Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel Jim Rassol / USA TODAY NETWORK

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel has simple message to doubters

By Tommy Fradenburg | Last updated 12/20/23

Despite having one of the most exciting offenses in the National Football League, the Miami Dolphins have yet to beat a team with a winning record. Head coach Mike McDaniel was asked to share his thoughts on the narrative his team hasn't been able to shake.

"… any other narrative that has to do with good teams or playoff seeds or the next three games, all that stuff; I gave [the players] the clearance to tell all members of the media to — with all due respect — eff off, with all due respect," McDaniel said.

On paper, the Dolphins (10-4) have a chance to change the perception of their team on Christmas Eve against the Dallas Cowboys (10-4). The Cowboys come into the contest with similar questions about their record.

Best Point Differential Against Teams .500 or Worse

1 Cowboys (+205)
2 Dolphins (+196)
3 49ers (+121)
4 Bills (+87)

Best Point Differential Against Teams With A Winning Record

1 Ravens (+101)
2 49ers (+70)
3 Bills (+38)
...
17 Colts (-34)
18 Cowboys (-38)
19 Titans (-40)
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) December 18, 2023

Other than one of the two vs. the reeling Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas has lost all of its contests against top competition, headlined by romps at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills.

Dallas also heads into the game at Hard Rock Stadium battling inconsistency on the road. The Cowboys have turned AT&T Stadium into a fortress with 15-consecutive home victories but have struggled on the road to the tune of 5-9 in that same time frame.

Week 15's shellacking at Buffalo was particularly discouraging for Cowboys fans who may have thought they'd finally shaken the big-game bug by thoroughly beating Philadelphia on "Sunday Night Football."

Whichever side comes out on top on Dec. 24 will rightfully celebrate one of the marquee wins of its regular-season campaign.

Still, the result probably won't do much to alter the team's perceived standing among Super Bowl contenders.

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