Cowboys and Dolphins each seek to cement contender status with win on Sunday

The Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys have both appeared to be contenders and pretenders at different points during the season.

Both clubs are 10-4, their defense and offense are among the best in the league, and they have defeated lower-tier opponents, often by staggering scores.

However, both have had difficulty playing against the league’s top teams.

Miami has faced winning teams in three of its four defeats, while teams with winning records in all ten of its victories have faced opponents with records of at least.500. The Cowboys’ only victory over a club with a winning record came against the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago, when they were thrashed 33-13.

According to Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, he advised his players not to focus on the “narrative” that they can’t defeat good teams or about their team’s potential postseason seeding (Miami is presently ranked second in the AFC and can secure a berth with a win on Sunday).

“With all due respect, I gave them permission to tell all media members to ‘F’ off, with all due respect. Anything other than to concern yourself with the next opponent, which for us is the Dallas Cowboys, any other narrative that has to do with good teams or playoff seeds or the next three games, all that stuff,” McDaniel stated on Monday.

The Dolphins have a chance to buck that trend on Sunday at home, whether they notice it or not.

The Cowboys are 3-4 on the road. Last week, they lost 31-10 at Buffalo, giving up 266 yards rushing while recording only 195 yards total.

“You can’t get to where you want to go being a .500 team on the road,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “You’re not going to be playing playoff games at home with that record either. It’s definitely a focus for us.”

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is averaging 304 yards passing with two interceptions and a 74% completion rate at AT&T Stadium. On the road, he’s averaged 216 yards per game with five picks and a 63% completion rate.

The Cowboys still have a chance to win the NFC East and guarantee the top seed in the conference, but they already secured a postseason place before playing Buffalo.

For the remaining games, McCarthy stated, his squad will rely on a combination of young players and experienced.

He explained, “This is the reason we spend so much time with our younger players.” “Because young players participate throughout this time of year. It’s also the most crucial time of the year because everyone is vying for postseason spots and other things. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to persevere, maintain consistency, and rely on your leadership.

COWBOYS INJURIES

Zack Martin, the right guard for Dallas, is set to play even though he bruised his left quadriceps during the first half against Buffalo. Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle, hurt his back against the Bills and was labeled as doubtful.

McCarthy stated that due to a sprained ankle, defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins will be “hard-pressed to go.” The Bills, who amassed more yards on the ground than any other Cowboys opponent in Dan Quinn’s three seasons as defensive coordinator, felt his absence.

ABOUT THAT DALLAS RUN DEFENSE

For an opportunistic team that thrives on turnovers and sacks, the Cowboys have improved in their weakest area. But when playing Buffalo, they regressed.

With his 179 yards of rushing, James Cook became the Dallas opponent with the most since Alfred Morris of Washington finished the 2012 season with 200 yards.

Stephon Gilmore, a cornerback, stated, “We weren’t physical.” They possessed greater physicality than we did. You offer yourself a chance to prevail as long as you are physically present. On Sunday, we weren’t that way.

CHILDHOOD TEAM

On Sunday, Tagovailoa will play the squad he grew up idolizing. Tagovailoa claimed that despite his family’s support for the Cowboys, they are now all Dolphins supporters. Nevertheless, he can’t wait to play the team he grew up watching in Hawaii.

“Just being able to see the star will be cool for the moment,” Tagovailoa remarked. “Seeing those guys with their jerseys on.” When I played high school football, I used to watch a few of the guys that are currently playing. And I get to play against a few of their team’s guys now.

COACHING CONNECTION

Quinn is familiar enough with McDaniel to know that the Cowboys defense will be prepared to improve on its subpar performance against the run last week. According to McDaniel, the performance exhibited “more Buffalo executing than this, that, or the other with Dallas.”

When Quinn was Atlanta’s head coach in 2015–16, McDaniel was an offensive assistant. He has previously mentioned that Quinn assisted in starting his sobriety path.

According to McDaniel, “he inspires guys to truly be their best selves.” “I’ve spent a few years seeing it with my own eyes.”

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