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The Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys hit the field tonight in the NFL's Hall of Fame Game, the first preseason game of the year. What do you need to know to watch the game? We, of course, have you covered:
First, the pertinent data for the game:
Time: 8:00 pm Eastern
Location: Fawcett Stadium, Canton, Ohio
TV: NBC
Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
The Dolphins Radio Network will also cover the game on WBGG, FM 105.9, and WINZ, AM 940, in the South Florida area. The radio broadcast will be covered by Jimmy Cefalo, Joe Rose, and Keith Sims.
NFL.com will also stream the game through their Preseason Live subscription. It does require a fee for access.
Key Injuries:
Dolphins: Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, John Jerry, Rishard Matthews
Cowboys: Potentially will not play any starters in the game
What to Watch:
The Hall of Fame Game will be nothing more than a glorified scrimmage, with neither team playing their starters long (or at all). This game will be purely on watching the reserve players try to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot.
Possibly the biggest area to watch, for both teams, will be the offensive line. Both franchises will be using young players in key positions, Miami with second year Jonathan Martin manning the left tackle position and Dallas with rookie Travis Frederick at center. The Cowboys offensive line has been hit with the injury bug early this year, so some of the depth chart players could end up being starters. This game might be their first chance to make the argument that they are worthy of that consideration.
The same thing could be said of Miami's offensive line, though Josh Samuda appears ready to slam the door on Dallas Thomas, Nate Garner, Lance Louis, or anyone else who wants to challenge for the starting position that it appears John Jerry is vacating.
For the Dolphins, the wide receivers deep on the depth chart all have a chance to claim a roster spot now that Armon Binns is out for the year and Rishard Matthews is out for "several weeks." Pat Devlin, the third string quarterback, will likely get plenty of playing time tonight.