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Giants - Dolphins
Game 13 preview
Monday Dec 14, 8:30 PM - Giants at Miami

Giants (5-7) vs Dolphins (5-7)
Last week against Baltimore the Dolphins scored first after securing an interception and following that up with a touchdown pass on the next play. Miami scored again twenty seconds later when another interception was returned for a touchdown. That was enough to beat the Ravens 15-13.
The Giants let yet another game get away in their matchup with the Jets. They were leading going into the fourth quarter, but the game went into overtime. The Jets scored first and the Giants had a chance to tie the score, but they missed on a field goal attempt and ended up with a 23-20 loss.
Giants - Jets Wrap-Up

The Miami Dolphins
The last time they made it to the playoffs was in 2008. In the next two years they finished with 7-9 records and head coach Tony Sparano was fired during the 2011 season. The Dolphins hired Joe Philbin for 2012 and tried to secure free agent Peyton Manning for the quarterback spot. When that didn't work they looked to Matt Flynn and Alex Smith, but in the end stuck with Matt Moore. The Dolphins went to the draft and chose Ryan Tannehill in the first round to be their future franchise quarterback. New head coach Philbin brought on Mike Sherman to be his offensive coordinator and Sherman had coached Tannehill at Texas A&M.
Tannehill looked good in his first season and in 2013 the Dolphins were the biggest players in free agency. Among other moves, they secured targets for Tannehill, wide receivers Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson and resigned Brian Hartline. That season included a bullying scandal. The Dolphins finished with an 8-8 record, and for the 2014 season Philbin had new coordinators on both offense and defense. Though they improved in those two areas, the Dolphins still finished with an 8-8 record.
This season, after Philbin got the team off to a 1-3 start
sustaining three straight losses, tight ends coach Dan Campbell was named interim head coach. Then two weeks ago, after play calling a 58-9 pass-to-run loss to the Jets, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was fired. Quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor has replaced him as the play-caller, and now quarterback Tannehill has more input into the game plan. Overall, Tannehill this season, has completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 3,077 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and his backup is still Matt Moore. The Dolphins are at 4-4 with Campbell running the show.

Dolphins Offense
They won their game last week with the Ravens, but didn't have a lot to brag about on offense. Perhaps catching the Ravens defense flat footed after an interception, Ryan Tannehill threw a 38 yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker. That, followed by a pick-six interception by their defensive unit on the next play, accounted for all the Dolphins points scored in the game. Tannehill completed only 9 passes out of 19 for 86 yards, and that one touchdown play was his longest successful pass on the day. None of of his other completions went past 6 yards. It was by far Tannehill's worst production on the season, but that's not his norm.
Meanwhile, running back Lamar Miller accounted for most of the offense, averaging over 5 yards a run with 20 carries for 113 yards. Tannehill's favorite target is Jarvis Landry who played with Odell Beckham Jr. at LSU. Landry has 78 catches for 821 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season. Dan Campbell
just last week named a new offensive coordinator. Against the Ravens they had 19 pass plays and ran the ball 26 times for 137 yards for a win. The game before this one they had Tannehill throwing 58 times for 351 yards and 3 touchdowns (1 Interception, 3 Sacks) and they ran the ball only 9 times for 12 yards in the loss to the Jets. It looks like they'll be be going with the run against the Giants.

Dolphins Defense
Their best pass-rusher Cameron Wake was injured in the New England game in week eight and is out for the season. Wake's loss was big as he is still the team leader with 7 sacks. All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has four sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 13 tackles for loss. Suh signed with the team during free agency to become the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. Reports, later denied by Suh, were that he recently tried to inspire(?) his teammates by telling them that only a handful were good enough to play with him right now and they needed to follow his lead. Just last week the defense held Baltimore to 13 points and came up with two key interceptions.
Overall this defense ranks 30th in the NFL at stopping the run and though they toughened up last week against the Ravens, they allow on average 134.8 yards a game. This time they're up against the Giants who are struggling to establish themselves in that area. This will be a test for both teams and the outcome could decide this game. As far as pass defense goes, like other teams, the Dolphins will be faced with the task of covering Odell Beckham Jr. Brent Grimes is their best cover corner and safety Reshad Jones leads all safeties in the league with 107 tackles. Jones has four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, and two sacks.

