It’s time to rejoice NFL fans! You’ve successfully survived another off-season, and tonight, football is finally back!
Ok, so maybe it’s not totally back. But tonight does mark the 51st annual NFL “Hall Of Fame Game”. The game is an exhibition between two teams, one NFC and one AFC (since 1971). This year, the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins squared off in what essentially amounts to an extra pre-season game.
However, there are still plenty of headlines to go around even in this exhibition. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is notable by his absence, as Romo has been ruled out by the Dallas coaching staff. Romo is still recovering from off-season back surgery.
Both of these two teams have missed the postseason the last few years, and are looking to turn the page. The Dolphins’ biggest free agent acquisition this offseasosn, WR Mike Wallace hopes he can build some chemistry with starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Wallace and Tannehill would have to wait their turn however, as it was the Cowboys who would get the ball first in this game. Quarterback Kyle Orton looked sharp on his first pass attempt, hitting tight end Dante Rosario for an 18-yard strike. After a promising looking drive, the Cowboys were eventually forced to punt, and pinned Miami inside their own 10 yard line.
The Dolphins offense did not get off to the start new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman would have liked, as running back Lamar Miller fumbled on the very first play. Dallas recovered to set up a first-and-goal.
Aided by a 3rd down pass interference penalty against Miami (Will Davis), Phillip Tanner eventually punched it in for the Cowboys to make it 7-0 Dallas with just under 9 minutes to play in the first quarter.
After another drive by Ryan Tannehill stalled, Matt Moore took over at quarterback for the fins. Moore spent most of his first drive running for his life against a good looking Dallas pass rush, and the Cowboys carried their 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
Nick Stephens who finished the first half at QB for Dallas stayed in to begin the second quarter. Stephens showed off his strong arm by firing a pass between two defenders, and completing to Anthony Armstrong for an 18-yard gain. Tack on a blistering 17-yard run by Phillip Tanner and that was enough to put kicker Dan Baily in range for a 49-yard field goal. Baily squeaked one just inside the left upright to make it 10-0 Dallas with 9:14 left to play in the half.
Chad Bumphis finally provided some spark for the Dolphins offense on the ensuing series, catching a pass from Matt Moore and dodging defenders for a big gain. Unfortunately, Bumphis’ nice play was erased when he failed to haul in a potential first down pass that was intercepted by DeVonte Holloman. Holloman returnded the ball 75 yards, stiffing Matt Moore en route to the endzone. The pick-six by Moore made it 17-0 Dallas with just over six-and-a-half minutes to play in the half.
Miami was finally able to push the ball into the redzone with under two minutes to play in the half, but a 14-yard sack of Matt Moore by linebacker George Selvie ended the threat, and forced the Dolphins to settle for a field goal. Dan Carpenter converted the 27-yard try to make the score 17-3 Dallas. The Cowboys carry that 14-point lead into the second half.
