In one of the season’s most anticipated matchups, the Dallas Cowboys travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins.
It’s a battle of the top two scoring offenses in the NFL, and the expectation is they will smash the O/U 49.5 line from Vegas.
1st Quarter
The Cowboys won the toss, and perhaps considering the decision to kick last week, Mike McCarthy took the ball this time.
Dallas started with an impressive opening drive, but it ended in disaster.
McCarthy started the game with creative plays using wide receivers Brandin Cooks and CeeDee Lamb in the backfield.
The Cowboys ended up with a 3rd & Goal from inside the one-yard line, and disaster struck.
Dak Prescott handed the ball to Hunter Luepke, but he never got a hold of the ball, and the Dolphins recovered the unfortunate fumble.
The Dallas defense forced a third and long, and the Dolphins’ speed was on display.
Dolphins’ QB Tua Tagovailoa fired a pass up the right sideline to a streaking Jaylen Waddle who hauled in the pass for a 49-yard gain.
Miami, set up in Cowboys’ territory, converted a 57-yard field goal attempt by Jason Sanders for a 3-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, McCarthy continued to attack the Dolphins’ defense.
With a free release off the line, Lamb caught a short crossing route from Prescott and rumbled to the endzone for a 49-yard touchdown for a 7-3 lead.
Tagovailoa again took the Dolphins into Cowboys’ territory on the strength of chunk plays to Cedrick Wilson and Robby Chosen.
2nd Quarter
Another big run by Raheem Mostert put the ball inside the 15-yard line.
That set up a 4th & Goal from the five-yard line.
McDaniel decided to leave his offense on the field, but Dan Quinn’s defense came up with a stop to give the ball back to the offense.
Pinned near their own endzone and facing a 3rd and long play, Prescott fired incomplete, but a roughing the passer penalty on Miami extended the drive.
Another 3rd and long would force Dallas to punt for the first time in the game.
The Dolphins’ offense again was able to move the ball into Cowboys’ territory, this time ending the drive with yet another 50+ yard field goal from Sanders.
A 3 & out by the Dallas offense gave the ball right back to Miami with just under three minutes to play, and a chance to take the lead before the half.
They did just that.
After driving into Cowboys’ territory once again, and phantom roughing the passer call on Micah Parsons gave the Dolphins a new set of downs.
Tagovailoa hit Raheem Mostert on a play where he snuck out of the backfield for an easy touchdown.
Miami lead 13-7 at halftime.
3rd Quarter
Miami received the 2nd half kickoff, but were forced to punt after just one first down.
A great punt by Miami pinned Dallas inside the five yard line, where they would be forced to punt.
Yet another drive would end with a 50+ yard field goal by Sanders, extending the lead to 16-7.
Needing to get the offense going, Prescott fired a bomb up the right sideline to a streaking Jalen Tolbert for a 45 yard catch.
The drive would stall after an illegal shift penalty, and Dallas would settle for a 43-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal.
Miami would once again move the ball into Cowboys’ territory and settle for a field goal.
Sanders would knock through his fourth field goal of the day, this time from 35 yards away to extend the lead to 19-10.
4th Quarter
Prescott and the offense would move the ball into Dolphins’ territory.
They finally got a penalty to go in their favor by drawing an illegal contact penalty on a crucial 3rd down.
Unfortunately, they would again settle for a field goal from Aubrey from 33 yards away to narrow the score to 19-13.
On the ensuing drive, the Cowboys defense would continue their solid play, forcing a 3rd down to set up their first sack of the day.
Facing their own 3rd & 6, Prescott would connect with Lamb for his first reception since the first quarter.
Now in Miami territory, the offense would stay on the field for a crucial 4th & 2, and again would hit Lamb for a first down.
The crucial plays would continue after a 4th & Goal from the five yard line.
A whip route by Turpin would draw a pass interference penalty to give Dallas a first down inside the one yard line.
A few plays later on yet another 3rd & Goal, Prescott would hit a dragging Brandin Cooks to cap a 17-play drive with a touchdown.
The Dallas defense would start the next drive in the spotlight and the Cowboys nursing a 20-19 lead.
With only 3:27 left in the game, the Dolphins started what they hoped would be the game-winning drive.
Their hopes came true.
The Cowboys defense couldn’t get a stop when it mattered most, and Sanders would hit his fifth and final field goal of the game for the winning margin of 22-20.
Scoring Plays
- Jason Sanders 57-yard field goal (MIA 3-0)
- CeeDee Lamb 49-yard pass from Dak Prescott (DAL 7-3)
- Jason Sanders 52-yard field goal (MIA 6-7)
- Raheem Mostert 4-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa (MIA 13-7)
- Jason Sanders 54-yard field goal (MIA 16-7)
- Brandon Aubrey 43-yard field goal (DAL 10-16)
- Jason Sanders 35-yard field goal (MIA 19-10)
- Brandon Aubrey 33-yard field goal (DAL 13-19)
- Brandin Cooks 8-yard pass from Dak Prescott (DAL 20-19)
- Jason Sanders 29-yard field goal (MIA 22-20)