It probably shouldn’t be a primetime matchup. The flailing New York Giants, who are coming off yet another embarrassing fourth-quarter collapse, will attempt to snap a three-game slide and move back atop the NFC East when they visit the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Miami Dolphins 0
New York Giants 0
Over/Under 47.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
For some reason the Dolphins just can’t cover the spread at home recently. Miami failed to cover as 3.5-point chalk last week against the Ravens and is just 1-7 ATS in its last eight games at Sun Life Stadium. The line was wagered from a pick em to New York -1.5 while the total fell a point to 46.5.
KEY INJURIES
Ereck Flowers – The Giants’ starting left tackle left last week’s game with a left high ankle sprain and is doubtful to play on Monday. Emmett Cleary is next up on the depth chart.
Zak DeOssie – Will need surgery to repair a ligament in his wrist and will not play Monday. New long-snapper Dan Aiken practiced with the Giants for the first time on Thursday.
Rishard Matthews – Likely needs another week to recover from the cracked ribs he suffered against the Jets two weeks ago, putting his breakout season as the Dolphins starter on hold. In his absence, 2015 first-round pick DeVante Parker has taken over.
KEY MISMATCH
At this point, it looks as though Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. can’t be stopped; team’s can only hope to limit the damage he inflicts. There isn’t much to say about him that his highlights and stats don’t say on their own. He’s topped 100 yards receiving in five straight games and 140 in his past two tilts with 10 receiving touchdowns on the season. Beckham Jr. has 1,154 yards for the year to rank fourth in the NFL on 78 catches for a 14.8 average. He’ll likely get more targets with No. 2 receiver Reuben Randle struggling and pouting about his role behind Beckham. And the Dolphins don’t have an answer for him. Cornerback Brent 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.
KEY STAT
28.0 – Miami’s third-down conversion percentage. The Dolphins are last in the AFC at extending drives but could improve on that number against the Giants, who rank 31st at stopping teams on the money down.
BETTING ANGLE
The last two weeks have been kind to the Giants, despite them losing a pair of games. Dallas’ Monday night victory over Washington left three teams, including the G-Men, tied for first at 5-7. Some controversial play-calling for New York has contributed to the logjam with five of its losses coming on fourth-quarter collapses in the final two minutes. The Giants have been outscored by 12 points in those games, including last week’s 23-20 overtime loss to the Jets. But coach Tom Coughlin is urging his team to look ahead and not back. The Giants are still tied for first in the woeful NFC East and could easily be 8-4 if not for those horrendous fourth-quarter meltdowns. If the Giants have any fight in them, this is a must-win road game with three difficult contests remaining.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
At this point in the season it’s hard to expect the Giants will ever win another football game. While they may be better on paper some weekends, they usually find a way to muck it up anyway. And because of some head-scratching play calls and clock management in tight games, coach Tom Coughlin is likely done, even if the G-Men somehow escape the landfill that is the NFC East. On Monday night the Giants face another 5-7 team that over its last three games lost to the Cowboys, got killed by the Jets and barely squeaked by a depleted Ravens squad. The Giants aren’t a good football, but the Dolphins might be worse.
New York 23, Miami 20
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