Dallas Cowboys (2-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa – TV: FOX
*TV announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver
*Keys to the game: The Cowboys can move the ball, the question is whether Dallas is able to punch it in for points. Given the Bucs allowed 32.2 points per game in their five losses this season – and rank dead last in red zone defense – the Cowboys should get off the bus in attack mode. QB Matt Cassel passed for 299 yards last week, but the dominant run-blocking line is still the meal ticket for this team. Dallas averages 4.5 yards per rush, including 4.1 per carry from starter Darren McFadden, who starts for the third consecutive game. He has 76 carries for 333 in those three games.
Rod Marinelli’s defense in Dallas is a direct derivative of Lovie Smith’s version of the Tampa 2, a scheme Bucs rookie QB Jameis Winston sees daily in practice. The Cowboys pose a threat with the defensive ends to bend the corner, but size in the secondary is a weakness that can be exploited if the Bucs are willing to trust Winston to deliver under fire. Smith has long preferred to lean on the running game and RB Doug Martin is doing his job, taking pressure off Winston with a career year. If Winston finds himself in long distance situations on third downs, he’ll be under attack. With time, 6-5 WR Mike Evans could be his preferred target against 5-11 CB Brandon Carr. Evans had 150 receiving yards last week but dropped six passes.
*Matchup to watch – Martin vs. Cowboys MLB Rolando McClain: McClain was a weak link in the run defense last week when the Eagles racked up 172 rushing yards. Dallas has allowed only one 100-yard rusher this season but Martin has seven runs of 20-plus yards and doesn’t go down easily, which could expose the Cowboys as weak tacklers on the second level.
*Player spotlight – Cowboys WR Dez Bryant: Limited by a knee injury in practice, Bryant caught his first touchdown pass of the season last week in a 104-yard game. If his legs hold up, he should devour the soft zone coverage of the Bucs.
*Fast facts: The Cowboys’ six-game losing streak is their longest since the team went 1-15 in 1989. Dallas had losing streaks of eight and seven games separated by their lone win in ’89. … Winston has gone four consecutive games without a turnover.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
In what could be the final start this season for QB Matt Cassel, the Cowboys get to the fourth quarter with the opportunity to get their first win since September and the defense delivers.
*Our pick: Cowboys 26-20