Rebounding Cowboys hit the road vs. high-powered Dolphins
Two of the NFL’s strongest teams meet on Sunday afternoon as the Dallas Cowboys will be at Hard Rock Stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins. Both teams sit at 10-4 and have the chance to win their divisions in the next few weeks, but they come into this game in the wake of vastly different results in Week 15.
The Buffalo Bills blew out the Cowboys 31-10, while the Dolphins cruised to a 30-0 victory at home against the New York Jets. The Cowboys registered a disjointed performance on tape on both sides of the ball, allowing 266 rushing yards and putting up 195 total yards of offense.
The Dolphins’ defense has been one of the best in the NFL since Jalen Ramsey came back from injury. Since Week 8, the Dolphins are first in EPA per play on defense — according to PFF — and are allowing just 241 yards and 15 points per game. Breaking down the defense could be tough for the Cowboys, but this is a team averaging 30.8 points per game.
CeeDee Lamb has evolved into a top weapon
CeeDee Lamb kept his touchdown streak alive against the Bills on Sunday night, making it six straight games with a touchdown, but the defense limited him to just seven catches for 53 yards. Lamb has been on a tear in 2023, catching 103 passes for 1,306 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s firmly on track to set career highs across the board, and his odds to win Offensive Player of the Year are .
Lamb has taken the next step as a receiver in 2023. He’s playing out wide on 40.3% of his snaps this season, compared to 36.5% throughout his career, and has proven that he can be one of the most explosive receivers in the league. Only Tyreek Hill has more catches for 20-plus yards than Lamb this season, per PFF. The Dolphins’ defense has been impressive, but it hasn’t faced a strong offense during its recent successful stretch.
The Dolphins’ path to victory likely includes the ground game
No offense has gained more yards or scored more points in 2023 than the Miami Dolphins, so even though the passing game with Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle is arguably one of the best in the league, the Dolphins will also have their ground game against the Dallas Cowboys. Miami is averaging 139.6 rushing yards per game this season, the fourth-most in the NFL, and the team has 26 rushing touchdowns — the most in the league.
The Dolphins will take on a Dallas defense that’s one of the best in the NFL, but it has a weakness: its ability to consistently defend the run. The Cowboys are allowing 117.4 rushing yards per game, which is in the middle of the pack, but they’re 22nd in run defense EPA, per PFF. On top of that, the Bills carved the Cowboys’ defense up with 266 rushing yards in the Week 15 blowout. If they give the ball to Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane, there’s a chance the Dolphins could have another big game on the ground.
Dolphins vs. Cowboys player props
Below, we will take a look at some player props for this matchup. If you are located in a state where Pickem contests are legal, feel free to check out PrizePicks, and Betr Picks.
Dolphins vs. Cowboys odds and betting lines
Dolphins vs. Cowboys head to head
| STATS | 
Dolphins
MIA | 
Cowboys
DAL |
|---|---|---|
| Offense Ranking OFF RNK | 21st | 11th |
| Defense Ranking DEF RNK | 6th | 16th |
| Offense Net Yards Per Game OFF NET YPG | 302.4 | 353.6 |
| Defense Net Yards Per Game DEF NET YPG | 285.4 | 329.4 |
| Passing Yards Per Game PASS YPG | 185.6 | 271.6 |
| Turnovers Committed Per Game TOC PG | 1.2 | 1.2 |
Dolphins vs. Cowboys injury report: Who’s out, who’s starting
The Cowboys lost starting right guard Zack Martin early in the first quarter against the Bills with a quad injury, though it doesn’t look to be serious, and there’s a chance he could start in Miami.
Miami was without Tyreek Hill for its Week 15 win over the Jets, and his status is questionable as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14. If the Dolphins don’t have Hill for the game versus the Cowboys, that likely means more action for Jaylen Waddle, who had eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown against the Jets.
Dallas Cowboys Week 16 injury update: Zack Martin questionable
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Zack Martin | Quadriceps | Questionable |
| Malik Hooker | Ankle | Questionable |
| Jonathan Hankins | Ankle/knee | Questionable |
