Tony Romo is back to save the Cowboys season. At least that’s what the Dallas faithful are hoping. After watching his team lose all seven games while he was out with a broken collarbone, Romo will try and get the Cowboys back in the win column and back in contention in the woeful NFC East, where Dallas is just three games behind the division-leading Giants.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Miami Dolphins +1.5
Dallas Cowboys -1.5
Over/Under 46.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
Apparently not everyone is convinced Romo can turn the Cowboys’ season around and break their seven-game skid. The line was wagered down to a pick em after Dallas opened as 1.5-point chalk. Dallas is 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS with Romo and just 1-6 ATS without him.
KEY INJURIES
Morris Claiborne – Dallas’ starting cornerback exited last week’s game just before halftime with a hamstring injury. It was also noted he’s been dealing with an ankle injury and is questionable to play Sunday. Tyler Patmon would likely get the start if Claiborne can’t go.
Jelani Jenkins – Sat out practice this week with an ankle injury and was joined by Koa Misi, raising the prospect the Dolphins could be without two of their three starting linebackers Sunday. Both will probably be game-time decisions. Neville Hewitt and Spencer Paysinger, if he’s recovered from his neck injury, would see increased reps.
KEY MISMATCH
The Dolphins are starting to see a return on their big investment with defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, who had his best game in a Miami uniform last Sunday in Philadelphia. And that’s encouraging because his previous best game might have come a week earlier against the Buffalo Bills. Suh was dominant against the Eagles, ending the game with eight tackles, one sack and three quarterback hits. “He’s a stud,” interim coach Dan Campbell said. Suh, the four-time All Pro, has now put together a four-game stretch that shows why the Dolphins signed him to a $114 million contract. He has 19 tackles and all four of his sacks have come in the past four games along with a pair of pass breakups. Suh didn’t wreck the Eagles game plan last week, but he came close. With Romo in his first game back after his broken collarbone, the Cowboys offensive line better pay close attention to where Suh is at all times.
KEY STAT
18.4 – Dallas’ 30th-ranked points per game average. The Cowboys are counting on the return of Romo to spark their offense against Miami’s 21st-ranked scoring defense at 25.0 points per game.
BETTING ANGLE
The reeling Cowboys should be done. They ride into Miami on a seven-game losing streak, their longest since 1989. They’re alone at the bottom of the NFC East, with their two victories tied for the fewest in the NFL. In fact, they stand a better chance of earning the No. 1 overall pick than they do of getting into the playoffs. Yet the Cowboys are just two-and-a-half games out of first in the dreadful division and they remain hopeful of a miracle finish because of the return of Romo. Coach Jason Garrett cautioned that Romo’s return doesn’t automatically cure the team’s ills. But it sure will help. Brandon Weeden couldn’t get the job done and was subsequently released. Matt Cassel failed to produce a touchdown last week for the second time in his four starts and will move to the bench. Romo started 15 regular season games last year and the Boys went 12-3 SU and 10-5 ATS.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
While Garrett says Romo doesn’t need to save the day, for his, and the team’s sake, he better. The Cowboys have lost seven straight and poor quarterback play isn’t all to blame, but it hasn’t helped. And Romo playing for the first time since Week 2 is a much better option at the position than Weeden – since released – and Cassel. But how will Romo play after missing so much time with his injury? That’s the big question. It’s not like the Cowboys have been blown out in every game during their slide, actually it’s been just the opposite. Dallas has led or been tied in the fourth quarter in six of them and five of the losses have been by seven points or fewer. So there are reasons for optimism surrounding the Cowboys and with their leader back, they all step up to end the longest streak since Troy Aikman was quarterbacking the club.
Dallas 23, Miami 17
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