Cowboys defense looks to tighten up on road vs. Dolphins’ No. 1 offense full of ‘track runners,’ cheat motion

FRISCO, Texas — Week 16’s showdown of the 10-4 Dallas Cowboys at the 10-4 Miami Dolphins is historic. It’s tied as the matchup coming latest in a season in NFL history between two teams averaging 30 or more points per game, with Dallas ranking as the NFL’s No. 2 scoring offense (30.8 points per game) and Miami leading the league (31.5 points per game). 

Both offenses are loaded with playmakers. The Cowboys are stocked with Pro Bowl running back Tony Pollard, Pro Bowl wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, sage veteran Brandin Cooks and emerging second-year tight end Jake Ferguson. The Dolphins have perhaps the fastest group of skill positions players in the NFL, including the 2023 league leader in receiving yards (1,542) and receiving touchdowns (Tyreek Hill), the 2022 league leader in yards per catch (Jaylen Waddle, 18.1), the 2023 co-leader in scrimmage touchdowns (Raheem Mostert)  and the 2023 league co-leader in scrimmage touchdowns by rookies (De’Von Achane). 

“Yeah, it’s very fun, different ways of moving players,” Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said Thursday when asked about the high-powered matchup. “A lot of playmakers, a lot of speed. We have speed, they have track runners. Very excited. Looking forward to it.”

Lamb’s 25 plays of 20 or more yards this season ranks as the second-most in the NFL behind only Hill’s 26. A high school track athlete himself, Lamb is naturally excited about the race to light up the scoreboard with Hill and the Dolphins. However, Dallas’ fifth-ranked scoring defense that allows an average of 18.9 points per game, isn’t as thrilled to be to go up against Miami’s turbo-charged offense. All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who leads the NFL in quarterback pressures (89) and quarterback pressure rate (20.9%), was clocked at an average pass rush get-off time time of 0.57 seconds in Week 2 against the Jets, the fastest of any player in a game across the last two seasons….

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Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2023-12-22 17:16:02

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