Sun Oct 5, 1:00 pm (CBS) - Dolphins at Giants
Dolphins (2-1) at Giants (2-1) Line: Pick 'em. Over-Under: 37 1/2.
Both teams are coming off a bye week that probably benefited the Giants more so than the Dolphins. Michael Strahan hasn't been a force so far this season,
and that toe injury he sustained in training camp could be part of the problem. Jeremy Shockey also hasn't been his explosive self, and his ribs got some extra rest.
Keith Hamilton should be returning for this game coming off a hamstring injury and he's a necessary ingredient for the Giants rush defense. The Giants and Dolphins have met only four times since
the 1970 merger. The Giants lead the series 3-1, with the Giants winning in their last meeting 17-7, on Dec. 8, 1996.
Jim Fassel coaching.
In one breath he says that he has to give Tiki Barber a rest, in the next he jokes that he'll use Tiki as long as he's still standing. Barber has had all
the running back carries this year except for a 1 yard touchdown run by Brian Mitchell in the first game.
Don't get me wrong, Tiki has done an outstanding job, but with the workload he carries both running, receiving and blocking, he probably could use a bye week every three games. Barber dislocated
a finger in the first quarter of the first game where he led the Giants' offense with 146 yards rushing on 24 carries. Without a break, he's had nearly every carry since and fumbled a few.
Think there's any connection?
Tiki will be well rested for this game, but there are twelve more back to back after it and maybe playoffs. It will be interesting to see if Fassel decides to continue to burn up Barber over
the next few games, or figure a way to stretch him out over the long season by spelling him with those other running backs he's decided to shelve. The word is that Delvin Joyce will get a
series this week. We'll see.
Tiki Barber vs Ricky Williams.
Last time out, Ricky Williams carried the ball a team-record 42 times in Miami's 17-7 win over the Bills.
Even with a bye week, he's the NFL’s 2nd-leading rusher with 347 yards on 93 carries - Avg. 3.7,
Ricky is on the same pace he set last year where he led the NFL and set a team record with 1,853 yards on 383 carries - Avg. 4.8.
He also had 363 receiving yards.
Over the first three games, Tiki Barber has rushed for 313 yards on 67 carries - Avg. 4.7.
In 2002, Tiki Barber gained 1387 yards on 304 carries - Avg. 4.6, and added on 597 receiving yards.
As long as we're comparing stats, check this one out:
Over his 7 year NFL playing career, Tiki Barber has had 27 fumbles and lost 13.
Over his 5 year NFL playing career, Ricky Williams had 29 fumbles and lost 19.
Giants defense vs Ricky Williams.
The Giants have given up more than 400 yards per game, but 314.3 of those have been passing yards. They're tied for ninth in the NFL, giving up an average of only 90.3 yards per game on the
ground. However, the better numbers only seem to come if Keith Hamilton is playing.
Last season, the Giants gave up an average of 84.8 rushing yards a game for the first six games. Hamilton was out the rest of the season, and the average climbed to 132.1 rushing yards a game.
Hamilton played in the first two games of this season, where the defense gave up a total of 147 yards. Without Hamilton the following week, they gave up 124.
Division Games.
Redskins (3-1) at Eagles (1-2) Oct 5, 4:15 pm. Line: Eagles by 5 1/2. Over-Under: 39 1/2
Two of the division teams play each other. Washington quarterback Patrick Ramsey, possibly one of the most underrated quarterbacks, leads the NFC with 1,036 yards, and has 5 TDs and only 2
INTs. He goes up against one of the most overrated quarterbacks (according to Rush Limbaugh) Donovan McNabb.
Cardinals (1-3) at Cowboys (2-1) Oct 5, 1:00 pm. Line: Cowboys by 7. Over-Under: 37
Here, one of the division team plays against a former one, as Parcells tries to win one in his own stadium for a change. Bill gets to see first hand what Emmitt Smith can do as he returns
to Dallas for the first time to play against his old team.
Notes.
With the Cowboys win over the Jets last week, Bill Parcells improved his all-time record in the Meadowlands to 93-36.
The Cowboys (2-1) climbed above .500 for the first time since 1999, when they started 3-0.
The NFC East teams are undefeated on the road (5-0).
The NFC East teams are 3-5 playing at home.
Giants are 31-19 at home in Fassel's seven seasons as head coach.
This is Jim Fassel's first game against the Dolphins.
Dolphins are 9-5 in weeks after the bye.
Giants are 3-11 in weeks after the bye, and under Jim Fassel they are 1-5.
Dolphins Ricky Williams, with 28 rushing attempts, would set the NFL record
for most rush attempts over a 3 game span.
Earl Campbell had 103 carries over three games for Houston in 1981, and he holds the record.
Dolphins are 10-2 in games in which Ricky Williams has rushed for more than 100 yards.
Giants have allowed only four players to gain 100 yards rushing in their' past 28 regular-season games - Ahman Green (101), Duce Staley (126), Donovan McNabb
(107), and Michael Bennett (167).
Next Game
Giants at New England Oct 12 at 1PM.
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