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For the second week in a row, the Dallas Cowboys will be taking over your television on Sunday night.

Last week, the Cowboys saw their 11-game winning streak end at the hands of the Giants in a 10-7 defensive slugfest that kept Dallas from clinching the NFC East. This week, things won't get any easier as the Cowboys will be hosting the hottest team in football: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That's no typo either; Tampa is actually the hottest team in football. The Bucs will be rolling into Sunday night riding a five-game winning streak, which is the tied with the Lions for the longest current streak in the NFL.

A big reason the Bucs have been so successful over the past five weeks is because their defense has been dominating every team they play. Since their winning streak started in Week 10, the Bucs have allowed an average of just 12.8 points per game. They've also forced 14 turnovers and opposing quarterbacks are averaging just a 62.5 QB rating against them. Tampa ranks No. 1 in each of those categories over the past five weeks.

The Bucs also rank No. 1 overall on the season in forced turnovers. Tampa Bay's defense has forced 25 turnovers which is tied with San Diego, Kansas City and Baltimore as the highest number in the NFL this year.

Tampa's penchant for forcing turnovers could be trouble for a Cowboys team that hasn't been able to hold on to the ball lately. Over their past two games, the Cowboys have turned the ball over a total of five times, which is a monstrous number when you consider that they had only turned the ball over five times in their past eight games combined.

Although Dak Prescott has struggled lately, that could actually work out in the Cowboys' favor on Sunday, because that means the Dallas offense might decide to give the Bucs a heavy does of Ezekiel Elliott.

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Will Ezekiel Elliott be able to run over the Buccaneers? USATSI

If the Bucs' defense has had one glaring weakness this season, it's stopping the run. Tampa is giving up an average of 110.7 yards per game, which ranks 21st in the NFL.

If Elliott, who leads the NFL in rushing with 1,392 yards, gets going on Sunday night, the Buccaneers might not be able to stop him. Two of the Bucs' biggest defensive stars -- Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David -- are hobbling into this game and have both been listed as questionable.

As for the Cowboys, their defense will take a hit with the absence of Demarcus Lawrence. Lawrence, who has been ruled out with a back injury, will be missing his first game due to health reasons. The Cowboys defensive lineman also missed the first four weeks of the season, but that was due to a suspension.

Oh, and if your Christmas wish was to get another Cowboys' primetime game, that's coming in Week 16. After two weeks of playing on Sunday night, the Cowboys will move to Monday night in Week 16 when they host the Lions on Dec. 26.

How to Watch

  • What: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys
  • When: Sunday, Dec. 18, 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • TV: NBC (Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth on the call, Michele Tafoya on the sideline)
  • Streaming: Game will be available on NBC Sports Live.
  • Online: NFL Game Pass (Available to watch online after midnight)
  • Odds: The Cowboys are are 7-point favorites (via SportsLine)

Injury Report

Buccaneers

Cowboys

Prisco's Pick

The Tampa Bay defense is giving up an average of 12.8 points the past five games. Doing that again likely won't happen, but the offense also can score, though it has slowed lately. Dallas struggled on offense vs. the Giants, and this will be close because of that. Dallas wins a tight one.

Pick: Cowboys 23, Buccaneers 20