EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Jason Pinnock's initial reaction crystallized quickly when he heard the Miami Dolphins had beaten Denver, 70-20, two weeks ago.
Simply put: no defensive player wants to endure an onslaught like that. And the Giants' defenders certainly don't anticipate allowing an obscene number of points when they face the Dolphins in Hard Rock Stadium. But having posted that number on the scoreboard once this season indicates how lethal the Dolphins' attack is, and how considerable a challenge the Giants' defense faces.
"It was a pretty incredible game that they had," Giants coach Brian Daboll said. "Explosive plays, scored a lot of points. That's what their team's capable of."
Cornerback Adoree' Jackson takes the view that Miami's outlandish point total vs. Denver – the NFL's highest in almost 57 years – can be good news for the Giants' defense.
"It just let me know they threw the ball a lot, so there's a lot of plays to be made," Jackson said. "That's how I look at it. It's a lot of opportunities to make plays with that many points going up on the board." But, he admits, 70 points "is unheard of."
View photos of the Giants on the practice field ahead of the Week 5 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB Eric Gray (20)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
CB Adoree' Jackson (22), S Xavier McKinney (29)
OL Joshua Ezeudu (75), OL Justin Pugh (67)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
S Xavier McKinney (29)
CB Adoree' Jackson (22)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
CB Nick McCloud (44), S Xavier McKinney (29)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
RB Eric Gray (20)
CB Adoree' Jackson (22), S Xavier McKinney (29)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
WR Parris Campbell (0)
QB Tyrod Taylor (2)
RB Eric Gray (20)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
WR Cam Sims (47)
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
Mike Kafka Offensive Coordinator
Brian Daboll Head Coach
QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
WR Sterling Shepard (3)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
RB Saquon Barkley (26)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
The Dolphins' have compiled a slate of impressive statistics. Their 2,044 total yards of offense are the most-ever through a team's first four games of a season. They lead the NFL with per-game averages in points (37.5), total yards (511.0), rushing yards (176,8), passing yards (334.3) and first downs (25.5). Miami tops the league with 20 rushes of 10 or more yards and 18 passes of at least 20 yards.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for an NFL-high 1,306 yards, is tied for the league lead with nine touchdown passes and his 114.4 passer rating is second to another quarterback the Giants have faced, San Francisco's Brock Purdy (115.1).
Rookie running back De'Von Achane tops the league by averaging 11.4 yards-per-carry, has 309 rushing yards and has scored seven touchdowns – despite missing the season opener with a shoulder injury.
Tyreek Hill is fourth in the NFL with 470 receiving yards (on 28 catches) and has scored four touchdowns. Jaylen Waddle missed the touchdown-fest against Denver but has 12 receptions for 210 yards.
How do the Dolphins do it? Coach Mike McDaniel has an innovative offensive scheme and is a creative play-caller, which puts his playmakers in position to excel.
But what really drives Miami's attack is speed. According to the league's Next Gen Stats, the Dolphins have the six fastest ballcarrier speeds in the NFL this season, topped by Hill at 22.07 miles per hour. Hill appears in the top six three times, Achane twice and running back Raheem Mostert once.
Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale called Miami's offense, "unbelievable." He compared it to the early 2000s St. Louis Rams' Greatest Show on Turf, which featured Pro Football Hall of Famers Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Isaac Bruce.
"I told our staff because we're all old enough to remember The Greatest Show on Turf, this is like that, 2023 supersonic," Martindale said. "I mean, they are fast. Faster than that. That's the whole thing that in preparing a team going into this environment, that's not even turf there. It's grass and they're still faster.
"Guys got to get used to the speed of the game and the speed of those guys. I don't know what the best way to describe it is. It's like, if you were driving on Daytona NASCAR and jump and try to race against a Formula 1 guy. Those guys, they're fast. It's not just Tyreek (Hill) anymore. Waddle the rookie running back (Achane), he runs 4.3 with his pads on. It's going to be a challenge."
Martindale explained exactly why that's true.
