Barry Church Injury: Cowboys Place Safety On IR

The Dallas Cowboys will be attempting to fill a major hole the defense this week, after safety Barry Church was placed on injured reserve with a ruptured Achilles. Church, who became the starting safety after a strong performance in training camp, is now lost for the season after an encouraging start to the year.

The Cowboys are already dealing with injuries at the position, with Gerald Sensabaugh working through an ankle injury. Sensabaugh missed the Tampa Bay game, and his status for Sunday's tilt against the Bears is unclear.

Coach Jason Garrett also revealed during his press conference on Monday that rookie safety Matt Johnson is still rehabbing a hamstring injury, as well as a recent back injury. Johnson has been inactive for the the first three games of the season, and is likely not close to a return for two to three more weeks.

Receiver Miles Austin had X-rays on his ribs following a long reception, yet returned after the results came back negative. Austin stated after the game that he was fine.

Nose tackle Jay Ratliff and center Phil Costa missed Sunday's game as well, and their status against Chicago will be determined later this week.

For more on the Cowboys, be sure to visit Blogging the Boys and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Jason Witten Says He's Healthy, No Excuses For Poor Performance

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has struggled to start the season after recovering from an injured spleen, yet insists that he is healthy and there are no excuses for his uncharacteristically poor play.

Witten had three drops against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- including one that potentially could have been for a touchdown -- and now has six drops total in the past two games.

Per the Dallas Morning News, Witten discussed his struggles in a lengthy talk with reporters on Monday and stated that there is no reason for the dropped passes and mental miscues that have plagued him this season:

"Ultimately, for me, I've been in the right spot, I'm just not making the play when I need to," Witten said Monday. "There's nobody more critical of their self than me. When you have that opportunity you have to make those plays, one way or another. That's plays they expect me to make. That's plays I expect to make. I've made them my whole career. I just got to find a way to get it fixed."

Witten also made it known that he is fully healthy and not bothered by injury. He would follow up by saying the responsibility falls squarely on his shoulders and that, for whatever reason, this is adversity that he's going to have to work through himself.

"Every player, regardless of the sport, they go through adversity at some point and obviously this is it for me. ... Trust me, I don't want my legacy, or this time in my career to be remembered for that. And it won't be. I'll get it fixed."

Be sure to stay with this StoryStream for more Week 3 reaction, and head over to Blogging The Boys for more on the Cowboys. Also check out SB Nation's NFL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers 2012: Doug Free's Rough Day

Lucky to escape with a 16-10 win over Tampa Bay in an ugly game, the Dallas Cowboys could be subjected to plenty of work in the trenches this week after putting forth a completely embarrassing offensive line performance on Sunday. And while none of quarterback Tony Romo's trusted pass blockers were immune to the poor play, no lineman even came close to touching the miserable afternoon endured by 6'6, 325-pound tackle Doug Free.

The 28-year-old Free was whistled for four penalties alone during the game, in addition to being the sole lineman responsible for two key sacks of Romo in crucial situations. Along with being unable to stick with Chicago's speedy edge rushers and outside linebackers on blitzes for a vast portion of the afternoon, Free was also hardly a factor in the run game.

Still viewed by some as the best outside run blocker on the Cowboys' roster, Free and the rest of the offensive line could only help star tailback DeMarco Murray pile up 38 yards rushing on 18 attempts. Murray's paltry 2.1 yards per carry average represented easily the worst starting performance of his young career, and it's quite clear that Free's inability to keep defenders in check may have played a significant role.

Be sure to stay with this StoryStream for more Week 3 reaction, and head over to Blogging The Boys for more on the Cowboys. Also check out SB Nation's NFL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers 2012: Brandon Carr Playing At Safety

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr received a few snaps at free safety on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a move to help out the team's depth at a position riddled with injuries.

Gerald Sensabaugh missed the game with calf issues, and Barry Church, who was playing in the defensive backfield on Sunday, left in the game with an Achilles injury that will end his season. Orlando Scandrick, Morris Claiborne and Mike Jenkins have held down the corner positions well, leaving Carr with the opportunity to slide to safety.

And Carr could see more time at safety if other options don't arise, according to ESPN.

"I think he (Carr) did a great job," defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said. "He did what he's supposed to do and he's such a talented guy you can put him anywhere."

