Ouch!published at 01:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2023

01:20 GMT 17 January 2023

Dallas Cowboys 0-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Micah Parsons is a name I expect to be typing quite a bit tonight, and on the first play he blows through the Bucs' offensive line and smacks into Rachaad White for a two-yard loss.

Image source, Getty Images

That's a quick, and I mean very quick, three-and-out from Dak Prescott. The Dallas QB was off target with his throws and after just 13 seconds of possession the Cowboys hand it over to Tom Brady.

OK, here we go in the final wildcard game and it's Dak Prescott and Dallas who will get the ball first off this evening.

Despite being such an iconic side in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys have a wretched recent play-off history, and especially on the road as they've lost their last eight.

The Cowboys in fact haven't won a play-off game on the road in 30 years - with only 11 of their current roster being born the last time America's Team won in the post-season outside Dallas.

Added to that - four of their five losses this season have come away from home and you can see that home sickness is a real problem.

Tom Brady gets all the headlines but having centre Ryan Jensen back from injury for the very first time this season could be huge for Tampa Bay.

Image source, Getty Images

Dak Prescott has been pretty good since returning from injury, but he has to tidy up those interceptions, as he led the NFL with 15 this season despite missing five games!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

It was seemingly all change for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason when Bruce Arians stepped down as head coach and Tom Brady retired. But just a few weeks later Brady decided to return to the team for another run at the Super Bowl.

Their season could not have started much better with wins over tonight's opponents and division rivals New Orleans Saints. But those two wins were followed up with losses and that told the story of the Buccaneers season. They have struggled to get on track on offence all season and scored the fewest points in the NFC South.

They were able to pull through as the best of a bad division despite two tough late-season losses against the San Francisco 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals. But if there is one quarterback who is the most comfortable in the play-offs it is Tom Brady and flanked by Mike Evans who posted yet another 1,000 yard season they could still pose a threat.

Image source, Getty Images

In week one, the Dallas Cowboys suffered a loss against tonight's hosts. Quarterback Dak Prescott also fractured his thumb so you'd forgive fans for hearing alarm bells ringing. But in came Cooper Rush and he steadied the ship seeing them through a four-game win streak. That was stopped by the red hot Philadelphia Eagles but they were getting their star quarterback back.

They won the first two games upon his return but an ugly loss against the Green Bay Packers raised concerns. They were answered emphatically in a 40-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings and put together another winning streak.

With Dak Prescott in the line-up Dallas was able to avenge their earlier season loss against the Eagles, though Philadelphia was down Jalen Hurts.

There are concerns over Prescott's interception numbers where he led the league in the regular season but the offence is explosive and the defence can be stifling. The Cowboys will be feeling confident when they travel to Tampa to face a team that finished the regular season with four fewer wins.

Image source, Getty Images

There's a reason Tom Brady is known as the GOAT, who is 35-12 in the play-offs, and has only lost his first game once in his last 11 post-season appearances.

Brady holds the records for the most Super Bowl appearances and wins (10 and seven), along with setting post-season mark in games (47), wins (35), passing yards (13,049) and touchdowns passes (86).

Leonard Fournette has turned up in the play-offs every chance he has had. Can he do it again tonight?

Image source, Getty Images

Nobody knows more about the NFL play-offs than Tom Brady:

“Everyone works hard to get to this point. There’s no more second chances," said the seven-time Super Bowl champion.

“It’s going to be hard, but we’re battle tested. We’ve had some tough games. Some we came back from. Some we haven’t. But close won’t be good enough going forward for anybody.”

Sam Hubbard's play-off record 98-yard fumble return for the Cincinnati Bengals features in Sunday's NFL wildcard weekend best plays.

So then, just tonight's one wildcard game remaining to be played with either the Dallas Cowboys or Tampa Bay Buccaneers going to San Francisco to face the 49ers next week.

Saturday

• Jacksonville Jaguars v Kansas City Chiefs (21:30)
• New York Giants v Philadelphia Eagles (01:15 Sun)

Sunday

• Cincinnati Bengals v Buffalo Bills (20:00)
• Dallas Cowboys/Tampa Bay Buccaneers v San Francisco 49ers (23:30)

Watch some of the key moments as quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Brock Purdy star in NFL wildcard play-off wins for their respective teams - the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Francisco 49ers.

Image source, Getty Images

Right then night owls, welcome back for the sixth and final game of the NFL's Super Wild Card Weekend bonanza of gridiron greatness.

You could say we've saved the best for last, with two NFL giants colliding as the Dallas Cowboys take on Tom Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dallas are slight favourites after finishing with a better record, but Tampa Bay are at home after winning their division - even with a losing record.

They've got Tom Brady though, and even at 45, if you've got him on your side in the play-offs you've always got a chance.