Are Giants Just a Stepping Stone into Bye?

The Giants are struggling team gutted by injuries

The Miami Dolphins are facing a struggling, injury-depleted New York Giants team at home and are the heavy favorites to win in their Week 13 matchup. On a four-game win streak, the once pronounced dead Phins are riding a high of emotion from the media and fans. If the wins streak hits 5 games as they enter their Bye next week, the positive meter might shatter with exuberance.

Feels good, doesn’t it?!

Giants bring a tough interior matchup on defense

I don’t see the Dolphins losing this one especially given Daniel Jones is out, but don’t sleep on this team.

The Giants are scrappy and have two excellent defensive tackles in Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence. These interior mammoths will dominate the Dolphins O-line and set MLB Reggie Ragland free on the run game. The Giants secondary is a disaster though especially with CB Adoree’ Jackson out, so ultimately Miami will put on points. Still, I’m focusing on that interior matchup because it will be a good barometer for when the Dolphins face the Saints and the Titans, who are tough on the defensive interior.

There has been a load of talk on how the Phins o-line has improved. You can bet with the best pay per head that this is more talk than substance. Here is some stats to add context and clarity. If you want film to back the stats below, check out the in-depth study here.

1. Tua has had 2.1 seconds until the ball is released or there is pressure. This ranks him 33rd over that time.
2. Despite ultra quick release time he has been pressured 10 times (tied 15th) while only being blitzed 18th most. And in this time, the Dolphins have run 12 Personnel groupings (two TEs for extra blockers) a mindboggling 74% of the time compared to a league average of 22%.
3. The Dolphins have faced over this span the Texans with a decent defensive interior group, Ravens with elite Calais Campbell and not much more, decent pair of DIs with the Jets, and poor Panthers interior DL group.

The game within the game is at the A-Gap when Miami is on “O”

It’s far easier to scheme up protection against edge pressure than interior pressure, which is much more dangerous for a quarterback. Also, Tua thrives on climbing the ladder with his eyes down field to either make the throw or leak out on a run. So, this is why even though the Phins will most likely win, keeping an eagle eye on the interior battle between the Giants DTs and the Phins OL will be the spotlight for me on Sunday.

Really, this season will most likely come down to the final three games and all three team can generate pressure in the A-Gap, although the Patriots have the least talented DL interior. If the Dolphins win and prove they can handle the Giants interior pressure, it will be a great sign that the Phins might keep this win streak alive for a few more weeks to come. Go Phins!!!