The 6'0, 210 pound cornerback told ESPN he hadn't played at safety since his high school days at Carman-Ainsworth High School in Flint, Mich. He didn't finish with a tackle on Sunday, and Carr was running with the scout teams in practice leading into the game to adjust to the change in mindset that comes with the position swap.

Check out Blogging the Boys for more no the Dallas Cowboys or hit up SB Nation's NFL hub.

Greg Schiano Continues To Embarrass Himself

Buccaneers Vs. Cowboys 2012: Dallas Fans Frustrated With Offensive Performance

The Dallas Cowboys walked away with a tough 16-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, with the offense once against struggling with consistency against a physical defense.

Tony Romo was able to pass for 283 yards and in the game, going 25-of-39 against a team that allowed 510 yards passing the week before. Romo was unable to find his groove on Sunday, despite completing 16 passes to his receivers, while the defense once again showed the potential to carry the team when the offense struggles.

KD Drummond of Blogging The Boys says that it was the Cowboys defese that saved the day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

After giving up the early lead, Dallas' defense got it's first interception of the season when Sean Lee plucked a tipped third-down pass on Tampa's side of the field. It was Lee's seventh career pick in only 32 professional games. Following, DeMarco Murray worked his way into the end zone on a stretch play to the left to tie the score at 7. The rest of the game consisted of Dallas' defense stonewalling Tampa time and time again.

The offense, though? Scary. Penalties, blocking ineptness, drops, and miscommunications between QB Tony Romo and his receivers led to an embarassing display by Jason Garrett's troops for the second consecutive week. That will likely be the leading storyline throughout the week as Dallas has plenty of things to work on heading into next week's Monday Night tilt against the Chicago Bears.

The Cowboys will have to find a way to correct the issues on offense, as they welcome the Chicago Bears to Arlington for Monday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

For more on the Cowboys, visit Blogging the Boys and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers: Dallas Sneaks Away With Win

Some scattered thoughts and observations on the Cowboys 16-10 victory over a disjointed Tampa Bay team on Sunday.

Buccaneers Vs. Cowboys Final Score: Dallas Survives 16-10 Over Tampa Bay

On a mistake-filled day in Dallas, the Cowboys rode the right leg of kicker Dan Bailey to a 16-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Cowboys offense looked like it hadn't practiced all week, accounting for just 305 total yards and most of the team's 13 penalties for 105 yards, but the Dallas defense showed up time and again on Sunday, holding the Buccaneers to just 166 yards of total offense. Bailey was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts.

The Buccaneers defense did its best to keep Greg Schiano's squad in the game, sacking Tony Romo four times and forcing the Cowboys to kick field goals over and over again.

The Cowboys' offense never really found a rhythm, scoring its only touchdown of the day -- an 11-yard run by DeMarco Murray -- after being gifted a short field by a Josh Freeman interception. Freeman, who got the Bucs on the board first in the game with an early touchdown pass, finished the day a miserable 10-for-28 for 110 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Indeed, the moment that seemed most indicative of either team's offense on the day was when Cowboys receiver Kevin Ogletree ran a short route into the end zone and slipped and fell on an official's hat.

After mostly running into the back of the line all day, the Buccaneers finally found an offense late in the fourth quarter, adding a Connor Barth field goal that made it 16-10, but the effort was too little too late, even after causing the Dallas offense to struggle all day.

The loss may have been additionally costly to Tampa Bay. Bucs defensive end Adrian Clayborn sustained a left leg injury and had to be helped off the field in the third quarter.

The Cowboys also managed to get through the game injury-free, as left guard Nate Livings (hand) and receiver Miles Austin (ribs) both headed to the locker room, but quickly returned to the field.

With the win, Dallas goes to 2-1 and the Buccaneers drop to 1-2.

This story was originally published at SBNation.com.

For more on the Cowboys, visit Blogging the Boys and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Buccaneers Vs. Cowboys Score Update: Dallas Leads Tampa Bay At Halftime, 10-7

The Dallas Cowboys hold a 10-7 lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at halftime on Sunday. Neither team had been able to get into a rhythm offensively, until the end of the second quarter when Tony Romo and the Cowboys started up their two-minute offense.

Romo made a few plays to Kevin Ogletree and Dez Bryant that moved the Cowboys down the field, seemingly putting them in position to convert on another field goal before the end of the first half.

But Gerald McCoy got to Tony Romo on a second down attempt that disrupted the Cowboys' momentum and left them out of field goal range. There was a Hail Mary throw from Romo to end the half, but it was batted down by a crew of Tampa Bay defenders.

