Slight edgeTB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
78.5PFM Team Score#17 NFL
VS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers higher than the Dallas Cowboys overall, with a slight advantage. The main reasons are the stronger defense and the less uncertain coaching staff.
Current PFM Team Scores
DAL
Dallas Cowboys
77.3PFM Team Score#19 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Higher
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the more dependable defense. It does not need the offense to answer every possession to keep control of a game. Dallas' strongest counterargument is Offense. The Cowboys can create offense in more than one way. One bad matchup is less likely to shut down the entire scoring approach.
Tampa Bay also brings the less uncertain coaching staff. That is enough to keep the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
Tampa Bay vs. Dallas Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
TBTampa Bay Buccaneers
DALDallas Cowboys
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Dallas Cowboys’ Best Argument
The offensive edge favors the Dallas Cowboys because the unit has the better week-to-week floor. It can keep moving even when the first answer is taken away. The offense advantage is a real point in Dallas' favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Dallas is that Tampa Bay counters with the stronger defense and the less uncertain coaching staff.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
TB78.5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.5DAL77.3
Dallas Cowboys 77.3Overall NFL Rank
TB#17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #17DAL#19
Dallas Cowboys #19QB Stability
TB78.8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 78.8DAL81.9
Dallas Cowboys 81.9Roster Strength
TB79.1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 79.1DAL78.0
Dallas Cowboys 78.0Coaching Direction
TB76.6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 76.6DAL73.5
Dallas Cowboys 73.5Recent Performance
TB77.4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 77.4DAL75.2
Dallas Cowboys 75.2Offense
TB79.0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 79.0DAL84.5
Dallas Cowboys 84.5Defense
TB82.6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 82.6DAL68.8
Dallas Cowboys 68.8Franchise Direction
TB75.2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75.2DAL74.1
Dallas Cowboys 74.1Explosiveness
TB73.8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 73.8DAL73.9
Dallas Cowboys 73.9Conference Rank
TB#8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #8DAL#10
Dallas Cowboys #10Division Rank
TB#1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers #1DAL#2
Dallas Cowboys #2Outlook
TBIn the Playoff MixDALIn the Playoff Mix
Same outlookSCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Remaining schedule rank: #21
Toughest stretch: Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Strongest opponents: Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams
Next five difficulty: 79.7
View Tampa Bay Buccaneers Road AheadDallas Cowboys
Remaining schedule rank: #22
Toughest stretch: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars
Strongest opponents: San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams
Next five difficulty: 76.2
View Dallas Cowboys Road AheadTampa Bay has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 21. The strongest opponents include Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams. Dallas gains one meaningful schedule advantage, while Tampa Bay still owns the stronger football advantages elsewhere.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated October 27, 2026. Schedule data updated October 26, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams