The New York Giants Week 13 trip down to Florida saw them struggle in a big way as they fell to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, 20-9. The Giants could not get anything going on offense and the defense failed to stop Miami in crucial situations down the stretch. The loss drops the Giants to 7-3 all-time against the Dolphins, with Miami's last win before this one over the G-Men coming back in 2003.
Miami is also now on a five-game winning streak as the Giants search for more internal answers to their problems. New York has alternated wins and losses for almost the past two months straight and that is indicative of their in-game transgressions from this one: they simply cannot find their footing in a league that is going full-steam ahead every single week.
This loss will do nothing to squash any of the Sean Payton and/or Russell Wilson to the Giants rumors–and that may be what is most detrimental to this team more than any other… having to constantly be looking over their coach and QB's shoulders.
Regardless of who the coach and quarterback of the Giants will be in 2021, the team must still focus on this season or they will continue to get steam-rolled. Here are three takeaways from the Giants-Dolphins matchup from a “NY state of mind.”
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Three New York Giants Week 13 Takeaways
3. The defense played well (good)
You cannot blame the Giants' defense for losing this one, as they held Miami to just 4.4 yards per play on the day. The team wasn't able to force any turnovers but they did pressure Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa from start to finish and ended up sacking the sophomore from Alabama two times. The Giants held Miami to just 297 total yards of offense, including just 2.7 yards per rush and 5.3 yards per pass. It was not good enough, though, as the Dolphins were still able to convert 40 percent of their third downs.
2. The offense did not run the ball as much as they should have (bad)
With 44 passes and just 17 runs on the game, this is a huge indictment on new Giants offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. When Jason Garret was let go two weeks ago after a miserable performance against the Tamps Bay Buccaneers, he was expected to provide a spark to an offense that has struggled all year long. Kitchens more put a damper on things than he did ignite them, so the move is not paying immediate dividends. Perhaps giving the ball more than 15 times to former pro-bowl RB Saquon Barkley would help?
1. The Giants MUST upgrade from Mike Glennon as their backup QB (ugly)
Glennon was pitiful on Sunday. Facing the same defense that Joe Flacco performed admirably against just two weeks ago, Glennon looked completely overmatched and underprepared. He refused to throw the ball downfield (the longest completion was 20 yards), averaged 4.3 yards per pass attempt, took three sacks, and threw an interception. Locky for the Giants, Glennon was concussed in the beatdown and looks doubtful for next week's game at the Los Angeles Chargers. With starting quarterback Daniel Jones not ready to return, it could be Jake Fromm.
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