This could (officially) be Tom Brady’s final season in the NFL. Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened up their season in Arlington against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
It was a slow start for both teams; the Cowboys got off to an early 3-0 lead. The Bucs countered with two field goals of their own, as they led after the first quarter 6-3. The field goal battle became one-sided in the second quarter, as the Buccaneers’ defense shut down quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. It was 12-3 at halftime. Brady found wide receiver Mike Evans for the touchdown in the third quarter, expanding the Bucs’ lead. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, and the Bucs won the game 19-3.
For the other scores and statistics, I did a breakdown of all the morning/afternoon games.
It was an embarrassing effort by the Cowboys, at home, against the Buccaneers. Dak Prescott got injured late in the game, and he was forced to go to the locker room. He was later diagnosed with a fracture in his thumb, which will require surgery.
Following the loss, Prescott spoke about the injury. He said:
“Yeah, it’s very disappointing, but injuries happen. Can’t necessarily control it. Just unfortunate. I’m obviously going to miss some time, not be there for my team. That’s what hurts more than anything, especially after the start that we just put out there. I wanted to be able to respond and not necessarily having that opportunity for several weeks. Yeah, it’s unfortunate, but I’ll do what I’ve always done anytime adversity comes. Take it on head first and I’ll give my best, and I’m sure I’ll come out of this better.”
“Thought I jammed it. I mean, I’ve hit on however many bodies, a lot in my career, and never really had anything [except] maybe a jammed finger, and I actually thought that’s what it was. The next play I realized I couldn’t grip the ball, let the sideline know. Then, when I got off, I told the trainers the same thing. I said, ‘I can’t grip it. I feel like if you yank it, I’ll be OK,’ and I came in and got X-rays and things were different.”
When asked whether Prescott’s injury is season-ending, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said:
“You have to look at the fact that, no, he is not out for the year in any way. He’ll be out several games, but not out for the year. Let’s just get in here and win some games and be there so we can compete for that playoff when the time comes.”
Cooper Rush will be the interim starting quarterback for the Cowboys unless they sign someone like free agent quarterback Cam Newton.