Dolphins players' faces part of a weird Dallas Cowboys routine

The Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys don't face each other all that often. In fact, it's been since the 2019 season that the teams last faced off, which resulted in a Dallas 31-6 win at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Whereas players get very familiar with opposing players, play calls, and tendencies of division opponents […]

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer

Dec 21, 2023 8:13 PM EST

Whereas players get very familiar with opposing players, play calls, and tendencies of division opponents that they face twice each season, playing teams once every four years creates some challenges for teams.

That includes the Cowboys as well it seems. Dallas has been undertaking a rather unconventional approach the last couple of weeks against AFC East opponents they rarely face.

Cowboys have photo printouts of Dolphins front-seven players on their blaster, something they’ve done this year when preparing for an uncommon opponent. Sunday’s game vs. Dolphins is the franchises’ first meeting since Sept. 22, 2019. pic.twitter.com/SyRUYzbISR
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) December 20, 2023

That's certainly something. There appear to be Dolphins players' photos on each pad in their "blaster". The first two pads have Bradley Chubb (in an old Denver Broncos uniform) and Andrew Van Ginkel.

This isn't the first time the Cowboys have done this. In fact, just a week ago, they did the same thing in their preparation for the Buffalo Bills. Unfortunately, it didn't work. The Bills held the Cowboys offense to three points until the game's final minutes in a 31-10 Bills victory. The Cowboys ran the ball for just 89 yards on 20 carries, whereas the Bills rolled up 266 yards on the ground.

Now, the Cowboys will look to be more physical and generate more of a ground game on Sunday when the teams lock horns at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. However, they will find that Van Ginkel, Chubb, and the rest of the Dolphins defense will be particularly tough to bowl over when the lights come on and toe meets leather around 4:05 pm.