Dallas Cowboys vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4 Storylines for the Week 15 Matchup

The Cowboys and Buccaneers enter Saturday night's game both desperate for a win. 

The Cowboys (7-6) need a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, while the the Buccaneers (4-9) need a victory to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Dallas is coming off back-to-back close losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, and they are heavy favorites against a reeling Tampa team.

Here are four storylines for Cowboys-Buccaneers game Saturday night.

Felix Jones vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Run Defense

In his first game since DeMarco Murray's season-ending ankle injury, Jones looked like he's ready to be Dallas' featured back.

In Week 14, Jones finished for 16 carries for 106 yards against the New York Giants. He also added six catches for 31 yards. It was Jones' best performance since Week 3.

He should find plenty of running room tonight against a Tampa Bay defense that surrendered 136 total yards and four touchdowns to Maurice Jones-Drew in Week 14.

The Buccaneers defense ranks 27th against the run and pass     

Tony Romo vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pass Defense

Romo is coming off a superb game in Week 14 against the New York Giants. He finished that game with 321 passing yards and four touchdowns—his best statistical game of the season.

The Bucs pass defense, meanwhile, has been abysmal recently.

Last week, Tampa Bay surrendered 41 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars, which included two touchdown passes by Blaine Gabbert.

Romo is a far better quarterback than Gabbert and has a ton of play makers around him. Romo should find plenty of opportunities to exploit Tampa's weak secondary.  

LeGarrette Blount vs. Dallas Cowboys Run Defense

The Buccaneers won't be able to keep up with the Cowboys if they're forced to pass a lot. The Bucs need to establish Blount early and keep Tony Romo off the field.

Blount has the ability to wear down defenses and keep the chains moving for the Bucs. But he also has fumble issues. He fumbled twice in Tampa's Week 14 loss to Jacksonville. 

Despite the fumbles, Blount was still effective in that game, scoring a touchdown and averaging more than four yards per carry.  

Dallas defense was bulldozed by the Giants' Brandon Jacobs, who ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns in Week 14. Blount has a similar physical running style and could have the same success. But the Bucs must stay committed to the run.

Josh Freeman vs. Dallas Cowboys Defense

In Week 14, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was able to find open receivers virtually everywhere on the field against the Dallas defense. Manning finished that game with 400 yards passing and two touchdowns.

While Freeman isn't Manning, he does have a good opportunity to get back on track tonight against a vulnerable Dallas defense.

Freeman has just one touchdown pass in his last two games, and that came in Week 12. He did miss Week 13 with a shoulder injury.

Dallas' defense ranks 24th against the pass and struggled last week to get pressure on Manning. If Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who has been limited by a neck stinger, is still limited, Freeman could be in for a nice game tonight.