Cowboys at Dolphins: 5 Keys to Win, Injury, Inactives, Prediction
The Dallas Cowboys face the Miami Dolphins as they look to put last week's Buffalo Bills debacle behind them. Dallas will have its work cut out slowing down this Miami offense but does have the tools to do it.
The run defense was no doubt a priority this week inside The Star as the Dolphins possess a stellar, albeit different type of rushing attack.
Buffalo's was more physical style, whereas Miami's is speed, pure, blistering speed.
So, if coach Mike McCarthy's Cowboys are to get over their road and run defense woes today at Hard Rock Stadium, how will they do it?
But doing these five things.
First, though, the inactives: Trey Lance, Noah Igbinoghene, Eric Scott, Deuce Vaughn, Tyron Smith, Jalen Brooks and Johnathan Hankins.
Now to the five keys.
1. Get the 'Texas Coast Offense' rolling early: With Tyron Smith out, the Cowboys' offensive line isn't at full strength, and considering the pass rushers Miami has, that's problematic.
Dak Prescott must get the ball out quickly, and not force the offensive line, which could have a not-100-percent Zack Martin as well, to hold up for too long.
Can CeeDee Lamb in the slot be a quickie solution?
Starting fast has been preached all week inside The Star, and Prescott needs to get things going in a hurry. ... But again, the "why'' is easier than the "how.''
2. Win on the ground: What might have gotten lost last week was that Tony Pollard looked like his electric self as he had 52 rushing yards on just 11 carries but due to the score, it the run game was parked.
But the Dolphins defense doesn't allow many rushing yards ... at all. They have only allowed 100 yards rushing just four times this season and in three of their last five games, haven't allowed more than 36 rushing yards.
Getting Pollard going will slow down the likes of Bradley Chubb (9.5 sacks), Christian Wilkins (8.0), and Zach Sieler (7.5) from getting after Prescott.
3. Slow Miami's rushing attack: The Dolphins running game with Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane can do serious damage if they are allowed to run wild and Miami has rushing totals of 145, 350, 142, 222, 162, 167, 123, and 158 this season.
Add to that, the Dolphins have the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL (26) and are fourth for rush yards per game (139.6), the plan is clear - don't get overrun. Easier said than done, though.
And no, Micah Parsons, you trying to sprint with your buddy Tyreek - who is planning to play despite a bum ankle - isn't the answer.
The Cowboys face the Dolphins as they look to bounce back from the humbling loss to the Bills in Week 15.
4. Limit explosive plays: When you have Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Mostert, and Achane, you see why Tua Tagovailoa likes to hit the home-run passes (Miami is first in pass yards per game at 274.4).
Conversely, if those aren't available, then quick passes to his receivers who can then do their work in open space and rack up big yards after the catch are just as beneficial.
Don't get beat deep, and tackle well. Force Miami to go the long way to score, don't allow the 70-yard bombs to beat you.
5. Win on third down: One of the Cowboys' biggest weapons is their ability to pick up third downs (rank second in the NFL, 48.45 percent), while the Dolphins' defense, is 11th in stopping conversions, allowing them 36.81 percent of the time.
Having long, sustained, 11 or 12-play drives that end in points will be one way to winning this game. For all of Miami's explosive weapons, they can score if they aren't on the field.
Lamb was ineffective last week, and if Dallas is to move the chains consistently, Prescott will need 88 to break the shackles of Jalen Ramsey.
5A. Reel in the penalties: Again an extra key here. Dallas helped the Bills score 18 of their 21 first-half points with costly defensive and special-teams penalties.
In big games, the Cowboys' discipline seems like it goes out the window and they lead the NFL in penalties (102) and average 7.9 penalties on the road.
Limit the laundry, please. ... and then of course find a way to overcome the mental obstacle of what our Mike Fisher has termed, "The road. The conditions. The grass. The quality foe - all real Dallas problems, not mirages'' ... and maybe Fish's prediction of Miami 27, Dallas 24 can be proven wrong.
