Oct 11, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) prepares to throw the ball in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants (5-7) at Miami Dolphins (5-7)
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, at Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. – TV: ESPN
*TV announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
*Keys to the game: In a game of matchups, the Giants must find a way to flip the script with their scuffling ground game. The rank 29th at 88.1 yards per game, but the Dolphins’ biggest weakness is their run defense that allows 134.8 yards per game. If Giants QB Eli Manning doesn’t have ground support, the Dolphins have shown the ability to generate pressure and turnovers from their front seven.
The Giants are averaging more than four fewer minutes in time of possession than their opponents, and that threatens to be a lopsided figure again Sunday. Dolphins interim coach Dan Campbell backed up his promise to stay more committed to the ground game last week after firing coordinator Bill Lazor, with RB Lamar Miller getting a season-high 20 carries. Campbell and new play-caller Zac Taylor called 26 runs vs. just 19 passes and want the passing game to complement the ground game, not vise-versa. But the Giants can’t consistently overload against the run and leave their secondary exposed with a season-long lack of a pass rush.
*Matchup to watch – Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Dolphins CB Brent Grimes: Grimes has had mixed success shadowing the opponent’s top receiver this season, but the Dolphins have little choice considering their other cover options against one of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers. Grimes won’t follow Beckham into the slot, but should trail him most everywhere else.
*Player spotlight – Giants LS Danny Aiken: Zak DeOssie’s 140-game ironman streak came to an end when he was placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury. Aiken played in 63 regular-season and 10 postseason games with the Patriots from 2011-14.
*Fast facts: The Dolphins are fourth in the league averaging 4.7 yards per carry, but rank last at 20.3 attempts per game – 1.5 fewer on average than the 31st-ranked Lions. The Giants rank 26th averaging 3.7 yards per carry. … While passing for a season-low 86 yards last week, Ryan Tannehill joined Dan Marino as the only Dolphins with three 3,000-yard passing seasons.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
What do you get when two enigmas square off? A game of darts. The Giants are still tied for first in the woeful NFC East and could easily be 8-4 if not for some horrendous fourth-quarter meltdowns. If this team has any fight in it, this is a must-win road game for the Giants with three difficult games remaining.
*Our pick: Giants 30-27.
