Miami Dolphins (6-4) at Denver Broncos (7-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson

*Keys to the game: Miami doesn’t have a lengthy history of going into cold-weather climates and coming away with victories, but this version of the Dolphins is actually well-suited to compete in temperatures expected to be in the mid-30s.

They enter with the league’s sixth-ranked ground game and a quarterback in Ryan Tannehill whose strength is moving the chains with short to intermediate throws. He isn’t going to stretch the field often — the Dolphins’ longest scoring play of the season is 21 yards and the offense has just nine plays of 30-plus yards — but Tannehill can play keep away from Peyton Manning.

It is important for Tannehill to sustain drives and keep the game close, because Miami boasts a defense that could certainly build on Denver’s recent issues. The Broncos are struggling with a dinged up offensive line and backfield and minus the threat of the ground game, the Dolphins’ stout defensive line could wreak havoc in the backfield. The key for Manning will be his receivers gaining quick separation so Manning can get the ball out of his hands and let his receivers make plays after the catch.

The Broncos’ gameplan could be heavily impacted by the status of TE Julius Thomas (ankle) and WR Emmanuel Sanders (concussion).

*Matchup to watch – Dolphins LT Ja’Wuan James vs. Broncos OLB DeMarcus Ware: James received solid reviews for his first start on Tannehill’s blind side against Buffalo, although he was whipped a few times by Jerry Hughes. Ware enters with 9.0 sacks, and the Dolphins can’t give James too much help with Von Miller (10.0 sacks) attacking the reworked right side of the line.

*Player spotlight – Dolphins CB Jamar Taylor: He’ll likely get his second consecutive start in place of Cortland Finnegan (ankle), and should expected to be tested often playing opposite Brent Grimes.

*Fast facts: The Dolphins are 11th in the NFL in scoring at 24.9 points per game, but rank 30th in red-zone touchdown production (44.9 percent). … Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas has 100-plus receiving yards in seven consecutive games, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

The Dolphins might be built to drag this game into the fourth quarter, but their lack of big plays and abysmal red zone production are fatal flaws in attempting to knock off an angry Broncos team at home.

*Our pick: Broncos 23-19