ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Tom Brady as the primary 45-year-old beginning quarterback in NFL historical past, appeared fairly a bit just like the youthful variations.
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys had been left with an outdated, acquainted feeling that is not fairly so fuzzy.
Brady and Mike Evans related on a punctuating landing, Leonard Fournette ran for 127 yards, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dominated the Cowboys 19-3 in a season opener Sunday evening.
Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned after the sport Prescott wants surgical procedure for a fracture close to the thumb on his throwing hand and can miss a number of weeks, a season-altering blow for the defending NFC East champs.
A tough evening for Prescott received worse after his proper hand struck a defender when throwing a move within the fourth quarter. He was checked on the sideline earlier than jogging to the locker room.
The newest harm got here virtually two years after the compound fracture of Prescott’s proper ankle on the identical discipline, a ugly harm that ended his 2020 season in Week 5.
“It’s very disappointing, but injuries happen,” Prescott mentioned. “Can’t necessarily control it. Obviously going to miss some time, not be there for my team. And that’s what hurts more than anything.”
Brady was in management all through regardless of an prolonged break throughout coaching camp to attend to non-public points. The seven-time Super Bowl champ received an enormous help from the protection in Todd Bowles’ debut as Tampa Bay’s coach following three seasons as defensive coordinator.
“I always play the game for my team, my teammates and the organization,” Brady mentioned. “Just being around them is something I always enjoy. It keeps me very grounded, very humble. I feel like just one of the guys. Not many places where I can go where I feel like just one of the guys, but the locker room’s definitely one of those places.”
The Cowboys and Bucs had the highest two offenses within the NFL final season, which began with Tampa Bay’s 31-29 win at dwelling over Dallas when Brady and Prescott mixed for seven TDs passing. Only one offense confirmed up this time.
Dallas drove 54 yards to a discipline purpose on the primary possession, however did not rating once more whereas ending with its second-fewest factors in an opener. The Cowboys misplaced to New Orleans 28-0 in 1989 — Jerry Jones’ first sport as proprietor.
Julio Jones had a 48-yard catch within the two-time All-Pro’s Tampa Bay debut to arrange one in every of 4 first-half discipline targets from Ryan Succop, who had 5 makes an attempt earlier than the break and not using a punt from the Bucs.
Brady, who improved to 7-0 in opposition to the Cowboys, was 18 of 27 for 212 yards with an interception that did not quantity to a lot as a result of Prescott and receiver Noah Brown could not join on a straightforward third-down throw close to midfield early within the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys did nothing to quiet questions in regards to the receiving group behind CeeDee Lamb, the third-year participant who’s the brand new No. 1 goal after the offseason commerce of Amari Cooper.
Lamb had two catches for 29 yards whereas drawing many of the consideration. Noah Brown had 5 catches for 68 yards, whereas Prescott completed 14 of 29 for 134 yards with an interception that arrange one of many first-half discipline targets.
The hole in receiving depth was clear, with Evans and Chris Godwin each having catches of at the very least 20 yards within the first quarter earlier than Godwin needed to depart with a hamstring harm.
The Cowboys stayed shut within the first half solely due to two sacks from reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons. Both pressured discipline targets, and Succop missed one of many tries.
Devin White matched Parsons with two sacks of Prescott as the Cowboys misplaced to the Bucs at dwelling for simply the second time whereas coach Mike McCarthy dropped to 0-3 in openers with Dallas.
Bowles is 1-0 with the Bucs after taking on when Bruce Arians retired and moved to the entrance workplace.
“I think it was just about being dominant,” White mentioned. “We wanted to set a tone for him as a head coach, for us as a defense as a whole. I think it was a great thing. We still have some things. We left a lot of plays out there.”
Fournette had 40 of the 79 yards on the drive that ended with Brady’s 5-yard scoring move to Evans for a 19-3 lead.
ROOKIE LINEMEN
Dallas first-round choose Tyler Smith was the primary rookie in franchise historical past to begin an opener at left deal with. The Bucs additionally had a rookie starter in left guard Luke Goedeke, a second-rounder. Both groups entered the opener with questions up entrance due to accidents and personnel modifications.
The accidents mounted, too. Dallas left guard Connor McGovern did not return after injuring his proper ankle on the primary sequence. Tampa Bay left deal with Donovan Smith exited within the second quarter with an elbow concern and in addition was dominated out.
INJURIES
Bucs: Godwin’s hamstring harm got here after he entered the sport with an unsure standing due to his restoration from a knee harm. … Cowboys S Jayron Kearse, who was questionable coming with a neck concern, left within the second half with a knee harm. … Dallas DE Tarell Basham was sidelined by a thigh harm. Cowboys S Jayron Kearse, who was questionable coming with a neck concern, left within the second half with a knee harm.
UP NEXT
Buccaneers: At NFC South rival New Orleans subsequent Sunday. One of those groups has both gained or shared the previous 5 division titles.
Cowboys: Defending AFC champion Cincinnati visits subsequent Sunday. Dallas opens with three of 4 video games at dwelling.
___
More AP NFL protection: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl.