Dallas Cowboys 2022 NFL preseason round-up: the Brady test, Tolbert, wide receiver issues

The Dallas Cowboys are going to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their season opener, a rematch of their Week 1 game last season where they lost to the Bucs 31-29.

The Tom Brady factor

The Cowboys are hoping to turn the tables this time around against the NFC South reigning champions. One thing they have to consider is the Tom Brady factor, as the quarterback has never lost to Dallas in his 22 years in the NFL. His record stands at 6-0, and the Boys will be hard-pressed to break his streak.

Brady leads the Bucs who had a 30.1 points-per-game average last season, a number surpassed only by the 31.2 points per game average delivered by the top offensive line last year- the Dallas Cowboys.

Jalen Tolbert

Stephen Jones may have said that the Cowboys expected too much of Jalen Tolbert too soon, but Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes the rookie wide receiver could still turn out to be the team’s surprise new star, and that he is likely to end this season at a level way above that of his contemporaries.

As Michael Gallup is still out due to his knee injury, Prescott will need a receiver to play second to CeeDee Lamb. In Gallup’s absence, Tolbert might just be able to fit the bill.

READ ALSO:

Wide receiver problems

Though there seems to be some optimism about what Tolbert can deliver, it cannot be denied that there is still a lot of doubt about what he can bring to the table. But if Tolbert is not the one to fill Gallup’s shoes, who will it be?

Sunday’s game will show whether Noah Brown will step up, or if Simi Fehoko will surprise, along with Dennis Houston and rookie KaVontae Turpin. The Cowboys will have to determine the best choice fast, as it looks like Gallup might not be fully recovered from his ACL tear in the first two weeks of the season.