 of those 22 games.
The Cowboys are 12-2 at home but just 4-4 against the Bucs in Florida.
The original orange creamsicle uniforms are no more. Nor is John McKay prowling the sidelines musing about being in favor of his team’s execution.
In addition to having a solid winning record against the franchise, the Cowboys will forever be grateful to Tampa Bay for one thing.
In the 1977 NFL Draft, the Bucs were first and selected running back Ricky Bell from USC. That’s where McKay had coached up until 1975 and Bell had been his back.
When that happened, the Cowboys traded with the Seattle Seahawks for the No. 2 pick.
They took the Heisman Trophy winning running back – Tony Dorsett – and won the Super Bowl that season.
Tampa Bay would lose its first 26 football games in the NFL. The Bucs finally won their first Super Bowl in 2002.
Against The Buccaneers
In 1977 Tampa Bay made its first visit to Dallas as the teams met for the first time.
Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with a 79-yard interception return in the first quarter.
Dallas went on to win the game 23-7. The Buccaneers only score was a 37-yard fumble return by Richard Wood on defense.
The next game was much more competitive.
Also played at Texas Stadium, Tampa Bay jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the second quarter of the 1980 rematch.
But Danny White connected with Billy Joe DuPree for a pair of nine-yard touchdowns in the second half. Dallas went on to win 28-17.
The Cowboys would win the first eight meetings between the clubs. The first seven taking place at Texas Stadium.
Dallas’ first trip to Tampa Bay would come in 1990.
The Bucs would hold a 10-3 lead going into the fourth quarter. Issiac Holt’s 64-yard interception return tied the game.
Troy Aikman’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Michael Irvinn with 23 seconds left would win it, 17-13.
The Bucs would win the next three games though. In 200, Tampa Bay won 27-7 at home, then came to Dallas in 2001 to claim a 10-6 victory.
In 2003, at Tampa Bay, the Bucs would blank Dallas 16-0.
The Cowboys would win the next five meetings and seven of the next eight overall.
The Tom Brady era brought Tampa Bay back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022.
The teams have met three times in the postseason with Dallas winning all three games.
The first two wins came at Texas Stadium. Danny White led Dallas to a 38-0 rout on the 1981 Divisional round then to a 30-17 win in the 1982 Wild Card round.
Dak Prescott led the Cowboys to a 31-14 Wild Card win at Tampa Bay in the 2022 playoffs in a game that saw Brett Maher miss four straight extra point attempts.
Week 16 History
The Cowboys are just 24-22 in Week 16 games.
But they are 15-10 at home, which is where they will be playing this year’s Week 16 matchup. That’s a good thing because they are a dismal 9-12 on the road.
The Cowboys have played Tampa Bay once before in a Week 16 contest.
Dallas won the game, played at AT&T Stadium in 2018, by a 27-20 count. Jaylon Smith returned a fumble 69 yards for a score.
Prescott would run for a touchdown and pass to Michael Gallup for a four-yard score for the win.
The Cowboys have won four straight Week 16 home games.
Their last Week 16 loss at home came in 2017 to Seattle. Dallas lost to the Dolphins last year in Week 16 at Miami to extend their road losing streak to three.
The Cowboys last Week 16 road win came against the Redskins in Washington back in 2013.
Dallas is 5-0 against Washington in Week 16 contest. But they are just 2-2 against the Giants and 5-6 against the Eagles.
The Cowboys are 1-2 against both the 49ers and Saints in Week 16 games.
They haven’t played any other team more than twice in Week 16.
My Prediction
(based on rosters as of today)
The Cowboys should be able to take care of business against Tampa Bay at home yet again.
Predicted season record: 7-8.