New ‘Hard Knocks’ episode with Dolphins goes inside win over Cowboys, Christmas with team

Mike McDaniel really did instruct his Miami Dolphins players to tell media members, respectfully, to “F off” if any narrative other than focus on the Dallas Cowboys was brought up last week.

The famous quote the Dolphins coach told reporters to start the week of preparation for the Cowboys was not just a made-up anecdote. Cameras of reality series “Hard Knocks” captured the moment he said it to players in a week he knew there was going to be considerable talk about Miami’s 0-3 record against winning teams entering last Sunday.

Tuesday night’s sixth episode of “Hard Knocks” chronicling the Dolphins in-season highlighted how Miami’s late scoring drive against Dallas was a potentially season-defining moment. The drive involved wide receiver Tyreek Hill taking a key third-and-3 screen for a first down and running back Jeff Wilson notching another first down that allowed the Dolphins to run down the clock so Jason Sanders’ game-winning field goal came as time expired.

The Dolphins, for the first time in 2023, beat another Super Bowl contender. And defensive tackle Christian Wilkins should maybe consider being more careful on celebratory shoulder bumps with owner Steve Ross in the locker room postgame .

At halftime, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s quick man-to-man conversation with veteran left tackle Terron Armstead was an interesting moment that wouldn’t otherwise come to light.

The episode took viewers to running back Raheem Mostert’s drive up to his hometown, New Smyrna Beach, over the past week.

Mostert, through his foundation, drove a U-Haul truck of gifts for the youth in the area he grew up in. Mostert told reporters last week he was up there with this brother, reminiscing about watching former Dolphins running back Ricky Williams. Now, Mostert, at age 31, holds Miami’s franchise single-season rushing touchdowns record over Williams.

The running backs room had a cool moment, analyzing video of how fullback Alec Ingold was on a hunt for Mostert’s record-breaking touchdown football against the Jets after Mostert spiked it.

In the Cowboys game, cameras and microphones caught Mostert complaining initially about his ankle when he left momentarily before then noting it was more of a shin injury. When he re-entered, Mostert caught a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Cornerback Kader Kohou and his family from the Ivory Coast had a moment as his parents and other family members were in town to watch him play for the first time all together. Kohou’s mother’s reaction to key moments in the game was priceless, and the show didn’t paint a flowery picture on Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s long touchdown, which occurred with Lamb first lined up across from Kohou and the cornerback then pointing to pass him on to a teammate.

The episode featured equipment manager Joe Cimino preparing team jerseys as the Dolphins busted out aqua throwbacks against Dallas, as well as his interactions with coaches and players.

On the week of Christmas, gift exchanges within the team were shown, Hill giving teammates motorized scooters and Jalen Ramsey giving players foot massagers. The quarterbacks room was highlighted, with Dan Marino giving current quarterbacks Isotoner gloves.

The episode concluded inside the Mostert household on Christmas Day with his children opening presents and wife expressing her gratitude to call Miami home and for Mostert to have the season he’s having with the Dolphins.

Tuesday night’s showing did not touch on Jaylen Waddle’s high ankle injury against the Cowboys.