Cowboys most to Blame for pathetic Christmas Day Loss to Dolphins.
The Cowboys and Dolphins both had outstanding 10-4 records going into Week 16. They were considered the two best scoring offenses in the league. But both sides were able to execute key plays to secure late leads in a game where defensive prowess dominated for much of the afternoon. But in the end, the Dolphins had the final offensive play. This gave them the opportunity to win the game with a 29-yard field goal with one second remaining.
The Cowboys’ initial drive resulted in the game’s only official turnover. Just two yards short of a possible 7-0 lead, a misunderstanding between quarterback Prescott and fullback Hunter Luepke turned out to be a crucial moment that ultimately led to their downfall. Later on, we’ll talk more about that.
Sure, Dallas faced offensive struggles in the second quarter and the early stages of the second half. This was marked by three punts and a late-half mishap. As such, the Cowboys urgently needed to put points on the board. Although they managed to score 13 points in their final three possessions, their earlier offensive stagnation proved to be a decisive factor in their downfall.
Here we will look at the Dallas Cowboys who are most to blame for their Week 16 loss vs. the Miami Dolphins.
Offensive Line Woes
The Cowboys’ offensive line was a source of concern going into the contest. Tyron Smith’s back issue would now allow him to play. Zack Martin also struggled with a thigh problem. The Cowboys’ offensive line has not performed well during the season. They went into the game having given up 33 sacks. But it was hard to even keep it at a playable level against the Dolphins.
The Dolphins’ defensive line constantly applied pressure on Dak Prescott, which interfered with the Dallas ground game. The Cowboys, who only managed 97 running yards, mainly depended on CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks’ gimmick runs.
Prescott, though adept at extending plays, was sacked four times and faced limited opportunities to pass rhythmically. The Cowboys’ postseason aspirations could be in jeopardy if their offensive line doesn’t improve or regain health before the playoffs. Even main running backs Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle struggled with averages of 3.2 and 2.0 yards per carry, respectively.
Tony Pollard’s Struggles
Speaking of Tony Pollard, he should be the focal point of the Cowboys’ running game. In Week 16, though, he had a challenging outing. He rushed for just 38 yards on 12 attempts and caught one pass for five yards in the loss to the Dolphins.
Despite Pollard’s admission of recovering from offseason surgery and feeling healthier in recent weeks, his on-field performance hasn’t reflected his statements. His season-long struggles are evident, with a per-carry average more than a yard below last year’s breakout mark of 5.2. Next is an upcoming matchup against the Lions. They boast the fourth-stingiest run defense. As such, Pollard faces an uphill battle to regain his form.
Run Defense Woes
Even from the previous season, it was clear that the Cowboys struggled against the run. They have, regrettably, continued this year. Although the offense has frequently made up for it, the past several weeks have revealed a serious issue. The week before, the Bills gained 266 yards through the air. They won 31–10 because they controlled the game’s tempo.
The run defense was exposed once more against the Dolphins, giving up significant runs on the game-winning drive. Runs of six, eight, zero, and six yards were all profitable for Miami. By squandering time and stopping Prescott and the offense from having one more chance, they converted two for first downs. The Cowboys need to improve their run defense if they want to compete with clubs like the 49ers and Eagles in January.
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