TAMPA, Fla. – There will be no tomorrow for the Bucs if they can’t beat the Cowboys Monday Night. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. says the entire team is well aware.
“I would say it’s the aspect of you don’t know if this is going to be your last game or not,” Winfield Jr said. “It’s either we win, or we go home.”
Bucs quarterback Tom Brady has been in this situation for pretty much his whole career and even now, at 45 years old and in his 23rd season Brady knows it’s who plays better on game day.
“It’s not the best team that wins, it’s the team that plays the best,” Brady says. “I was part of a team that won every game until the Super Bowl. We didn’t play the best that day and lost.”
The 8-9 Bucs will face a 12-win Cowboys team that was throttled by the Washington Commanders last week 26-6. The Bucs were on the losing end of a 30-17 Falcons win but Tampa Bay went to backups for all of the second half.
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Both teams are relatively healthy. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles hasn’t had to reinforce the immediacy of this game.
“It’s different because it’s win or go home,” Bowles said. “You can’t get up next Sunday if you lose this ballgame and say, we’ll get it back next week and get better. There’s ergency all over with every playoff team.”
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is on a seven-game interception streak but Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean believes Prescott is still dangerous.
“Granted, all the interceptions weren’t his fault, ” Dean said. “He’s (Prescott) actually protecting the football. Stuff just happens. You can’t knock him for the intersections because he’s still putting up points.”
It’s the first losing season for Brady. The 7-time Super Bowl Champion doesn’t take these moments lightly, especially since he’s at the end of his career.
“I’ve been very blessed to be a part of great teams that got to this point and then had a lot of big wins,” Brady said. “That’s who everyone wants to play for. They want to play in the playoffs.” Brady is 7-0 lifetime against the Cowboys.
“I was talking to my dad (Antoine Sr. former NFL cornerback) and he was saying congratulations on how hard it is to get into the playoffs in general, ” Winfield Jr. said. “I was like, yeah, you’re right. I’m blessed this is my third go at the playoffs. I don’t take anything for granted.”
Kickoff at Raymond James Stadium is slated for 8:15.
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