Miami @ Dallas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2016 ) Miami 14, Dallas 41

The Dallas Cowboys are bidding for their first 3-0 start to a season since 2008 and the only thing standing in their path is a visit from the worst team in the NFL. After opening the season with back-to-back victories over a pair of NFC East rivals, the Cowboys look to remain perfect when they host the hapless Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.

Installed as more than a three-touchdown favorite, Dallas figures to barely break a sweat after Miami was outscored 102-10 in its first two games - the largest point differential after Week 2 since 1961. "I think our team is well aware of what a game can be when you have people on the outside talking about it like that," Cowboys center center Travis Frederick told reporters of the prospect of overlooking the Dolphins. "If you ask around the room there isn't anybody in here that believes this will be an easy game." Dallas followed up a 35-17 rout of the New York Giants with a 31-21 victory at Washington last week while Miami was steamrolled at home by New England 43-0 after a 59-10 mauling by Baltimore in Week 1. "Yeah, we're 0-2 and we got blown out. We got our (butts) kicked, honestly," Dolphins center Daniel Kilgore said. "But we got to stay positive. Stay with us. This thing is only going to get better."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Cowboys -22.5. O/U: 47.5

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (0-2): Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick was intercepted three times and limited to 89 yards passing last week and what appeared inevitable came to fruition Thursday when coach Brian Flores said offseason acquisition Josh Rosen would get the start in Dallas. Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick of Arizona in the 2018 NFL draft, was 7-of-18 for 97 yards and a pick in mop-up duty last week. Miami showed it was playing for next season with the trades of offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil - a former first-round pick - and wideout Kenny Stills prior to the start of the season, and continued its roster purge by sending safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh earlier this week.

ABOUT THE COWBOYS (2-0): Dallas is trying to work out a contract extension for quarterback Dak Prescott, who keeps driving up his asking price by throwing for seven touchdowns versus one interception in the first two games while added 69 yards on the ground last week. Prescott will be without his top target in wide receiver Michael Gallup, who is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks with a knee injury after racking up 13 catches and 226 yards in the first two games. That could mean a heavier dose of running back Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries last week. The Cowboys have only two sacks but Miami surrendered seven versus New England.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Elliott has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in 17 of 22 home games.

2. Miami claimed DE Taco Charlton one day after he was waived by Dallas.

3. Cowboys WR Amari Cooper has 41 catches and seven scores in six regular-season home contests.

PREDICTION: Cowboys 34, Dolphins 10