For more on the Cowboys, be sure to visit Blogging the Boys and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Buccaneers Vs. Cowboys Score Update: Game Tied After 1st Quarter

The Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are tied 7-7 after one quarter of action at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Dallas responded to Tampa Bay's touchdown earlier in the quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run by DeMarco Murray.

Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman led the Bucs on a six-play, 29-yard touchdown drive that was the result of a Tony Romo interception that landed in the hands of Aqib Talib.

The Buccaneers began the second quarter with a first down on their own 30-yard line. On the second play from scrimmage, Freeman patted the ball in the pocket and almost coughed up the possession. DeMarcus Ware gave him little time, tackling him and forcing a fumble.

Fortunately for the Bucs, they were able to maintain possession on that play.

For more on the Cowboys, be sure to visit Blogging the Boys and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers Inactives: Jay Ratliff, Gerald Sensabaugh Both Out

The list of NFL inactives are pouring in from around the league, and the Cowboys will be without a couple of key contributors on the defensive side of the ball for their matchup against the Buccaneers. Jay Ratliff, Gerald Sensabaugh, and Kenyon Coleman will all be out for Dallas. All three are typically starters in Rob Ryan's defense, which is coming off a rough week and a 27-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The complete list of Cowboys inactives:

• Alex Albright LB
• Cole Beasley WR
• Kenyon Coleman DE
• Phil Costa C
• Matt Johnson SS
• Jay Ratliff DE
• Gerald Sensabaugh FS

The Buccaneers won't be missing any major contributors, but rookie Keith Tandy is inactive for the first time this season. The complete list of Bucs inactives:

• E.J. Biggers CB
• Anthony Gaitor DB
• George Johnson DE
• Jamon Meredith T
• Chris Owusu WR
• Michael Smith RB
• Keith Tandy CB

For more on the Cowboys, visit Blogging the Boys and SB Nation Dallas. For more on the Buccaneers, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

This story was originally published on SBNation.com.

NFL Week 3 Picks

JP Starkey delivers his weekly NFL picks, picking each and every game in Week 3 -- both straight up, and against the spread.

Buccaneers vs. Cowboys: Game Time, TV Schedule, Injury Updates And More

Week 3 brings the Dallas Cowboys to Cowboys Stadium for the first time this season after two weeks on the road that yielded mixed results. After winning big against the New York Giants opening night, the Cowboys faltered in Week 2, losing big at Seattle.

Quarterback Tony Romo in particular is looking for a bounce back game against the 1-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are coming off a Week 2 loss where they allowed Eli Manning to throw for over 500 yards against them. The good news for Romo and the rest of the offense is that 10 of 11 starters are expected to play. The bad news is the one missing will be center Phil Costa, who is out with an injured back.

On defense, nose tackle Jay Ratliff is out with an injured ankle while defensive end Kenyon Coleman is out with a knee injury. Safety Gerald Sensabaugh is listed as doubtful due to a calf injury, leaving defensive end DeMarcus Ware and a retooled secondary will be shorthanded as they look to continue their early season success defending the pass.

Game Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 23; 12 p.m. CT

TV Schedule: FOX

TV Distribution Map: The506.com

Radio Schedule: Cowboys: 105.3 The Fan, Buccaneers: WFUS 103.5 / WDAE 620 AM

For more on the Dallas Cowboys, join the discussion at Blogging The Boys and visit Bucs Nation for everything on the Buccaneers. For all of your NFL needs, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start/Sit

The Dallas Cowboys open up at home on Sunday here in Week 3, and, as you'd expect, the Cowboys have some pretty prime fantasy players that must start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quarterbacks

Tony Romo, as always, is a must start. Despite last week's poor performance, I still believe that Romo is an elite fantasy quarterback, and could end up being one of the five best fantasy quarterbacks in 2012. Unless you've got somebody like Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, you'd better be starting Romo.

Josh Freeman hasn't proven enough to me to warrant a fantasy start -- unless you're in a really deep league. Freeman is best left for the bench, or even the waiver wire, depending on your league. Sit Freeman.

Running Backs

DeMarco Murray, much like Romo, is a must start. Murray has RB1 potential each week, and at worst, is a very, very solid RB2 to start.

Doug Martin, meanwhile, is a decent RB2 option, and a very good flex play option. He's received at least 20 carries in each of Tampa Bay's first two games, and there's nothing to suggest that will change. Start Martin.

