NFL Thanksgiving Football Preview: Dolphins Have A Shot Against The Cowboys, It's Just Not A Big One

MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-7) at DALLAS COWBOYS (6-4)
Thanksgiving Day, 4:15 P.M. ET, CBS, Sirius (Mia 92, Dal 86), Westwood One Radio

Why Watch
NFL.com actually used the word "showdown" to describe the Dolphins at Cowboys game because both teams are riding three-game winning streaks into this Thanksgiving Day turkey. Miami's three wins came at the expense of a drained Kansas City, a Washington squad with a turnover machine at quarterback and a Buffalo team in freefall.

The Cowboys lead the New York Giants for the NFC East by virtue of a better division record. They are 4-1 at home. Tony Romo is a better quarterback than given credit. Whatever he cooked up with Coach Jason Garrett, it's working. Romo is interception-free in the current win streak.

Miami was a poor team (7-9) last season, suggesting that Jerry Jones angled for them to be his Thanksgiving Homecoming team. The viewing public deserved better for a nationally televised game. This is your window to drive over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house for dinner.

What To Watch
You are wrong if you think the Cowboys seems superior in every way to the Dolphins. Miami performs marginally better on defense. Miami is a field goal better in points allowed. Their rushing defense is a tad better than Dallas is and they are statistically better in third down conversions. Of course, Miami's defense allowed 20 more third down attempts than did Dallas.

On offense, the Cowboys do everything better than the Dolphins. Miami QB Matt Moore must envy Romo for his time with the team and his coach. Moore's future in Miami is as uncertain as for his coach, Tony Sparano, who is widely expected to be released at the end the season. Miami's offense has been stable with him, yet WR Brandon Marshall somehow is underused in this offense. The buzz on RB Reggie Bush is that he is an emerging every down back. Really? Bush has two games with over 90 rushing yards and only one game, on opening weekend, when he has touched the ball 20 times.

The AccuScore graphic on NFL.com shows the Cowboys winning 77 percent of its game simulations although it oddly projects Matt Moore having a better game than Tony Romo will. The Cowboys are favored by 7.  

Who Will Win
NFC fans up and down the East Coast hope for the Dolphins to upset the Cowboys. That will not happen unless the Cowboys help the process with turnovers. Dallas. 

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