The Miami Dolphins Host the New York Giants Sunday - News Notes and Nuggets

By: Jason Sarney 

-The Miami Dolphins are on a 4-game winning streak & host the New York Giants at Hard Rock Stadium, Sunday at 1 p.m. Miami has never beaten the Giants at Hard Rock Stadium, dropping all 3 meetings at the venue. The last Dolphins win in the series came on 10/5/03 at Giants Stadium. Miami is 2-7 all-time against the Giants.

-This will be the first meeting between Flores & NYG Head Coach Joe Judge. The two served as assistants on the same Patriots staff from 2012-18. A win on Sunday, would match the team's longest winning streak under Brian Flores, a 5-game streak from Oct. 11, 2020, to Nov. 15, 2020.

-This season, MIA beat 2 teams with who they have historically had a lot of difficulties against...the Texans & the Ravens. On Sunday, they face the New York Giants, a team they have their 2nd WORST franchise winning percentage against all-time at .222 MIA is 2-7 against NYG.

-MIA has already faced 4 of the NFL's top 7 teams. In MIA's 12 games, their opponents (BUF 2X) have a combined average winning % of .495, half w/ winning records. In MIA's remaining 5 games, NYG, NYJ, NO, TEN & NE have a combined average winning % of .485. 2 winning records.

-During this 4 game winning NOV, Jevon Holland has become his own island. Targeted against 10 times the last 4 games. Opponents caught 4 balls & in 2 games no one had a catch in his area. He has 2 INTs & a sack as well in NOV, & QB passer ratings against him of 40.64 & 15 tackles.

-In the 1st quarter of games this season, the Dolphins have outscored opponents 69-46. The +23 point differential is 7th in the NFL this year.

-Since Week 6 Tua Tagovailoa has completed 40/53 passes (75.5%) for 467 yards 4 TDs & 2 INTs in the 4th qtr. His 467 4th-qtr passing yards are 5th in the NFL since then while his 75.5 completion % leads NFL. His 8.8 yards per attempt ranks 4th & his 111.1 passer rating also is 4th. Tagovailoa also has 2 fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns since Week 6.

-Rookie edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips had a 90.0 grade last weekend from PFF against the Panthers in his 3-sack performance.  He has had four straight games with at least half of a sack.

-MIA leads the NFL in passes defensed (69) & QB hits (90). MIA is tied for 3rd in the NFL in fumble recoveries (9) & is tied for 6th in takeaways (19). MIA is 5th in the NFL in 1st down success rate w/ just 46.4% of opposing 1st-down snaps gaining 4+ yards.

-Jevon Holland's 45 tackles are 6th among NFL rookies. He led all NFL rookies with 5 passes defensed in the month of November and also intercepted 2 passes in the month.

-Though streaky, punter Michael Palardy is 3rd in the NFL with 21 punts downed inside the 20 this season. He is tied for 4th in the NFL with 8 punts downed inside the 10-yard line and 3 punts downed inside the 5-yard line.

-4 Miami Dolphin defenders have registered at least a... Sack Tackle for loss QB Hit INT Pass defended with either a forced or recovered fumble: They Are: Jerome Baker Elandon Roberts Jevon Holland Nik Needham.

-Mack Hollins has 12 receptions 3 TDS 8 special team tackles a tackle on offense following a turnover Several downed Punts.... 0 Haircuts.

-Miami is 4-0 this season when leading after the 3rd 5-0 when holding opponents to under 20 points.

-The Dolphins allowed 3 100+ rushers in the first 4 games of the season. They haven't allowed one since.
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-Durham Smythe has a catch rate in 2021 of 80% and since Week 2, zero dropped passes. 10 of his 25 receptions created a 1st down Smythe also had 2 rushing 1st downs against the Panthers. Mike Gesicki is kvelling somewhere.
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-Miami has 86 points in the 4th quarter this season. In the 2nd and 3rd quarters combined this season, they have scored 76.

-Jaylen Waddle has 25 more catches than any other NFL rookie this season. He is slightly ahead of pace to break the NFL rookie receptions record of 101 by Arizona WR Anquan Boldin in 2003. If he continues his pace per game he'll have 103 after Week 17. It would be within 16 games.

-Waddle's MIA record countdown:

​Receptions - Jarvis Landry had 84 in 2014. Waddle needs 8 more as he is at 77 Yardage - Chris Chambers had 883 in 2001 with 7 TDs, both MIA rookie records. Waddle is 125 yards away and needs 4 receiving TDs to break Chambers' records in both stats.

Let's look at Mr. November ON FIELD

Jaylen Waddle

In 4 NOV Games his stats are mind-boggling:
35 targets
29 receptions
346 yards
118 YAC
Catch Rate of 83%
19 First Downs
11.9 Yards per Reception (9.9 on the season)
QB Passer Rating when targeted in NOV - 92.75
Miami Record 4-0

— Jason Sarney (@Jason_Sarney) November 30, 2021