NFL Preview: Pair of Florida Teams vs. NFC East Sunday

This Sunday both the Miami Dolphins (4-5) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) play teams in the NFC- East as the Dolphins play the Cowboys (2-7) and the Buccaneers face the Eagles (4-5).

Miami is coming off a win to those very Eagles last week 20-19 as quarterback Ryan Tannehill raked in two touchdowns for the day and 217 yards. And that victory almost didn’t happen as the fins has to score 17 points with TD passes to to running back Lamer Miller and wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Another nice part for the Dolphin offense was rookie Jay Ajayi leading the team in rushing and having a second straight nice game with 48 yards off of just 6 carries.

The defense also was strong with 4 sacks for the game one being from Ndamukong Suh who had eight tackles, four of which were for negative yards. The passing defense also did its job sealing the deal as safety Rashad Jones got a pick in the end-zone after Mark Sanchez drove the Eagles to the Miami eight yard-line.

With the Eagles, running back DeMarco Murray was the leading rusher of the day with 61 yards, but running back Ryan Matthews scored the only rushing touchdown. But the big news for the Eagles offense was regarding quarterback Sam Bradford who got hurt in the third quarter by linebacker Chris McCain’s sack. Bradford is officially listed as questionable for Sundays game, if not Mark Sanchez will get the start.

The Bucs also took care of business last week coincidentally against the Dallas Cowboys as they beat them 10-6. The one touchdown in the game came from a Jameis Winston one yard run with under a minute left in the game after leading a 56 yard drive. The team all together ran for 84 yards, running back Doug Martin rushing for 63 yards. Winston although was the leading passer of the game with 264 yards threw two picks.

The Tampa defense was solid, holding the Cowboys to just two field goals and getting three sacks. But now they have to face a fast-paced Eagles offense.

Tampa Bay defensive lineman Gerald McCoy said the weather will play a factor in slowing down their uptempo offense.

The Cowboys’ offense was unspectacular, gaining 216 total yards. But it will get a revamp with hobbled quarterback Tony Romo getting the start for the first time in two months so it will be interesting to see how he will perform with his arsenal of receivers.

McCain said that the Dolphins need to try to contain Romo because he can make something out of nothing.

The Dolphins vs. Cowboys game kicks off at 1 o’clock from South Florida and the Bucs- Eagles game is at 1pm also in Tampa.