MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Well, for what it’s worth, the Giants accomplished their weeks-long stated mission of forcing takeaways.
The defense just wasn’t expecting to give up 524 yards — including seven plays of at least 20 yards and three of at least 60 — on the way to ending a season-long four-game turnover drought in a 31-16 loss to the Dolphins.
Welcome to the world of facing arguably the fastest NFL team ever.
“Now we’ve just got to stop the explosive plays,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said. “We get challenged week by week in different areas and this week it was we wanted to get turnovers, but we let a couple big runs and big throws get away from us. Those numbers add up fast.”
Xavier McKinney forced a fumble, Jason Pinnock intercepted a pass and tied a Giants’ franchise record with a 102-yard return for a touchdown, and Bobby Okereke — whose deflection set up Pinnock’s big play — intercepted another pass to set up a field goal.
“It just came up in the air, caught it on the run and saw straight grass,” Pinnock said. “I tried to get my knees up and get to the end zone.”
The Giants allowed 501 yards in the first three quarters — an average of 11.4 yards per play. Tyreek Hill averaged 22.6 yards per catch and De’Von Achane averaged 13.7 per carry.
“It’s real-deal speed,” Okereke said, “and I think that was a deciding factor. Explosive plays won them the game.”
The Giants tried to combat the Dolphins’ speed by upping the usage of inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons and splitting nickel reps between Dane Belton and cornerback Cor’Dale Flott.
Nothing that was tried — including having rookie cornerback Deonte Banks shadow Jaylen Waddle (five catches for 35 yards and a touchdown) — made much of a difference.
“We could’ve done a lot more,” cornerback Adoree’ Jackson said. “I would tip my hat to them — that’s a great team and they capitalized on our mistakes –—but for us it’s not like one of those like, ‘Damn, we messed up.’
“That’s probably the most speed that any of us playing will ever see … until something later down the line when I’m like 60 or 70 [years old] and there’s somebody that’s got super speed like that.”