Wide Receivers

Another no-brainer on the Cowboys side, as Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are both must starts. Both have WR1 potential, and both are fringe WR1 / very good WR2 starts.

Kevin Ogletree, though, should be left on the bench for this week. There's no reason to expect a Week 1-esque outburst from him. Sit Ogletree.

Vincent Jackson is definitely a must start for the Buccaneers. No other Bucs wide receiver is worth starting.

Tight Ends

I warned everybody to avoid Jason Witten in fantasy drafts, and so far, he's done little to prove me wrong. Witten has just six catches on the season for 68 yards. You've probably got better options at this point, but if you don't, you're forced to start him. Assuming you can find a younger, health tight end -- sit Witten.

Likewise, sit Dallas Clark.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers Injury Report: Tampa Bay Is Healthy Heading Into Dallas

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are healthy heading into their Week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys. The only Bucs player out is cornerback Anthony Gaitor, who was limited in Friday's practice due to a hamstring injury and is officially out. Gaitor being the the fourth-string defensive back, he would have seen limited time even if he was healthy.

Defensive starters linebacker Quincy Black, and corners Ardian Cayborn and Eric Wright, are listed on the injury report as probable, and each practiced on Friday so should play:

For more on the Dallas Cowboys, join the discussion at Blogging The Boys and visit Bucs Nation for everything on the Buccaneers. For all of your NFL needs, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers Injury Report: DE Kenyon Coleman, NT Jay Ratliff Out

The Dallas Cowboys will be short handed on the defensive side of the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without two – maybe even three – defensive starters. The two that are definitely out are defensive end Kenyon Coleman, with a knee injury, and nose tackle Jay Ratliff is sidelined with an ankle issue; while safety Gerald Sensabaugh did not practice this week and is officially doubtful with a calf problem.

Other defensive players who were limited in practice all week are defensive end Marcus Spears, who was limited on Friday with a knee injury and is listed as questionable. Linebacker Sean Lee was limited all week with a hip issue, but is listed as probable.

Center Phil Costa is the only offensive player that is officially out, since he is still having back issues:

For more on the Dallas Cowboys, join the discussion at Blogging The Boys and visit Bucs Nation for everything on the Buccaneers. For all of your NFL needs, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

NFL Picks, Week 3: Peter Kings Picks Cowboys Over Buccaneers

The Dallas Cowboys may be coming off a disastrous 27-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, but SI.com's Peter King doesn't expect another such outcome against the Tampa Buccaneers this weekend.

King picks the Cowboys to win, 30-16, in the 2012 home opener for Dallas at Cowboys Stadium, in what he expects to be a rather easy affair for the home team.

Pretty weird game when the thing we're most looking forward to is how the Fighting Schianos will play Dallas' victory formation in the final minute.

Through two games the Cowboys are No. 10 in the NFL in overall offense at 364.5 yards per game, while generating just 15.5 points against New York and Seattle. The Cowboys have generated 96 yards per game rushing, with DeMarco Murray putting up just 44 yards on 12 carries against Seattle in the loss.

The Cowboys will look to get back to a more balanced attack on Sunday, playing a team that allowed 510 yards passing against the Giants. The Buccaneers allowed 25 points in the fourth quarter against New York, blowing a 27-13 lead in in the 41-34 loss.

For more on the Dallas Cowboys, join the discussion at Blogging The Boys. For all of your NFL needs, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Cowboys Vs. Bucs 2012: Mo Claiborne Looks For Turnovers

After getting beat 27-7 by the Seattle Seahawks, the Dallas Cowboys have a lot to sort out, but maybe most important is figuring out a way to get some turnovers. After two games the Cowboys have just one takeaway and have yet to win the turnover battle.

Dallas was hoping that Morris Claiborne would help them with their takeaway problem when they traded up to draft him sixth overall, but that hasn't quite paid off yet. For his part, Claiborne knows that getting his hands on the ball is as much his job as just keeping his man from scoring.

"I haven’t given up any touchdowns, but I feel like I need to get some hands on some balls," Claiborne told Josh Ellis. "That’s a big part of the game if you can knock it down, but if you can go take it out of the air, that just changes the game."

So far, Claiborne is 0-for-2, but it is still early and he is just a rookie. The Cowboys need takeaways, though, and Claiborne might be their best bet, rookie or not.

Head over to Blogging the Boys for all of your Cowboys coverage and see if they can actually manage a few takeaways.

