Yahoo Sports fantasy analyst Matt Harmon weighs in with his top takeaways from Sunday night's 26-24 victory for the Cowboys over the Buccaneers. Hear Matt's full conversation breaking down Week 16 with Andy Behrens on the "Yahoo Fantasy Forecast" podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
Here's what we care and don't care about coming out of Cowboys 26, Bucks 24.
What we care about is that I think this Cowboys team, we've seen enough.
The most logical thing they could do is the boring thing.
Bring Mike McCarthy back, bring Mike Zimmer back.
That's a defense on that side of the ball that I want to see built around what Zimmer is doing right now.
They make it tough.
On you up front, they play physical on the back end and they get sacks and turnovers.
That's how you win in the modern NFL.
You're never going to totally shut out a well-designed offense.
But with Micah Parsons back there, several other players returning from injuries, I think we've truly seen a good defense there in Dallas that has given a lot of quality offenses trouble down the stretch.
And I think we'll continue to do that the final two weeks of the season.
And I'd like to see them get another shot at it in 2025.
So, look, we know Dak, when he's healthy, can be good in this offense.
CD is a great player as well.
I think this group deserves another shot based on what we've seen in the final chapters of the 2024 season.
What we don't care about is, man, we don't care about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fate because I'm gonna be honest with you guys, I'm disappointed with this team, OK?
They had everything in their hands.
Heading into week 16, just win, win the final 3 games, they walk into the postseason, despite losing twice to their primary competition in the Atlanta Falcons.
Well, after this game, this nonsensical mess that we watched on Sunday Night Football, uh, they're no longer in control of their own destiny.
And honestly, I'm also mad at myself because I've talked about this Bucks offense.
Liam Cohen is one of my favorite coordinators to watch.
Cook right now.
They've got a good underrated offensive line, a viable quarterback, some interesting skilled position talent.
And like I said, I think it's all well constructed.
But at the same time, I've also talked about this defense as a total joke, a mess on that side of the ball.
Maybe I'm just the idiot here, but the thing I'm most disappointed in with Tampa Bay is that I just think injuries have become too much to bear on the offensive side of the football.
Kate Otton not being around in this game, Sterling Shepherd leaving halfway through, those guys were kind of doing a, a, a joint job to replace Chris Godwin's impact.
Well, When those guys aren't there, you see the problems.
Man, nobody's getting open for Baker Mayfield.
Completes just 60% of his passes through the interception, took 4 brutal sacks when plays exceeded 2.5 seconds per next gen stats.
That tells you all you need to know right now.
This offense is too chaotic and that does not compliment a defense on the other side that can't stop giving up production.