Key Matchups
CB Corey Webster vs. WR Brandon Marshall
Their last time out, the Giants were gashed by Buffalo with plays of 80 and 60 yards and are giving up 7.6 yards per passing attempt, good for 19th in the NFL. Marshall, whose 46-yard reception against the Jets was his longest of the season, has caught five or more passes in all but one game and is averaging 14.2 yards per catch. Meanwhile, Webster is coming off a two-interception performance, which gave each Giants starting defensive back at least one pick on the season.
WR Hakeem Nicks vs. CB Vontae Davis**
Selected four picks after Davis in the 2009 NFL Draft, Nicks was almost a Dolphin coming out of the University of North Carolina. Tony Sparano, then in his second year as head coach, was asked during a press conference on Wednesday about drafting the cornerback over the wide receiver.
"I'm not going to get into where we were with the rankings or any of those things but we thought a lot of Nicks. Obviously we thought a lot of Vontae. We went down, worked (Hakeem) out down there on their campus. There was a whole posse of them, I think four or five guys. They came out with, I believe, three receivers. I think Nicks came out with (Brandon) Tate and actually Brooks Foster, who was here for a little while. The three of those guys came out and they had a tight end at the time. We spent some time down there. We obviously liked him and that's what I'll tell you."
DE Osi Umenyiora vs. LT Jake Long**
Four of the five starting offensive linemen for the Dolphins are first-round draft picks. The 6-foot-7, 316-pound Long was the first overall pick in 2008 and will shoulder the responsibility of blocking Umenyiora, who has 5.0 sacks in three games this year. Despite the high draft picks, the Dolphins have given up 22 sacks already, third-most in the NFL.
Home Field Advantage vs. QB Matt Moore**
Matt Moore, then with the Carolina Panthers, both closed and opened the home of the Giants. The results, however, were much different. In the 273rd and final game in Giants Stadium, Moore spoiled the farewell by completing 15 of 20 passes for three touchdowns with a passer rating of 139.8 in a 41-9 Panther victory. Nine months later, the Giants opened MetLife Stadium the right way, with a 31-18 victory, while Moore threw three interceptions (32.6 passer rating). Now sporting a new jersey, the fifth-year quarterback is 55-for-93 (59.1%) for 568 yards with three interceptions and a touchdown in three games since taking over for the injured Chad Henne.