Jay Ratliff Injury: Cowboys NT Out For Week 3

After missing each of the first two weeks of the season with a high ankle sprain, Cowboys nose tackle Jay Ratliff will remain out of the lineup when the Cowboys host the Buccaneers in Week 3.

During his press conference on Friday, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett told reporters that neither Ratliff or center Phil Costa will be back in the lineup Week 3. "We don't anticipate those guys playing this week. But we're hopeful they can be back (soon)," Garrett said.

Speaking of Ratliff, Garrett told reporters that the defensive tackle "hasn't had any setbacks," but wouldn't provide a timetable for his return, saying "We evaluate these things almost on a day-to-day basis."

Ratliff, a Pro Bowler in each of the last four seasons, has been out of the lineup since suffering the sprain in an Aug. 25 preseason game against the St. Louis Rams.

This story was originally published on SBNation.com.

For more on the Dallas Cowboys, visit Blogging The Boys. For news and analysis across pro football, make a trip to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers: Keys To The Game

After a disappointing loss in Seattle, Dallas returns home looking to get their season on track when they host Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers: Garrett Wants Ball Spread Around

The Dallas Cowboys are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 27-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, and head coach Jason Garrett would like to see his team spread the ball around in their Week 3 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Cowboys Corner.

Dallas had trouble getting the ball to Dez Bryant against the Seahawks in Week 2, as the third-year wide receiver was targeted seven times, but dropped two passes and caught three for just 17 yards.

Garrett was asked if he expects more out of Bryant, and replied that it's all relative.

" ... we believe in our offensive football team, and we believe you have to be able to use all the weapons at our disposal and attack different ways."

"You can find something bad in our offense every week. Dez catches 10, what happened to [Kevin] Ogletree? That's a philosophy you can take, but our philosophy is everyone has a role, and everyone can do their job to the best of their ability. The quarterbacks throws to the right guy, and let's keep going on. Whoever the right guy to make the play at the time, he's got to make the play."

The Cowboys (1-1) will likely look for quarterback Tony Romo to spread the ball between wide receivers Bryant, Ogletree and Miles Austin, as well as tight end Jason Witten in Sunday's game against the Bucs. Ogletree had one catch for 26 yards, Witten had four catches for 58 yards and Austin finished with five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys' loss against the Seahawks.

Kickoff is slated for noon CT at Cowboys Stadium and the game will be televised on FOX.

For more on the Dallas Cowboys, join the discussion at Blogging The Boys. For all of your NFL needs, keep an eye on SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Week 3 NFL Odds: Buccaneers Vs. Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys enter Sunday afternoon's Week 3 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as 9.5-point favorites despite a loss in Week 2.

According to OddsShark, the Cowboys opened as anywhere between 7-and 9-point favorites following their dismal 27-7 loss in Seattle to the Seahawks in Week 2. After out-playing and leading the defending champion New York Giants for portions of the game, the Buccaneers blew a 14-point lead to fall to Eli Manning and company, 41-34.

Over/under point totals, according to OddsShark, for this contest are currently at 46.5 as quarterbacks Tony Romo and Josh Freeman lead offenses that have shown potential for fireworks through the first two weeks of the season.

Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CT at Cowboys Stadium and can be seen on Fox.

For more coverage of this Sunday's game, make sure to check out Blogging The Boys, SB Nation's Cowboys blog, or coverage of Tampa Bay over at Bucs Nation.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers: The View From Tampa

After last week, Dallas has some work to do. It all starts with this Sunday's home game against the Bucs, so we enlisted SB Nation's Tampa Bay blogger for the skinny on our foe.

Golden Tate Fined For Hit On Cowboys LB Sean Lee

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate has been fined by the NFL for his hit on Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee in Sunday's game, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport (via SBNation.com).

The massive block happened on a play in which Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson decided to scramble as the play broke down. Tate described the block in an interview on KJR in Seattle (via Sports Radio Interviews):

"I don't think I hit him as hard as it looked, to be honest. I felt fine. The comparison I gave was any time you hit a baseball bat square, you don't really feel it that much, or hitting a perfect drive. That was the feeling I got, kind of. It didn't hurt me, my neck feels fine, I'm not very sore today. So I made it out of that one safely."

Lee made it out safely as well, and the Dallas linebacker was a good sport about the whole situation. And, although Tate feels fine, his wallet will hurt just a little bit, as he'll be forced to pay a minimum of $21,000 for the hit.

