Dolphins Clinch Playoff Berth with Win Over Cowboys
If you were watching football on Christmas Eve, there is no doubt you should have tuned into this game. While there is clearly extreme talent on both of these teams between Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Dolphins proved they were the better team today as they got the win 22-20 in this one. With this win, Miami clinches a playoff berth and stays at the top of their AFC East division and second in the AFC overall. With this loss, the Cowboys fell to 10-5 on the season and now sit second in their NFC East division and fifth overall in the playoff picture for the NFC. Next week Miami will hope to get another win to take over the number one spot in the AFC as they head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens, while the Cowboys will hope to rebound from this loss and get a much-needed win as they head back home to Dallas to take on the Lions on Saturday night. Let’s take a look at how Miami got this win.
The Dallas Cowboys would have a rough first drive in this game as quarterback Dak Prescott fumbled the football on the Miami 2-yard line. The ball was recovered by Miami safety Brandon Jones. The Dolphins would be able to use this great play by their defense to help them set up a 57-yard field goal attempt for kicker Jason Sanders and after Sanders made the field goal, the score was 3-0 Miami. The Cowboys would make up for their mistake on their previous drive by scoring a touchdown when they got the ball back as Prescott connected with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for a 49-yard touchdown and after kicker Brandon Aubrey made the extra point, Dallas had the lead 7-3. Later in the first half, Sanders would knock down another field goal, this one from 52 yards out, to make the score the game 7-6. When Miami got the ball back again for their last drive in the first half they would score again as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with running back Raheem Mostert for a 4-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 13-7 Dolphins as both teams headed to the locker room.
Both teams would trade field goals in the second half as Sanders hit a 54-yard field goal to put Miami up 16-7 and then Aubrey hit one from 43 yards out to make the score 16-10. Sanders would hit another one, this field goal from 35 yards out when the Dolphins got the ball back to put them up 19-10. Aubrey would then make a 33-yard field goal to bring the Cowboys within six points. Dallas’ defense would finally be able to get a stop when Miami got the ball and when the Cowboys got the ball back, they would score a touchdown as Prescott found wide receiver Brandin Cooks open for an 8-yard touchdown to make the score of the game 20-19 with nearly three minutes remaining. While this touchdown gave Dallas fans hope, the Dolphins ended that hope as Sanders knocked down his fifth field goal of the game, this time a 29-yarder to win this game 22-20 as time expired.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed twenty-four of his thirty-seven pass attempts in the game, finishing having thrown for 293 yards and one touchdown. Running back Raheem Mostert had eleven carries for 46 yards. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill led Miami in receiving yards in the game with nine receptions for 99 yards, but Mostert had the Dolphins only receiving touchdown on Christmas Eve. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott missed twelve of his pass attempts in this game, going twenty for thirty-two and throwing for 253 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Tony Pollard had twelve carries for 38 yards. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had six receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown and wide receiver Brandin Cooks also had a receiving touchdown in the game.