Giants offense
What can you say at this point in the season? Eli Manning has one solid receiver to work with, Odell Beckham Jr., two if you count running back Shane Vereen. Rueben Randle has the same number of catches as Vereen, but in the last two games he's caught only three of the twelve passes Manning's sent his way, and some have ended with disastrous results. Tight end Will Tye has become more involved and in that same period of time has caught nine out of twelve.
For some reason the Giants have decided to go it with a pack of running backs and continue to stick with it despite the results. Averaging 88 yards a game, they rank 29th in the league for their efforts. They might have a shot this week as Miami has trouble defending against the run. Without a running game the Giants have become a one trick pony. Throw the ball to Beckham, covered or not, just out of reach of the defenders and maybe even Beckham too, and he'll reach for it while trying to duck a big hit. Just hope he stays healthy.

Giants defense
With Jason Pierre-Paul back in the mix, the pass rush has improved markedly and that's not good news for Ryan Tannehill. He's been sacked 34 times on the year and he is the most sacked quarterback over the past few years. Until the Dolphins offensive line can improve their pass protection and provide more time for Tannehill, they'll continue to forgo the deeper pass plays and stick with shorter passing routes. Tannehill has tried about 50 or so 20 plus yard passes and completed less than 20. The Giants may be able to cheat more with their safeties to help shut down the running game.
Talented slot receiver Jarvis Landry is the Dolphins main go-to guy and makes spectacular catches. He missed some practice this week, but is expected to play. Giants' rookie safety Landon Collins will be called on to help keep Landry in check and make plays in the run game. They'll also have to keep tabs on
first-round draft pick DeVante Parker. The Dolphins have used the rookie more in the last two games and he's averaged just over 20 yards a catch. The Giants are lucky Parker's still learning to be effective with his route running. The biggest thing overall for this defense is staying tough in the fourth quarter. Nearly 40 percent of the points scored against the Giants have come in the fourth quarter or overtime.

Overall
Who would have thought that this late in the season you'd be watching two 5-7 teams duke it out in a prime time Monday night matchup? The Dolphins have seen a lot of change over the past weeks and have lost four of their last six games. They are at the bottom of the AFC East and that won't change if they win or lose this game.
The Giants were once on top of the division and have dropped three straight. With a win they will still share first place in the NFC East with two other teams. If the the Giants want to rise to be the cream of this crop, if you want to call it that, they'll need to beat an interim head coach who's still making changes on the fly.

NFC East Games
Sunday at 1:00pm Bills (6-6) at Eagles (5-7).
Sunday at 1:00pm Redskins (5-7) at Bears (5-7)
Sunday at 4:30pm Cowboys (4-8) at Packers (8-4)
Monday at 8:30pm Giants (5-7) at Dolphins (5-7)
The Giants are the only NFC East team favored to win in these games.
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Notes.

Giants have lost their last 3 games.

Giants have lost six of their seven games by one score.

Giants have a 5-2 record with the Dolphins.

Giants Orleans Darkwa was on Miami's practice squad last season.

Giants Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry were LSU receivers drafted one round apart in 2014.

Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell was drafted by the Giants in 1999.

Dolphins Spencer Paysinger used to play for the Giants.

Dolphins Ryan Tannehill will start in his 61st consecutive game.

Dolphins are 0-5 this year when Ryan Tannehill throws more than 40 times.

Dolphins are celebrating their 50th season and the fans, alumni and media selected an all-time team.
The 50 players chosen will be introduced at halftime.

Next Games
Dec 20 - Panthers at Giants.
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Dec 27 - Giants at Vikings.
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