In addition to Manning, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. played exceptionally well, where he caught seven receptions for a total 166 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a Mario Manningham-worthy foot drag at the sidelines of the end zone.
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After blowing an NFL-leading five fourth-quarter leads this season – and along the way becoming pioneers in new, creative ways to lose a game late – the Giants finally flipped the script and held on to a late lead against the Dolphins on the road, winning 31-24 to save their season and maintain pace with Philadelphia and Washington atop the NFC East.
The Dolphins faced a quality opponent in the New York Giants and they put together a quality win. “We’re responsible for it. But now we’ll find out who really loves it and who wants to finish this thing out, and who wants to play for the logo on their helmet and the name on the back of their jersey”.
Eli Manning went 27-for-31 racking up 337 yards and four touchdowns in the win. His passer rating of 151.5 was his highest since 2009, and his 87 percent completion percentage was a career best.
THE STANDINGS: The Giants (6-7) broke a three-game losing streak and are tied with the Redskins and Eagles for the lead in their woeful division.
“We’ve got three games to go”, Campbell said.
The rotation needs to be Darkwa early to wear them down, Vereen on third down and Jennings to close out the game due to his dual-threat abilities.
Miami has now gone seven years without making the playoffs, a franchise record for a team that once dominated the National Football League and is still the only club to complete a ideal season. In the fourth quarter, the two connected again, this time for an 84-yard touchdown on a busted coverage.
Despite the loss, there were still some bright spots on the Dolphins.
Miami’s undrafted rookie punter continued his impressive first season, finishing with six punts and averaging 46.7 yards per kick.
Campbell was especially unhappy about four personal foul penalties. Coughlin had said last week that players needed to step up and make plays, and Manning sensed that’s exactly what would happen.
Miami Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell looks up during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. This is football. This is a game we played as kids.
Odell Beckham knows what’s coming.
A source told the New York Daily News that the Giants cut him for “discipline-related reasons”. Calling for a long handoff from your unflappable quarterback to your unfathomable wide receiver in every possible key situation seems to make a lot of sense. This was the Dolphins’ first Monday night home game since 2011….
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Odell Beckham Jr. made Brent Grimes look bad in the first half. The running game was the bread and butter for the Dolphins, with Lamar Miller running for 89 yards and two TD’s. Two big plays highlighted by missed tackles was Jason Pierre Paul inability to wrap up the running back with the club on his hand, linebacker J.T. Thomas had Miller run right through his body on a 14-yard score.
