The New York Giants were sparring with the Dolphins for three quarters before hitting them with the knockout punch in the 4th quarter when they outscored them 10-0.  Eli Manning was outstanding yesterday as he completed 31 of 45 passes for 349 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Ahmad Bradshaw led the way on the ground for the Giants yesterday with 13 carries for 50 yards (3.8 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 38 yards (7.6 avg) in this game.  WR Victor Cruz led the way for the Giants in the air yesterday as he caught 7 passes for 99 yards with 1 TD grab.  WR Hakeem Nicks (6 rec, 67 yards), WR Mario Manningham (6 rec, 63 yards, TD) and TE Jake Ballard (4 rec, 55 yards) also pitched in for the Giants in the passing game yesterday.  The Giants finished up with 58 yards rushing on 23 carries (2.5 ypc) and they also completed 31 of 45 passes (68.9%) for 344 yards as they had possession of the ball for 32:26.

The defense was solid against the pass but not too good against the run yesterday.  LBs Mathias Kiwanuka (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1.5 sacks and 2 QB hits), Michael Boley (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and Greg Jones (5 tackles) led the way for the Giants’ D yesterday.  DE Jason Pierre-Paul (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 QB hits) and CB Corey Webster (4 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 1 interception) also had big games for the Giants yesterday.  The Dolphins finished up with 145 yards rushing on 26 carries (5.6 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 22 passes (59.1%) for 101 yards.  The Giants are now 5-2 on the season.

The Giants have had two weeks to get ready for the woeful Miami Dolphins.  The Dolphins really choked last weekend as they blew a 15-0 lead in less than three minutes before losing in O.T. to Tim Tebow and his Broncos.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Giants have the ball:  I look for the Giants to come out throwing the ball to get the lead this Sunday, before grinding out a win on the ground with Ahmad Bradshaw.  If the Giants give Eli Manning time to throw the ball, he’s going to shred the Dolphins’ secondary as opposing QBs have a 102.3 Rating against them this year.  WRs Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and TE Jake Ballard are all likely in line for solid games this weekend against the Dolphins.

When the Dolphins have the ball:  The Dolphins are going to try to run the ball offensively and control the clock.   That means the front seven must first concern itself with stopping Daniel Thomas and Reggie Bush, before worrying about the Fins’ passing game.  Dolphins’ QBs have been sacked 22 times already this year, which plays right into the Giants’ strength as they are the best pass rushing team in the NFL.  The Giants’ secondary will have to be ready to deal with WRs Davone Bess, Brian Hartline and Brandon Marshall as they make plays after the catch.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 30, DOLPHINS 17

Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham have been banged up a little bit this year, but they have still been productive so far.  Hakeem Nicks has caught 32 passes for 508 yards (15.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs so far this year as he continues to be Eli Manning’s go-to man.  Mario Manningham has caught 18 passes for 227 yards (12.6 avg) so far this year, but I look for him to pick up the pace now that he’s finally healthy.  Victor Cruz is the #3 WR for the Giants right now and he has been outstanding so far this year.  Cruz has caught 21 passes for 398 yards (19.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs so far this year.  The Giants have quite a trio at WR and I look for them to continue to put up good numbers the rest of the year.

The New York Giants are flat out not running the ball too well so far this year.  They are averaging 90.2 yards rushing per game and only 3.3 yards per carry so far this year.  You can’t blame Ahmad Bradshaw for the Giants’ problems running the ball so far this year.  He has played in all six games for the Giants so far this year and he has carried the ball 98 times for 390 yards (4.0 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  Bradshaw has also caught 19 passes for 172 yards (9.1 avg) with 1 TD grab so far this year.  Brandon Jacobs is having a rough time this year due to injuries.  He has played in 4 games for the Giants so far this year and he has carried the ball 38 times for 116 yards (3.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Jacobs has also caught 4 passes for 58 yards (14.5 avg) with 1 TD grab so far this year.  The Giants hope that Jacobs will get healthy and back to the RB he used to be.  D.J. Ware has played in all six games for the Giants so far this year and he has 44 yards rushing on 12 carries (3.7 ypc).  He has also caught 3 passes for 27 yards (9.0 avg) so far this year.  The bottom line is that the Giants need more out of the running game after this week’s bye.

The New York Giants won a hard fought battle with the Bills yesterday.  Eli Manning was solid as he completed 21 of 32 passes for 292 yards without a TD pass or an interception.  Ahmad Bradshaw was the main man for the Giants yesterday as he carried the ball 26 times for 104 yards (4.0 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also caught 2 passes for 26 yards (13.0 avg) in this game.  D.J. Ware pitched in with 19 yards rushing on 5 carries (3.8 ypc) last night.  WR Hakeem Nicks (4 rec, 96 yards), TE Jake Ballard (5 rec, 81 yards) and Mario Manningham (5 rec, 56 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Giants yesterday.  The Giants finished up with 122 yards rushing on 33 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 32 passes (65.6%) for 292 yards as they had possession of the ball for 30:47.

The defense didn’t play too well for the Giants yesterday.  LB Michael Boley (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), safety Antrel Rolle (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), OLB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka (7 tackles and 1 sack), safety Kenny Phillips (7 tackles) and CB Corey Webster (5 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 2 interceptions) led the way on D for the Giants in this game.  The Bills finished up with 155 yards rushing on 23 carries (6.7 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 30 passes (70%) for 219 yards in this game.  The Giants are now 4-2 on the year.

