The Dallas Cowboys have a very tough challenge waiting for them in the east coast when they travel to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 16.

It's a winning team on the road with one of the most dynamic offenses in the entire NFL. Stopping Tyreek Hill (who could return this weekend following a recent injury) and Jaylen Waddle on the boundary as Tua Tagovailoa fires the ball quickly while also worrying about a running game filled with misdirection… even typing it out gives me a headache.

But on Wednesday, some important news ahead of the matchup drop that could change everything: The Dolphins were down way too many players in practice.

Every starting offensive line on the Dolphins missed Wednesday practice

According to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, five out of five starting offensive linemen were not spotted at Wednesday's practice, which set off the alarms for Dolphins fans. While it's early in the week, it is certainly not an ideal way to get started.

Miami has been able to mitigate its opponents' pass rush with a fast offense that capitalizes on Tua Tagovailoa's decisiveness to throw fast. He owns the fastest time to throw in the NFL entering Week 16. 

But if his offensive line is tested with solid coverage and Tua is without multiple starters up front, Micah Parsons and company could ruin their Christmas Eve game. The Cowboys remain the third-highest graded pass rush team in the NFL and Micah leads the league with 89 pressures and is second in pass rush win rate, per PFF.

If Miami is down multiple linemen on Sunday, Quinn will have his fun moving him around the line of scrimmage to exploit mismatches.

On top of that, the Dolphins were also down superstar WR Tyreek Hill, starting CB Xavien Howard, and the top running backs Raheem Mostert (gets weekly vet days) and De’Von Achane.

Miami has been able to overcome OL injuries in the past but Dan Quinn's defensive line hits different. And they will be at their hungriest following the whooping they received from the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills showed running the football was a good idea against this Cowboys team and while the Dolphins could lean on it, it'll be tough to do with a banged-up offensive line.

With both the Cowboys and Dolphins being desperate for a win on Sunday, both team's injury reports should be followed very closely over the next few days. It won't be until the weekend when we have a better idea of what to expect.

Cowboys can thank NFL for upcoming blessing in disguise vs. Dolphins

Exactly what they need.