Marshall Eats His Words, and Giants Thank Their Lucky Stars

A capsule look at the Giants’ 20-17 win over the Dolphins on Sunday:

Key Performance

Steve Weatherford averaged 46.8 yards on four punts for the Giants and pinned the Dolphins inside their 20-yard line three times. With the Giants leading and just less than four minutes remaining, Weatherford boomed his final punt 55 yards, and the Giants tackled returner Reggie Bush for a 4-yard loss. “That was one of those moments when you may have a lump in your throat, but guys came through,” Coach Tom Coughlin said.

Notable Number: 55

Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall had 55 yards receiving, after guaranteeing a Dolphins victory last week on Twitter.

To: Media
When we win Sunday please don’t say the Giants didn’t take us serious.Thu Oct 27 23:07:09 via Twitter for iPhoneBrandon Marshall
BMarshall19

Marshall was thrown to six times and caught four passes but had a 25-yard reception in the fourth quarter called back for offensive pass interference.

Talking Point

The Giants came out of Sunday’s game with several injury questions. Hakeem Nicks had an aching hamstring, David Baas hurt his knee and Ahmad Bradshaw was limping with a sore foot. All said they would be evaluated Monday, but with the toughest part of the schedule looming, can the Giants withstand another rash of injuries?

Dolphins at Giants: Matchup to Watch

Dolphins (0-6) at Giants (4-2), 1 p.m. Eastern, CBS

Matchup to Watch: Giants CB Corey Webster vs. Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall
Marshall has made plenty of headlines this season for things he has said (predicting he would be ejected for fighting against the Jets; guaranteeing a victory against the Giants). But he is an undeniable talent, and Webster will be chasing him. Two weeks ago, the Giants’ secondary gave up early big plays to the Buffalo Bills but excelled late in a dramatic victory. Can Webster lead a more complete effort against Marshall and the winless Dolphins?

Number to Watch: 4

That is how many defensive ends the Giants may use on certain plays now that Justin Tuck is healthy again. While Jason Pierre-Paul has played more snaps than the Giants would like and he could use some rest, an all-star lineup of Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Pierre-Paul and Mathias Kiwanuka could be too appetizing for the defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to resist.

Quotation of the Week

“Of course, he’s the head coach and he’s going to take a lot of heat. But trust me, it’s not him. Not just him. It’s all of us.”

Brandon Marshall, on the tenuous nature of Dolphins Coach Tony Sparano’s job.

Much-Needed Win for Jets, but What Does It Mean?

The prevailing emotion in the Jets’ locker room late Monday night after they beat the hapless Miami Dolphins, 24-6, was that of relief. Never has being an average team with a 3-3 record felt so good.

“To get the feeling of winning, when you don’t get that three times in a row, you start doubting yourself,” guard Brandon Moore said.

The Jets did what they expected, and were expected, to do against Miami. They won and won decisively. And still, the feeling exists that the Jets did not play that well, or as well as the 18-point margin of victory indicated.

It took 24 minutes for them to register their first first down. They gained 10 yards of offense in the first quarter. On defense, they failed to protect the edge on the Dolphins’ first play from scrimmage, watching Reggie Bush bolt around the right end for 36 yards, and a few breakdowns led to some big Miami gains.

Better teams than Miami capitalize on those mistakes, and one of those better teams happens to be visiting MetLife Stadium next Sunday: the 4-1 San Diego Chargers. By winning Monday night, can the Jets resume dreaming of the playoffs, or did the victory conceal some ever-present flaws?

Miami at Jets: Matchup to Watch

Dolphins (0-4) at Jets (2-3), 8:30 p.m. Eastern, ESPN

Matchup to Watch: Jets’ defense vs. Dolphins’ run game

According to the defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, the Jets wasted the best game of the noted run-stopper Mike DeVito’s career in a loss Oct. 9 in New England. Another wasted game would be demoralizing. The Jets fully expect the Dolphins, with Matt Moore making his first start at quarterback for Miami, to run and run and run, with Reggie Bush, Lex Hilliard and, if healthy, Daniel Thomas. The Jets yield 134.8 rushing yards per game. For a unit aiming to regain respectability, nothing more than domination Monday will suffice.

Number to Watch: 45.6

That is how many yards Joe McKnight has averaged on his nine kickoff returns, best in the N.F.L. McKnight has produced two long returns — a 107-yarder for a touchdown against Baltimore and an 88-yarder against New England that led to a third-quarter touchdown — and his explosiveness could pose problems for Miami. The Dolphins have allowed 27.4 yards per kickoff return, putting them in the bottom third of the league. The Jets, though, will surely welcome fewer returns by McKnight if that means that their defense is playing well.

Quotation of the Week

“They’re still the team to beat in our division.”
Dolphins Coach TONY SPARANO, whose team lost by 14 points to first-place New England (5-1) in the season opener, on the 2-3 Jets.