New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins Pick & Prediction OCTOBER 8th 2023
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane is quickly solidifying himself as the biggest steal of this year's draft.
Achane has totaled six touchdowns over his past two games, and he will look to continue his frantic scoring pace Sunday when the Dolphins face the New York Giants in Miami Gardens, Fla.
After totaling four TDs (two rushing, two receiving) during Miami's 70-20 rout of the Denver Broncos on Sept. 24, Achane rushed for two more scores in last Sunday's 48-20 loss to the Bills that dropped the Dolphins to 3-1.
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With his performance against Buffalo, Achane joined Doug Martin (2012), Mike Anderson (2000) and Randy Moss (1998) as the only rookies since 1970 to find the end zone six times in a two-game span.
Even though Achane has burst onto the scene, Miami coach Mike McDaniel isn't comfortable turning over the backfield to him just yet.
"He'll continue to have a role, for sure, for our offense moving forward," McDaniel said of Achane. "What does that look like in terms of ratios and touches? That will be something that I would be remiss if I didn't wait to see the tape before making judgments like that."
New York (1-3) hopes it will be able to counter with a talented running back of its own, Saquon Barkley.
Barkley has missed the Giants' past two games with a high ankle sprain. He was limited during Wednesday's practice.
Life without Barkley has been torture for New York, which is on a short week after Monday's ugly 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Giants have the worst point differential in the NFL at minus-76, and that number could continue trending in the wrong direction against a Dolphins offense that averages a league-best 511 yards per game.
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Quarterback Daniel Jones hasn't been able to step up in Barkley's absence, either. He threw for just 203 yards with two interceptions and suffered 10 of the Seahawks' 11 sacks Monday.
Although it hasn't been the start he anticipated following last season's promising 9-7-1 mark, New York coach Brian Daboll still believes better days are ahead.
"When you're in this position, you tell them what we're not doing right, you own it, you own it as a leader and you come back ready to go," Daboll said. "Not the start that we had hoped for, we had worked for, but a long road ahead and a lot of improvement to be done."
The Giants might be working with a makeshift offensive line as they try to get back on track on Sunday. Guard Shane Lemieux (groin), center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), and tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) all missed practice on Wednesday. Tackle Evan Neal (hand) was among those limited.
Running back Gary Brightwell and tight end Daniel Bellinger, who are dealing with ankle and knee injuries, respectively, were also limited.
Miami's O-line could be without tackle Terron Armstead (back/ankle/knee), who didn't participate in Wednesday's practice. Nine Dolphins were limited, including linebacker Jaelan Phillips (oblique), safety DeShon Elliott (groin) and offensive lineman Connor Williams (groin).
New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins Recap OCT 8TH 2023
Tyreek Hill hauled in eight catches for 181 yards and De'Von Achane continued his frantic scoring pace as the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Giants 31-16 on Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Hill dealt the Giants a lethal blow just 54 seconds into the second half, catching a deep ball near the right sideline for a 69-yard touchdown that gave Miami (4-1) a 24-10 lead.
Graham Gano pulled New York (1-4) within 11 with a 37-yard field goal just under 10 minutes later, but Raheem Mostert's 2-yard scoring plunge as time expired in the third quarter squashed any chance of a comeback.
Gano's 51-yarder in the fourth closed the scoring.
Meanwhile, Achane finished with 151 yards and a TD on just 11 carries. He now has 455 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns (five rushing, two receiving) over the past three weeks, becoming just the fourth player in Dolphins franchise history to rack up at least 400 yards on the ground in a three-game span.
The Giants didn't get on the board until Gano made good on a 49-yard field goal with 3:41 left in the first half.
Miami drove down to the New York 4 on its ensuing possession, but Tua Tagovailoa was picked off by Jason Pinnock, whose 102-yard pick-6 cut the Giants' deficit to 14-10.
Jason Sanders drilled a 40-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter to send the Dolphins into the break with a seven-point lead before Miami took control in the second half.
Tagovailoa finished with 308 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 22-for-30 passing.
New York quarterback Daniel Jones completed 14 of 20 passes for 119 yards before exiting the game due to a neck injury after being sacked early in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins totaled seven sacks on the afternoon.
Darren Waller had eight receptions for 86 yards for the Giants.
Miami opened the scoring with 7:09 left in the first quarter, as Tagovailoa capped an eight-play, 89-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle.
Achane then doubled the lead, sprinting 76 yards down the left sideline with 10:02 remaining in the second quarter to make it 14-0.