Cowboys-Dolphins Game Preview: Elite Teams Meet in Miami
Miami the Slightest of Favorites in Battle of 10-4 Teams
One of the best NFL games of the week will take place on Christmas Eve in Miami when the Cowboys visit the Dolphins. Both teams are 10-4 straight-up and 9-5 against the NFL betting odds. Dallas has clinched a playoff spot, while the Dolphins are looking to do the same with a victory. The Cowboys-Dolphins game preview shows the spread has moved to even and the total on the game is down slightly to 50.
Cowboys vs Dolphins 
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Day/Time:
Line: Miami -1.5
Total: 50
Streaming: FOX
Dallas Coming Off Blowout Loss
The Cowboys are certainly hoping for a better effort than they got last week, as Buffalo ran all over the Dallas defense. The Bills rushed for 266 yards and despite just 85 passing yards, Buffalo rolled to a 31-10 victory. But Dallas has struggled against the better teams this season. Dallas is 2-3 straight-up and 1-4 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record.
Dallas’ running game hasn’t been all that impressive this season. The Cowboys are running for 116.5 yards and 4.2 yards per carry against teams that allow 4.3 yards per rush. Dallas runs 28.1 times per game and throws 36. The passing game has been the strength of the offense, averaging 251.6 yards per game and 7.0 yards per pass attempt. Their opponents allow 6.5 yards per pass on average.
On defense, Dallas is allowing 18.9 points to teams averaging 20.2 points, so they’ve been playing a little better than average. The Cowboys allow 4.3 rushing yards to teams averaging 4.3 yards per carry. The strength of the Dallas defense is the pass defense, which allows just 176.9 yards per game and 6.1 yards per pass attempt.
Dolphins Off First Shutout Since 2020
Miami comes into this game off a 30-0 blanking of the New York Jets, its first shutout since blanking the Jets back in 2020. The Dolphins’ defense hadn’t allowed fewer than 13 points in any other game this season. Miami is still allowing 21 points per game to teams scoring 18.6 points per game. The Dolphins have been pretty good at stopping the run, allowing just 3.7 yards per carry. The pass defense isn’t that bad, either, allowing 203 yards and 6.0 yards per pass attempt.
The Dolphin’s defense doesn’t have to be that good with an offense that averages 31.5 points against teams that allow 22.4 points. Despite all the attention Tua Tagovailoa gets, Miami’s running attack is a big part of the offense. Rasheem Mostert is No. 3 among the NFL rushing leaders and should break the 1,000-yard barrier in this game. Miami gains 139.6 yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry.
The run game helps set-up things for the passing game, where the Dolphins average 274.4 yards per game and 8.3 yards per pass attempt. Tagovailoa leads the NFL player stats 2023 in passing yards, but he’s just No. 11 in quarterback rating.
The Cowboys-Dolphins game preview notes, like Dallas, Miami hasn’t fared well against teams with winning records at the time they played. The Dolphins are 0-3 straight-up and against the point spread this season.
What to Expect
Dallas will most likely come out throwing, mixing in a few runs to slow down the pass rush. The Cowboys are better at passing than running, while Miami is a little better against the run defensively.
Miami may be a little more inclined to try and establish the run early. When both facets of the offense are working, the Dolphins are tough to stop. The Cowboys are better defending the pass and Miami will look to hit Dallas where it’s weakest.
Who to Bet On?
Neither team has played well against winning teams, so there isn’t any real advantage or disadvantage for either squad. It may be a little more important for Miami to get at least one victory over a good team for confidence before the playoffs.
The Cowboys-Dolphins game preview sees the Cowboys have covered their last 10 games after a straight-up loss. The Cowboys are 3-0 in that role so far this season. But Miami is 6-1 straight-up and 5-2 ATS at home for the year.
Miami could very well be the right side, but it’s a little tough to go against the Cowboys and how well they bounce back after a defeat. Instead, the best play in this one is probably going to be the over-50. It’s a high number, but these two teams are capable of putting points on the scoreboard.
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