Two 10-4 teams square off on Christmas Eve and both these teams haven’t beaten any good teams. The Cowboys beat the Eagles once but other than that, they’ve struggled against the big teams. The Dolphins on the other hand haven’t beaten any good teams and these last 3 games are big for them so they can establish themselves as real Super Bowl Contenders. This game will be the highlight of Sunday and a lot of people will be watching this afternoon game in Florida.
The Cowboys were destroyed last week against Buffalo but they got lucky as the Eagles also lost on Monday Night. We all know about Miami’s fast offense so Dallas has to do something to slow them down and take away the big plays. The Cowboys have a great defense and they have to be better against Tua’s flying offense. Their focus has to be on Tyreek Hill because he has torn defenses this year and the Dallas secondary has to break his partnership with Tua. Additionally, Tagovailoa gets the ball out quickly so the Cowboys defensive rushers have to be really fast and get to him before he can get the ball to his speedy receivers. I feel Tua sometimes struggles with pressure so the faster they pressure him, the more uncomfortable he’ll be. Dallas also needs to keep an eye on everyone because Miami is a creative team and they use players in different ways. Sometimes they go with 2 running backs, they do a lot of jet sweeps, and tosses. The Cowboys have to be attentive and they cannot give the speedy players much space. For Dak’s offense, they absolutely need to get the ball to other players. I don’t think CeeDee Lamb will have a big game so the others have to step up. His battle with Ramsey will be tough and a matchup to definitely watch. I say this every time but they can do more with the running backs. They have to get Pollard involved in different things and get him to break out. I’ve seen them run through the middle unsuccessfully with him way too many times and I don’t think that’s his strength. He has to be a more prominent part of this offense and I want to see Mike McCarthy use him more. Another loss could be demoting for them and they have to play much better than they did at Highmark Stadium.
There is a big spotlight on Miami not only because this is a huge game but also because they haven’t beaten a big team yet. They have lost to the Bills, Chiefs, and Eagles so a win in this game would be a statement. Their defense is healthy now that’s great and I believe Jalen Ramsey is not going to give a lot to Lamb. I think they’ll do a wonderful job of forcing Dallas to use Gallup and Cooks which will prove to be tough for the Cowboys. A good piece of news for their offense is that Tyreek Hill is likely going to play and after Waddle’s big game vs the Jets, that terrific wide receiver duo is even scarier. Dallas can’t double team both players so it’s all about execution and getting the ball successfully to Waddle or Hill. Their running backs are also you have to keep your eye on because Achane and Mostert are going to finish the game if given the space. They’re slippery and if given a space to run, they’re going to make Dallas pay. Mike McDaniel’s team plays the Ravens next so a win at home against Dallas is going to be a confidence boost.
My prediction for this game is that the Dolphins will win 31-27. All the players know they have something to prove and they’re going to be much more motivated. Additionally, the Dolphins know that Buffalo is creeping up behind them so they’ll be even more determined to win the division and get the higher seed. I believe that Dallas will continue to struggle on the road and this high octane Miami team will be too much for them. You can watch this game on FOX at 4:25 PM EST from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
It’s two teams who need a win against an elite team. Will the Cowboys come back after a rough outing last week and silence the 10-4 Dolphins or will Tua’s Dolphins prove to America that they are to be taken seriously?
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