Buccaneers vs. Cowboys 2022: Prediction, Odds, Injury Updates For Week 1 Game

The Dallas Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. It's a "Sunday Night Football" matchup, featuring a pair of reigning division winners that have high expectations for the coming year.

With Tom Brady back under center, the Buccaneers have the best Super Bowl odds of any NFC team. The Cowboys are viewed as strong contenders to reach the title game, though they face some serious questions at the start of the season.

Those questions have led to Tampa Bay being favored in Dallas. The point spread is up to 2.5 points at most sportsbooks. The Cowboys were only 1.5-point favorites earlier in the week.

The Cowboys will be without a few key contributors to last year's offense, which led the league with 407 yards and 31.2 points per game. Amari Cooper and Cedrick Wilson Jr. are no longer on the roster, and Michael Gallup will miss Week 1 as he works his way back from a torn ACL. Those three receivers accounted for nearly 40% of Dallas' receiving yards a season ago.

Much of the burden will be placed on CeeDee Lamb to make up for their production. Lamb had 79 receptions for 1,102 yards in his second season. Rookie Jalen Tolbert is set to enter Week 1 as Dallas' No. 2 receiver.

Left tackle Tyron Smith might be missed the most. The veteran is out until at least December with a hamstring injury. Dak Prescott could be under increased pressure against a Buccaneers' defense that ranked seventh with 47 sacks last season.

Prescott faced his share of obstacles one year ago when Dallas visited Tampa Bay in the season opener. The Cowboys quarterback played his first game since suffering a fractured ankle in the previous season, followed by a shoulder injury that limited him in training camp. Prescott torched the Buccaneers for 403 yards and three touchdowns. The Bucs escaped with a 31-29 win on a last-second field goal.

Brady will make his third Week 1 start for the Buccaneers. It comes after he briefly retired early in the offseason and then took hiatus from the team during the preseason.

As he enters his age-45 season, Brady has shown no signs of slowing down. The veteran led all quarterbacks with 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns last season. Brady could very well replicate those numbers this year, though he might not get off to a fast start.

Brady will be playing behind an offensive line that will have at least three new starters. Right tackle Tristan Wirfs was limited in practice Wednesday, raising concerns about his Week 1 availability.

Coming off a torn ACL last season, Chris Godwin was a full participant in practice. Head coach Todd Bowles said he didn't know if the receiver would play Sunday. Receiver Russell Gage was limited in practice.

In each of his previous Week 1 starts with Tampa Bay, Brady threw a pair of interceptions. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs had a league-high 11 interceptions last season.

A rusty Brady could throw a few more picks in Dallas if he's missing some of his best weapons, potentially allowing the Cowboys to pull off the upset.

Prediction: Dallas over Tampa Bay, 24-21