Buccaneers at Cowboys -- Week 3
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas (turf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
Spread: Cowboys by 8
Records: Buccaneers (Overall: 1-1, NFC South: 1-0); Cowboys (Overall: 1-1, NFC East: 1-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- 2011: Cowboys 31, Buccaneers 15; 2009: Cowboys 34, Buccaneers 21. Series record: Cowboys hold a 12-3 edge.
What matters: After finishing as the NFL's worst rush defense in 2011, the Bucs are the third-best in the league in that category thus far this season, allowing only 52 yards per game. But those gains have been countered by the team's struggling pass defense, ranked 29th in the NFL (400.5 yards per game allowed). Struggling pass defense cost the Bucs a chance to win on the road against the Giants last week.
Who matters: The Buccaneers faced a tough pass rush last week against the Giants, who sacked QB Josh Freeman twice. Dallas features DeMarcus Ware, who can line up as a linebacker or rush end to attack opposing quarterbacks from different angles. Freeman threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns last week, but he also tossed a pair of interceptions. Tampa Bay's offensive line will have to give him time to operate if the Bucs hope to keep pace.
Key matchups: Tampa Bay's secondary vs. the Cowboys' receivers. A week after allowing Eli Manning to throw for 510 yards, the Bucs have to face a talented group of pass-catchers from Dallas. A healthy Jason Witten only adds to the challenge of facing receivers Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Kevin Ogletree. If Dallas gets its passing game (ranked fifth in the NFL at 268.5 yards per game) rolling, it will only get tougher to slow down RB DeMarco Murray.
Injuries of note: RT Jeremy Trueblood did not play last week against the Giants due to injury, and whether it's a result of Trueblood's injury or just the play of Demar Dotson, it is Dotson who will start at that position again this week. WR/KR Sammie Stroughter was placed on the injured reserve with a foot injury. On the Cowboys' side, safety Gerald Sensabaugh may not play due to a calf injury.
Inside stuff: The job of returning punts could be up in the air. The Bucs started the season with Preston Parker as the team's punt returner, but ball security issues led the team to replace him with Stroughter, who is now on injured reserve. Parker has since been released. Whoever takes over the job (perhaps Arrelious Benn, who is returning kickoffs) won't have to do much to replicate the previous production, as Tampa Bay ranks 29th in the NFL in punt return yardage.
Stat you should know: In three games against the Bucs, Dallas QB Tony Romo has had his way, throwing for at least three touchdowns in each matchup without tossing a single interception. Romo's average QB rating in games against Tampa Bay has been 144.8. Not surprisingly, all three games have ended in wins for the Cowboys.
Bulletin board quote: Coach Greg Schiano on if he expects the Cowboys to rely on the pass, given Romo's success against the team and the Bucs' secondary issues last week: "Oh, I would think so. They're a run-pass mix anyway, but they're not afraid to throw the ball. And until we stop it, why wouldn't they?"
Looking ahead: A win against Dallas would give the Bucs momentum headed into a favorable stretch of the schedule. After Sunday's game, Tampa Bay won't have to leave home again until Week 8, as home games against the Redskins, Chiefs and Saints are sandwiched around a Week 5 bye.
Prediction: Cowboys 30, Buccaneers 17
For more from Tampa Bay Bucs blogger Patrick Southern, follow @CBSBucs on Twitter.
