Here are three matchups to follow when the Cowboys host the Buccaneers on Sunday...

Cowboys O-line vs. Buccaneers D-line

Dallas was without All-Pro right guard Zack Martin last Sunday in Indianapolis. Starting left guard Xavier Su'a-Filo exited early in the second quarter with an eye injury. Su'a-Filo is expected to start against Tampa, but Martin is questionable. The Cowboys will need all the help they can get against a talented Buccaneers defensive front.

"Each week it seems like we got a unique challenge as a lot of teams in this league have put a lot of investment in that front," Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. "And they're very similar to a lot of teams that we play in our division."

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul leads the team with 11.5 sacks, followed by defensive end Carl Nassib with 6.5 and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy with 6.

Tampa Bay's fourth starter up front is defensive tackle Vita Vea. The 12th overall pick in this year's draft was one of the Cowboys' 30 national pre-draft visitors.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara / AP)

Cowboys DBs vs. Bucs passing game

Atlanta superstar receiver Julio Jones is the only player with more receiving yards than Tampa Bay's Mike Evans this season.

Jameis Winston's favorite target has 74 receptions for 1,328 yards and five touchdowns on 120 targets. Evans also has 24 receptions of 20-or-more yards, second only to Kansas City's Tyreek Hill.

On the other hand, there should be opportunities for the Dallas secondary to make plays against a Bucs offense that leads the NFL with 25 interceptions, five more than any other team.

"Evans, he's elite now," Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. "Somehow, when he starts scrambling, he finds No. 13. They do a great job. They have great chemistry. [Winston's] a terrific quarterback, mobile guy and in the pocket. I think he's a winner. That guy just fights every down. He's a big-time competitor."

Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) and middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (54) combine for the tackle of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Sunday, November 18, 2018. The Cowboys pulled out a 22-19 win. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News) (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Linebackers

Carolina's Luke Kuechly and Seattle's Bobby Wagner were recognized earlier in the week as the NFC's two inside linebackers named to the Pro Bowl. The Cowboys and Buccaneers have a few players that were worthy of the conversation.

Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch are both already over 100 tackles on the season. Tampa Bay's Lavonte David, who made the Pro Bowl in 2015, is over 100 tackles for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

David is one of the defenders Sean Lee studies most in the offseason.

"He's just an unbelievable athlete with great instincts who plays extremely hard and has played well for a long time," Lee said. "He's a guy I've watched a ton of tape on, trying to steal stuff off of him."

Twitter: @jonmachota