David Kull
The Dallas Cowboys have trampled every team that has stepped foot in AT&T Stadium. The problem is, the same thing has happened to them on the road.
And if recent history holds true, Sunday’s game at Miami is unfortunately shaping up to be another road-kill game for the Dallas Cowboys, underscoring a problem that could destroy their Super Bowl chances.
In Week 15, the Buffalo Bills did more than just expose the Dallas Cowboys’ struggles to win on the road, where they are 3-4. They also showed where the Cowboys are most vulnerable — against the run.
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook had a career-day against the Cowboys, with 179 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns, one of them on a pass. Overall, the Bills, who have the NFL’s fourth-best run offense, gashed the Cowboys for 266 yards and three rushing touchdowns in their 31-10 victory.
The Dallas Cowboys (10-4) have the sixth-ranked defense, but they rank only 16th against the run. In at least three of their four road losses — to Buffalo, the Arizona Cardinals, and the San Francisco 49ers — the Cowboys surrendered rushing yardage totals of 266, 222, and 170, respectively.
Their poor performance on the road led star linebacker Micah Parsons to rip the team’s effort, saying it’s “unacceptable” and “there’s no excuse for it.”
The Bills bludgeoned the Cowboys on the ground more than any other team this season. But it could get even worse for the Cowboys over the next two weeks.
Tougher times ahead for Dallas Cowboys run defense
The Dallas Cowboys have back-to-back games against two of the top four rushing offenses, beginning with Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The Dolphins, ranked fourth (139.6), boast one of the NFL’s most potent rushing duos in Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. Mostert, who’s third in the league with 968 yards, leads the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns, which just broke Ricky Williams’ 21-year-old franchise record of 16.
Meanwhile, Achane has had a breakout rookie season and, when healthy, is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. In only eight games, Achane has 613 yards and averages an astounding 8.5 yards per carry.
That 1-2 punch could be deadly to the Dallas Cowboys, who surrender 148.3 rushing yards per game on the road compared to 86.6 yards per game at home, where they are 7-0.
After the Mostert-Achane tandem, the Cowboys face one equally as challenging in David Montgomery (855 yards) and Jahmyr Gibbs (792 yards) of the Detroit Lions, who rank second in run offense.
The saving grace for the Cowboys is that they’ll play the Lions at home, where the most rushing yards they’ve allowed in a game is 111 against the New York Giants.
After that, the Cowboys finish on road against the Washington Commanders, a team that lacks a strong run game. But considering the Cowboys’ road struggles, the Commanders’ run game could have its best day.
With the No. 2 seed in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys can’t afford to fall any lower, which might necessitate them going on the road for a playoff game.
In true Jekyll and Hyde fashion, the Dallas Cowboys have a point differential of +171 at home and -4 on the road. It all starts with the ground game, which is likely to ground the Cowboys’ season to a halt in the playoffs anywhere outside of Dallas.
