Giants defeat Dolphins, 36-20: Instant analysis

Instant analysis of the New York Giants 36-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins in what may have been Eli Manning’s final game.

The Miami Dolphins played most of this season as team designed to lose after trading away several star players and stocking up on draft picks. They lost their first seven games and then began playing more competitive football the next six weeks.

That ended on Sunday at MetLife Stadium against the 2-11 New York Giants. The Dolphins showed just why they had been playing over their skis the past several weeks by logging in a clunker against a Giants team that had lost a franchise record nine games in a row.

Eli Manning, who most likely started his last game as a Giant on Sunday, led the Giants to a 36-20 victory over Miami on 20-of-28 passing for 283 yards with two touchdowns and three picks.

Following a flat first half which saw the Giants down, 10-7, after Manning threw two troubling interceptions, Big Blue came out in the second half and drove 70 yards in five plays to take a 14-10 lead on a five yard touchdown pass to Darius Slayton.

The Giants widened their lead in the second half to 16-13 when Sam Beal caught Dolphins running back Patrick Laird in the end zone for the Giants’ fist safety in 40 games.

Big Blue took the ensuing kick and struck quickly, going 40 yards in three plays culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Saquon Barkley. The drive was highlighted by this completion to Sterling Shepard to the one-yard line.

The defense played it’s best half the season in the second half, shutting down the Dolphins until the garbage time touchdown they scored right before the two-minute warning.

Notes

  • If this ends up being Manning’s last start as a Giant, he’ll end with a 117-117 record, which will end all debates regarding putting a quarterback with a losing record in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  • Barkley gained 112 yards on the ground, his first 100-yard game since Week 2. His two touchdowns were his first rushing scores since Week 7. The 24 carries are the most he’s had all season and the first time this season he’s had over 20 rushing attempts in a game.
  • Slayton became the first player since 2006 (Marques Colston) drafted in the fifth round or later to register 8 or more receiving touchdowns in their rookie season.
  • Rookie cornerback DeAndre Baker left the game temporarily in the third quarter with a knee injury but returned shortly after.

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