"When you get horizontal, when I say horizontal lanes, you want your safety to play deeper," he said. "Just two or three yards deeper, because these guys are so fast and they go vertical, you want to be able to top their routes. And that creates space in between the safety and the linebackers' drops. So, then you tell your linebackers to drop deeper. Now your checkdowns, there's more space, so they've got you at three different levels. You want to take away the touchdown, you want to take away the big chunks which, off play action sometimes those chunk plays end up breaking routes. They're tough to cover."
"Any time you're facing the track team, it's gonna be tough," safety Xavier McKinney said. "You gotta take great angles, you gotta be great tacklers and you gotta have all 11 to the ball. So that's what we got to do."
Tagovailoa is the centerpiece of the lethal operation. He is completing 71.3% of his passes and averages 9.6 yards an attempt.
"He's special, man, that guy is special," said McKinney, who was Tagovailoa's teammate at the University of Alabama. "I've seen it ever since being in college with him, practicing with him, he's just getting smarter. He's just getting better every day, he's just getting better, and you can tell he's an elite quarterback. He is one of the elite quarterbacks that we have in this league, and he's a tough challenge when having to face him.
"He's a hell of a leader and just a person. But the leader on and off the field, he's one of those guys you want on your side. He's gonna fight for you and you're gonna fight for him as well. I think that's another reason why Miami's doing what they're doing. When you got a guy like that, it makes stuff a lot easier."
Daboll coached Tagovailoa as Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2017.
"I have a lot of respect for Tua and how he plays that position, some of the stuff he went through early on in his career," Daboll said. "He's got great anticipation, he's accurate, he's a leader, and I am not surprised at all with the success he has had. He's bounced back from some tough things injury-wise, but he's a heck of a quarterback."
Tagovailoa also has a wrinkle opponents must prepare for – he is the NFL's only lefthanded starting quarterback.
"The ball comes out differently," McKinney said. "It's a different angle, so you got to get used to that. Obviously, I went against him before, so I kind of understand it, but I haven't played against him in a while, so I am sure I have to get used to it the first couple snaps of the game. But it's definitely different.
"They got so many weapons everywhere. It's Tua, but then you got Tyreek Hill, you got Waddle. You got a lot of fast guys, you got a lot of guys that are high speed guys, guys you just throw them a two-yard pass and make them turn it into a 50-yard run. It's a lot of challenges that we're gonna face, but it'll be fun."
*This is the Giants' first interconference game of the season. They were 5-0 against the AFC in 2022, defeating all four AFC South teams, plus Baltimore.
*The Giants lead the series with the Dolphins, 7-3, including 4-1 in Miami. The defeat occurred two years ago, a 20-9 loss in Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 5, 2021.
View rare photos of the all-time series between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins
Doug Kotar of the New York Giants goes flying as he is upended by Miami's Curtis Johnson in the third period at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, Sept. 12, 1977. Kotar managed to advance the ball for a first down. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Mercury Morris (22) of the Miami Dolphins against New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in New York, Dec. 10, 1972. (AP Photo/Harry Harris)
Larry Csonka of the New York Giants is stopped after a two yard gain in the first quarter of NFL exhibition game at Giants Stadium against the Miami Dolphins, Sundays, Sept. 11, 1977 in East Rutherford. The tackle is made by Dolphins Vern Den Herder and Bob Baumhower (73), right. (AP Photo/RFS)
Miami Dolphins safety Mike Kezlowski takes to the air against New York Giants Tom Mullady in the fourth period of exhibition game. The Dolphins won the final exhibition game of the NFL pre-season 24-3 at Giants Stadium on August 26, 1983 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) reacts to a touchdown scored in the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins in East Rutherford, N.J., Sept. 24, 1990. (AP Photo/Bobeto Matthews)
Running back Rodney Hampton of the New York Giants becomes airborne as he runs over Bryan Cox (51) of the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Fla., Dec. 5, 1993. Also pictured is Jarrod Bunch (33) of the Giants. (AP Photo/Wayne Fleisher)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) unloads a pass during third quarter action against the Miami Dolphins in Miami, Dec. 5, 1993. (AP Photo/Hans Deryk)
Miami Dolphins Ricky Williams(34) in action against the New York Giants on October 5, 2003 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Dolphins beat the Giants 23-10.(AP Photo/David Durochik)
Miami Dolphins runningback Ricky Williams is upended by New York Giants' Omar Stoutmire, right, and Kenny Holmes during the second quarter Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Miami Dolphins Sam Madison(29) in action during a game against New York Giants at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on October 5, 2003. The Dolphins beat the Giants 23-10 . Sam Madison played for 12 years with 2 different teams and was a 4-time Pro Bowler.(AP Photo/David Durochik)
New York Giants qb Eli Manning calls signals against the Miami Dolphins during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)
FILE New York Giants' Brandon Jacobs (27) is tackled by Miami Dolphins' Channing Crowder (52 ) during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London on Oct. 28, 2007. Jacobs and his Giants teammates face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 11. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Miami Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon (17) scrambles against the New York Giants Kawika Mitchell (55) during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)
