Cowboys at Dolphins Stock Report: Mike McCarthy, offensive line hold team back.

Everything was completely under the Dallas Cowboys’ hands. Travels to Buffalo and Miami loomed, with everyone in the world questioning their ability to win away from home against strong teams. Although the Bills were struggling, the football community still believes that they are far better than they appeared in the middle of the season. When the Dolphins took the field on Christmas Eve, they had the same record as the Cowboys, but just like Dallas, the Fins were anxious to dispel the myth that they were incapable of defeating elite opponents.

In a battle of one-team-gets-to-quiet-the-narrative, the Dolphins won and the Cowboys have now lost two games in a row for the first time since three Thanksgivings ago. Ultimately the Cowboys still have a shot at winning the NFC East, but a perceived inability to win on the road against premium competition casts a heavy shadow over that optimism.

Here is our stock report following Sunday’s loss. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Stock Down: Mike McCarthy

It can be true that Mike McCarthy has been exactly what this franchise needed and that he has done a poor job of readying his troops over the last couple of weeks. The penalties, including pre-snap ones, continue to persist and ultimately so does the disposition of not being willing to attack.

We heard this team’s motto back in the summer: “seize everything.” What happened to that? This is meant to represent a club that has experienced the lowest points of grief the NFL can offer and has moved on from it permanently. The Cowboys have the benefit of knowing they will play in the playoffs ever since their two-game losing skid started, but the head coach and playcaller need to be better prepared to attack. Of course, Sunday was not a playoff game.

Stock Down: Dak Prescott

Ultimately the Cowboys quarterback played a rather solid game and actually kept a lot of things alive that may have otherwise collapsed for other reasons (we’ll get to the “other” shortly).

But the standard is different and the evaluation isn’t always as fair as it is for others. Prescott has had a really good year. but like with McCarthy multiple things can be true, and the offense was really stuck for most of the contest in Miami. As the quarterback and the straw that stirs the drink, there has to be more than a go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter.

Stock Down: Tony Pollard

Last week the Cowboys’ running game was declared a “volatile stock” because it felt like they showed signs of improvement on a day where just about everything was terrible.

But the game in Miami was not a good one for Tony Pollard and obviously the Dolphins defense came ready to play, but this is December. Today is Christmas! You need to be able to run the ball at this time in the year and particularly so when the postseason tournament begins. Pollard managed only 38 yards on 12 carries on a day where nothing was really there on the ground (Dallas had 97 yards total rushing).

Stock Down: Chuma Edoga

What is there to say? It turns out missing Tyron Smith is rather consequential!

Honestly it feels unfair to hold Edoga to some sort of lofty standard, like replacing a future HOFer, but you have to be ready when the moment calls upon you and the moment came and Edoga let Bradley Chubb walk on by.

It wasn’t just that Edoga was not Tyron Smith, it was that he (seriously) seemingly allowed un-contacted Dolphins to fluster his quarterback. We cannot have that.

Stock Down: Tyler Smith

This was one of the less great games that Smith has played throughout his Cowboys career, but the list of them is not very long. Perhaps he missed the elder Smith more than we did as he seemed all sorts of lost against Miami’s front. Poor play and penalties are a bad combination and unfortunately on Sunday they described Smith’s game

Stock Up: CeeDee Lamb

Remember when it felt like the Cowboys were obsessed with targeting him and getting him involved? I’d like Marty and the Doc to take us back to those days.

Seriously, CeeDee Lamb is a superstar and he played like one against the Dolphins. The only negative thing is that he was not used much more

Stock Up: DeMarcus Lawrence

The Cowboys got beat up on the ground last week in Buffalo, and as someone who plays rather well in that department, a lot of us held DeMarcus Lawrence responsible in the proper way.

To his credit Tank responded with a resounding force. He was everywhere against Miami and made an incredible effort. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough.

Stock Up: Jalen Tolbert

He had a big-time moment on offense which was very cool to see. We do not get to see a lot of him obviously so any involvement is a positive step, but coming up with a clutch catch when your team needs it is always a great thing.

Stock Up: Brandon Aubrey

What we are witnessing here is historic and not normal. How has he made 33 consecutive field goals to begin his career? This is one of the greatest seasons that a kicker has ever had.

Stock Up: Brandin Cooks

The short-lived, lead-taking touchdown was a reminder that he can be used in ways besides taking the top off of the defense. When the moment called Brandin Cooks answered which was highly impressive.

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