The New York Giants are 1-1 at home and the Bills are 1-1 on the road, which kind of negates the home field advantage a little bit.  The Giants need to protect the football a lot better than they did last Sunday, or they are going to lose again.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Giants have the ball:  The Giants would love to run the ball and get Ahmad Bradshaw going against a Bills’ D that is allowing 138.4 yards rushing per game and 5.5 yards per carry.  The Bills don’t have much of a pass rush (they have five sacks so far this year), so Eli Manning should have plenty of time to throw the ball.  Hopefully Manning won’t make any numbskull throws in this game as the Bills already have 12 interceptions so far this year.  WRs Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham could all be in line for big games this weekend for the Giants.

When the Bills have the ball:  The Giants will have to find a way to get to Ryan Fitzpatrick as he has only been sacked 4 times so far this year.  The Giants already have 18 sacks this year, so something has to give.  If Fitzpatrick has time to throw the ball, the Giants’ D is likely in big trouble.  The Giants are giving up 251.2 yards passing per game this year and Fitzpatrick has good options in the passing game in Steve Johnson, Donald Nelson, David Jones, TE Scott Chandler and Fred Jackson out of the backfield.  The Giants can’t overplay the pass either or RB Fred Jackson is going to shred them on the ground.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 31, BILLS 27

Sure, 30-year old QB Eli Manning had some brain farts last weekend against the Seahawks, but he is still playing pretty well overall so far this year.  Manning has played in five games for the Giants so far this year and he has completed 104 of 164 passes (63.4%) for 1,486 yards with 11 TD passes and 5 INTs (102.3 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 14 times for -11 yards (-0.8 ypc) with 1 TD run this year.  The Giants need Manning to keep up the good work because they have not been able to get the running game on track so far this year.

The Giants will be without 31-year old DT Jimmy Kennedy for the next four weeks due to him testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.  Kennedy has played in all five games for the Giants this year and he has 4 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.  This will hurt the depth of the D-Line, but the Giants should be o.k. without him.

The Giants lost this game because they played pretty awful both offensively and defensively today.  Eli Manning just didn’t have it today.  He completed 24 of 39 passes for 420 yards with 3 TD passes and 3 INTs.  One of his INTs was returned 94 yards for a TD by Seahawks’ corner Brandon Browner.  He also lost a fumble today.  Ahmad Bradshaw led the way on the ground for the Giants today with 17 carries for 58 yards (3.4 ypc).  He also caught 2 passes for 27 yards (13.5 avg) in this game.  D.J. Ware pitched in with 4 carries for 3 yards (0.8 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 22 yards.  Ware was tackled in the end zone by Seahawks’ DE Anthony Hargrove for a safety.  Victor Cruz led the way for the Giants in the passing game today with 8 grabs for 161 yards (20.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  TE Jake Ballard (3 rec, 72 yards, TD), WR Hakeem Nicks (4 rec, 65 yards, TD) and WR Mario Manningham (5 rec, 56 yards) also had solid games for the Giants today.  The Giants finished up with 69 yards rushing on 25 carries (2.8 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 39 passes (61.5%) for 395 yards as they had possession of the ball for 31:14.

The defense had six sacks today, but overall they played a pretty poor game.  LB Jacquian Williams (8 tackles, 1 pass defensed), safety Antrel Rolle (8 tackles) and LB Michael Boley (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 fumble recovery) led the way for the Giants today on D.  DE Jason Pierre-Paul (6 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 pass defensed and 4 QB hits), safety Deon Grant (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 2 passes defensed and 1 QB hit) and DE Osi Umenyiora (4 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and 2 QB hits) also had big time impacts on the D today.  DT Rocky Benard (fumble recovery) and CB Aaron Ross (interception) also pitched in for the Giants today with some big plays.  The Seahawks finished up with 145 yards rushing on 29 carries (5.0 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 41 passes (63.4%) for 279 yards.  The Giants are now 3-2 on the year.

The New York Giants have won three games in a row.  The Seahawks are o-2 on the road and they have been outscored 57-17 away from Seattle.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Giants have the ball:  The Seahawks are only giving up 3.2 yards per carry so far this year, but Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs are going to get their carries this Sunday anyway.  The Seahawks only have 5 sacks so far this year, so Eli Manning should have a lot of time to throw the ball.  The Seahawks are giving up 236.5 yards passing per game so far this year, so look for Manning to attack them down the field with throws to WRs Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham.  Manning will just have to be careful about taking on safety Earl Thomas, as he is a big time playmaker.

When the Seahawks have the ball:  The Seahawks have had most of their success throwing the ball.  That being said, they have an awful offensive line that has allowed their QB (Tarvaris Jackson) to already have been sacked 14 times this year.  So the Giants are going to be blitzing like crazy and big time DE Osi Umenyiora is back with a vengeance already.  The Giants will likely double cover WR Sidney Rice and dare the Seahawks to beat them by throwing to someone else.  The front seven should he able to handle Marshawn Lynch, who is averaging 35.3 yards rushing per game and only 3.1 yards per carry.

PREDICTION:  GIANTS 27, SEAHAWKS 10