New York Giants Sam Madison (29) breaks up a pass intended for the Miami Dolphins Derek Hagan (82) during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)
New York Giants Eli Manning (10) passes against the Miami Dolphins during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants Michael Strahan (92) recovers a fumble by the Miami Dolphins Cleo Lemon (17) during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants Brandon Jacobs (27) drags tacklers against the Miami Dolphins during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants Brandon Jacobs (27) runs for yardage against the Miami Dolphins during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants Brandon Jacobs (27) is hit by Miami Dolphins Michael Lehan (22) during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants Brandon Jacobs (27) drags tacklers against the Miami Dolphins during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants Fred Robbins (98) bears down on Miami Dolphins QB Cleo Lemon (17) during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Miami Dolphins Cleo Lemon (17) passes against the New York Giants during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants Reuben Droughns (22) runs against the Miami Dolphins during their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. The game was the first NFL regular season game played in Europe. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants' Osi Umenyiora (72) pulls down Miami Dolphins' Jesse Chatman (28) during the third quarter of their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
New York Giants' Sam Madison (29) contests the ball with Miami Dolphins' Derek Hagan in the third quarter of their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)
New York Giants' Fred Robbins (98) tackles Miami Dolphins quarterback Cleo Lemon (17) in the third quarter of their NFL football game at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore, center, is sacked by New York Giants' Justin Tuck (91) and Mathias Kiwanuka (94) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants won the game 20-17. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning (10) signals to his offense during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
A look down the line of scrimmage as the New York Giants take on the Miami Dolphins in an NFL football game on Sunday October 30, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz (80) makes a catch for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday October 30, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin talks with Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano following an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday October 30, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants quaterback Eli Manning (10) celebrates a touchdown pass during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday October 30, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham (82) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Miami Dolphins defensive back Jimmy Wilson (27) during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Miami Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith, rear, tackles New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (88) during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Greg Jennings (85) talks with New York Giants defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (99)m during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) recovers a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws a pass under pressure from Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Giants defeated the Dolphins 31-24. (Kirby Lee/NFL)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) makes a call during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Giants running back Rashad Jennings (23) runs the ball ahead of Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Earl Mitchell (90) and outside linebacker Quinton Coples (98), during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) winds to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) runs off the field during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning (10) takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball past Miami Dolphins defensive end Avery Moss (93) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) passes against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jomal Wiltz (33) tries to stop New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) holds on to the ball as he gets past Miami Dolphins defensive back Nik Needham (40) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2019, file photo, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) looks to pass under pressure from New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the second half of an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants have placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on defensive tackle Leonard Williams. The Giants announced the move Monday, March 16, 2020.(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, Fle)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs past Miami Dolphins free safety Adrian Colbert (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball as Miami Dolphins defensive back Nik Needham (40) holds on in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball as Miami Dolphins defensive back Nik Needham (40) holds on in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) passes against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants linebacker Oshane Ximines (53) takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants QB Eli Manning (10) and RB Saquon Barkley (26) during a week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) takes part in a week 15 regular season game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday December 15, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard (87) during a week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
Saquon Barkley (26)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) during a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
Azeez Ojulari (51)
Elerson Smith (94)
Saquon Barkley (26)
Azeez Ojulari (51)
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