TAMPA BAY (105.3 The Fan) - Obviously, the ultimate goal for the Dallas Cowboys in this Week 1 NFL visit to the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn't just to "play crisply'' or to "keep it close.''
But unfortunately for Dallas, that's all that could be established, as Cowboys QB Dak Prescott played brilliantly in a 31-29 loss to the Bucs in a game in which Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady played a little bit more brilliantly.
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The Bucs were not perfect. They committed four turnovers, were guilty of 11 penalties for 106 yards and were victimized by the Prescott-led Dallas offense to the tune of 440 yards.
And yet they won. Mostly because that's what Tom Brady does.
Ryan Succop kicked a 36-yard field goal with two seconds left to give the Bucs their final victory margin, not long after Dallas kicker Greg Zuerlein - who struggled for most of the night - nailed his own potential game-winner.
But more than a kicker showdown, this was a duel between Brady and Prescott, as they combined for 782 yards and seven passing touchdowns.
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To close, Brady's Bucs went 57 yards in 11 plays to set up Succop’s game-winner. Along the way, Brady completed 32 of 50 passes for 379 yards with four touchdowns. That was enough to out-do Prescott, who had not played a game since Oct. 11 due to a season-ending ankle injury - though Prescott was spectacular, too, as he tied his career-high with 58 attempts, completing 42 for 403 yards with three touchdowns.
For the Bucs, Thursday night was confirmation; this Brady-led team might defend its title.
For the Cowboys, this was about affirmation; this Dak-led team might, down the road, again challenge the champs.