Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Dolphins with 65 yards rushing last week against the Jets as his ability to take off after finding open gaps in the defense continues to galvanize the offense when most needed. However, Miami’s rushing attack remains the worst in the NFL. At least 20 teams average 100 yards rushing per game. Of the remaining ones that don’t, the Dolphins are the only team averaging fewer than 75 yards per game (67.3). Unless they can break rookies Patrick Laird and Myles Gaskin free for a long run or two, those discouraging numbers do not bode well for the Dolphins against any team, even one of the worst in the league. Edge: Giants
When the Giants run
Saquon Barkley started the season by rushing for more than 100 yards in the first two games, but he has not done so since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 3 that has hampered much of his season. Still, don’t discount Barkley’s talent as he could break free at any moment, especially against a Dolphins defense which is the NFL’s second-worst against the run. If the Dolphins are able to keep Barkley contained, they could get their fourth victory of the season. Edge: Giants
When the Dolphins pass
One week after his best performance of the season, Fitzpatrick regressed to his mean against the Jets. He completed 21 of 37 passes for 245 yards with an interception, failing to help the Dolphins convert any of their six trips into the red zone into a touchdown. He should be in for a nice bounce-back game against the Giants’ sixth-worst defense in the NFL, but Fitzpatrick could be without receivers DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson, who are both working their way back from the concussion protocol. The edge goes to the Dolphins here if Fitzpatrick can get two key players on offense back in time for Sunday’s game. Edge: Dolphins
When the Giants pass
Eli Manning helped the Giants force overtime with the Eagles on Monday night
Edge:
Special teams
Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders made 7 of 8 field goals last week, setting a team record for kicks made and attempted. But any satisfaction from the individual achievement was short-lived in Miami’s loss to the Jets. Sanders’ missed field goal could have made a difference in the one-point defeat, just as much as a touchdown in one of Miami’s six red-zone trips would have helped as well. Still, Miami’s special teams unit has played well in recent weeks and should continue to do so against the Giants despite New York leading the NFL in punt return yards, and being in the top 10 in kickoff return average and gross average yards per punt. Edge: Dolphins
Intangibles
The Dolphins (3-10) are 1-3 in their past four games and 3-3 in their past six overall, while the Giants (2-11) have lost nine in a row. … The Dolphins uniquely will play at MetLife Stadium for the second straight week. Miami, which is
6-5 at the stadium with all six wins against the Jets, is looking for its first win over the Giants since Oct.
2003. … Both teams sit atop the 2020 NFL draft order of the draft next April. Edge: Dolphins
PREDICTION: Dolphins 24, Giants 20 17
Giants 24, Dolphins
20
Giants 13
Giants 24, Dolphins
Dolphins 20,
BRAD PENNER/AP
Saquon Barkley is having a decent year, but he hasn’t been the terror he was his rookie season because he’s still battling an ankle injury he suffered in late September. He’s averaging 4 yards per carry and has scored three touchdowns this season, but he hasn’t rushed for more than 100 yards since suffering the injury. The Dolphins, who possess the second-worst run defense in the NFL (4.6 yards per carry and 141 rushing yards per game) can’t allow Barkley’s streak to end. That means linebacker Raekwon McMillan and defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Christian Wilkins will need to deliver their best performances of the season to keep Barkley contained.
Evan Engram, who leads the Giants with 44 receptions, is the type of tight end who stretches the field, and he is his quarterback’s primary option in the red zone. He’s too quick to be covered by a linebacker when healthy. But Engram is working his way back from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for a month. The Dolphins need to make sure he’s not the Giants’ leading receiver Sunday.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley gets past Jets linebacker Brandon Copeland during their game Nov. 10.
heading into Week 15. The Giants are No. 2 behind the Bengals (1-12) and the Dolphins are No. 4 behind the Redskins, who have the same record as Miami but a weaker overall strength of schedule. Sunday’s game could go a long way in determining the top five order
Steve Svekis, Assistant sports editor (Season record: 10-3, 7-6): The Giants, on a nine-game losing streak, are three losses from their worst season since 1966. Either gimpy rookie Daniel Jones or benched two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning will start at quarterback, and the Dolphins also benefit from second-year running back Saquon Barkley having not fully bounced back from an early season high ankle sprain. This is a matchup of teams that are atrocious in the turnover ratio, with the Dolphins at minus-14 and Giants at minus-13. However, both have settled things down in that regard as Miami has a 0 ratio during their 3-3 run after their 0-7 start, and New York is only a minus-1 over the past three games.
in his first start since Week 2. He completed 50% of his passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns in what was ultimately another loss for the Giants. The Dolphins will face Manning because rookie first-round pick Daniel Jones, who has been limited due to a high ankle sprain, will sit out again this week. Some of the Dolphins’ defensive staff has experience defending Manning from two Super Bowl games against him while with the Patriots earlier in their careers, and two assistants coached the Giants defense during their careers. That familiarity should help Miami on Sunday. Dolphins
Kathy Laughlin, Sports editor (Season record: 10-3, 7-6): In a matchup of two of the NFL’s worst teams that have a combined 5-21 record, the Giants have the edge in what could be Eli Manning’s final home start of his illustrious 16-year career. The franchise icon and two-time Super Bowl MVP could get the sentimental nod over rookie Daniel Jones, who is fully recovered from his ankle injury that sidelined him last week.
Sunday’s game will feature the two teams with the NFL’s worst turnover differential this season. The Giants are at minus-13 after registering 10 interceptions, recovering five fumbles and committing 28 turnovers. The Dolphins are at minus-14 after pulling down nine interceptions, recovering one fumble and committing 24 turnovers.
Keven Lerner, Assistant sports editor (Season record: 10-3, 6-7): For the first time this season, the Dolphins will face a team with a worse record — but they will still be underdogs for the 14th time in as many games. The Dolphins return to MetLife Stadium for the second straight week after suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Jets on Sunday. The injuryriddled Dolphins likely will have to rely on receiver Isaiah Ford and running back Patrick Laird again this week.