For more on the Seahawks, be sure to visit Field Gulls. Additional coverage on the Cowboys can be found at Blogging The Boys, while SB Nation's NFL hub is the place to go for news and analysis from around the league.

Cowboys Vs. Bucs Odds: Dallas A Touchdown Favorite

Will coming home solve all the problems that presented themselves in Dallas' 27-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday?

That's apparently what the odds makers in Vegas believe, as the Cowboys are -7 favorites in their game over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

But while the Cowboys have been as inconsistent as they were in 2011, the Buccaneers look significantly improved from the squad that went 4-12 last year and got Raheem Morris fired.

Under first-year coach Greg Schiano, Tampa stunned the Carolina Panthers, 16-10, in Week 1 before blowing a huge fourth-quarter lead to the New York Giants in Week 2.

The oddsmakers expect a reasonably high-scoring game, with an over under of 46.5. Coincidentally enough, that was the exact score of the two teams game in 2011, with Dallas winning, 31-15.

However, there appears to be more fight in the Bucs this year, as the core of a 10-6 playoff team in 2010 appears to have rebounded from last year's disaster.

For more on the Cowboys, check out Blogging the Boys and stick with SB Nation Dallas. Stay with SB Nation for all things NFL and be sure to check out our YouTube channel:

Week 3 NFL Picks And Predictions: Buccaneers Vs. Cowboys

Experts weigh in on who will win Week 3 between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL Schedule 2012: Dallas Plays Home Opener Early Sunday

After a bad loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, the Dallas Cowboys will finally play their first home game of the season when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. It may not be a cake-walk, as Tampa put up a mighty fight against the New York Giants in their own Week 2 affair. Only an unbelievable fourth quarter by Eli Manning kept the Bucs from improving to 2-0. The teams will face off at noon on Sunday.

Sunday night will probably bring the game with the most intrigue as the Patriots face the Ravens in a battle of two teams coming off of surprising losses.

Here is the full slate of games for Week 3, all times given are Central:

Thursday, Sept. 20

• Giants vs. Panthers, 7:20 p.m., NFL Network

Sunday, Sept. 23

• 49ers vs. Vikings, 12:00 p.m., FOX
• Lions vs. Titans, 12:00 p.m., FOX
• Rams vs. Bears, 12:00 p.m., FOX
• Buccaneers vs. Cowboys, 12:00 p.m., FOX
• Bengals vs. Redskins, 12:00 p.m., CBS
• Jaguars vs. Colts, 12:00 p.m., CBS
• Chiefs vs. Saints, 12:00 p.m., CBS
• Jets vs. Dolphins, 12:00 p.m., CBS
• Bills vs. Browns, 12:00 p.m., CBS
• Eagles vs. Cardinals, 3:05 p.m., FOX
• Falcons vs. Chargers, 3:05 p.m., FOX
• Texans vs. Broncos, 3:25 p.m., CBS
• Steelers vs. Raiders, 3:25 p.m., CBS
• Patriots vs. Ravens, 7:20 p.m., NBC

Monday, Sept. 24

• Packers vs. Seahawks, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

The full NFL schedule for the entire season can be found over at SI.com.

More on the Dallas Cowboys can be found over at Blogging The Boys. Check out SB Nation's NFL Hub and YouTube channel for more:

Jerry Stands Behind Felix Jones

Cowboys Vs. Bucs: Tampa Looks Improved Under Greg Schiano

After a 10-6 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010, the expectations for the young team with former first-round pick Josh Freeman at the helm were sky high. And the team fell flat on their face. With just four wins in 2011, the Bucs finished the season on a 10-game losing streak and Raheem Morris was fired.

While the move to hire Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano wasn't universally liked, the early returns for the Buccaneers have been promising as they've looked like anything but a 4-12 team in 2012. After beating the Panthers in Week 1, Tampa Bay built up a big lead on the road against the Super Bowl champion-New York Giants in Week 2.

Although the Giants pulled together a furious rally with 25 points in the fourth quarter to snatch away the win with less than a minute remaining, the second consecutive impressive performance hasn't gone unnoticed.

After a bad Week 2 loss to the Seahawks, the Cowboys have the task of hosting this improved Buccaneers squad in Week 3.

For more on all things Cowboys, check out Blogging the Boys and join the discussion.

Cowboys Vs. Buccaneers: Dallas Looks To Rebound In Home Opener

The Dallas Cowboys look to rebound from a Week 2 loss, as they play host to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.