Cowboys at Dolphins: Inside 'The Tyreek Decision' on Christmas Eve
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys are coming off a loss on the road to an AFC powerhouse featuring an MVP candidate.
But that was in Buffalo against the Bills featuring quarterback Josh Allen.
This is in Miami against the Dolphins featuring receiver Tyreek Hill ... complete with what our colleagues at AllDolphins at SI predict will be "another week of uncertainty or speculation when it comes to'' the electric superstar.
Last week, Hill was inactive for the Dolphins but they nevertheless ran up a 30-0 score in victory against the New York Jets because ... Well, in part because the Jets are the Jets.
But the other reason? The Dolphins - in control of their division with a 10-4 record, same as Dallas' - are apparently gifted enough to survive the absence of Hill and still speed on ...
Maybe keeping his injured left ankle, sustained the week before in a surprising Monday night loss against the Tennessee Titans, wrapped up in anticipation of this Christmas Eve showdown.
It is worth noting that just as Dallas lost to Buffalo ... and just as the 10-4 Eagles just lost at Seattle (thus keeping the Cowboys atop the NFC East by the shakiest of margins) ... what happened to the Dolphins against the Titans exposes some level of vulnerability.
But when a healthy Tyreek is available to put up his usual monster numbers (this year he's got 97 catches for 1,542 yards and 12 receiving TDs, plus two more scores on the ground)?
Well, that offense doesn't look all that vulnerable.
Hill's agent Drew Rosenhaus said the choice to sit was "Tyreek's decision'' and that it was an unselfish one.
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"You have to respect Tyreek,'' Rosenhaus said, "because he put, in my mind, the team ahead of his individual goals. Missing this game may allow Tyreek to be available later in the year against perhaps better teams or playoff teams because you just don't know what would have happened if he tried to play.''
"Better teams''? "Playoff teams''? That wasn't in play for Tyreek last week against the Jets. But it is likely very much about this week, in front of the entire egg-nogged country, against the Dallas Cowboys.