NFL fans will be able to enjoy not one but two games on Monday night, concluding Week 14 with a pair of primetime showdowns.The Miami Dolphins (9-3) will host the Tennessee Titans (4-8), with the team currently holding the No. 1 seed. 1 in the AFC will face a team at the bottom of the AFC South.
The Dolphins are coming off their third straight win, a 45-15 loss to the Washington Commanders, while the Titans head to Miami after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Colts.Monday’s other game features the Green Bay Packers (6-6) and the New York Giants (4-8). The Packers returned to the NFC playoff picture following a three-game winning streak that included wins over the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. The Giants also enter Monday’s game on a winning streak, having won their last two games behind former Third Street rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito before a Week 13 bye. WHERE: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deports, NFL+Can anyone stop the Dolphins offense? Behind the dynamic play of Tua Tagovailoa and his teammates, Miami’s offense ranks first in the league in total yards per game, averaging 32 points per game and ranks 1st and 2nd in yards, respectively passing and rushing, which highlights the team’s absolute dominance in 2023. Tyreek Hill is on track to become the first receiver to record 2,000 yards in a season and also leads the league in yards receiving touchdowns (12). Dolphins running backs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert rank in the top 10 in rushing yards per game. As Miami heads into a likely postseason run, the question remains as to who can find a way to stop this offense. The Titans will try on Monday, but they have a big task ahead of them. While Tennessee has had relative success with the running game, ranking 13th, it has struggled with the passing, ranking 22nd. And with Miami’s talent for scoring points no matter what, it will be a big ask for the Titans to contain this well-oiled offensive machine. Fins D looks to continue its recent success. Rightfully so, Miami’s offense has grabbed a lot of headlines, but the defense should also get some attention for the way it’s been playing, especially in recent weeks. The Dolphins have allowed 15 points or fewer in each of their last three games, and the team ranks in the top 10 overall in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game. Four players have at least 6.5 sacks, the most of any team. Especially crucial to this defense’s progress was the return of Jalen Ramsey in Week 8. Since returning from a meniscus tear, the Dolphins are ranked No. 2 and no. 1, in points allowed and yards per game, with Ramsey recovering yards. three interceptions, third in the league. Even with Jaelan Phillips’ recent season-ending injury, the defense didn’t appear to have lost a step last week, and it will have another chance to prove its mettle in Monday night’s game against a Titans offense ranked 27th in ranking in passing yards per game. . and 17th in the running, even with Derrick Henry on board. The Titans get good and bad injury updates. Speaking of the Titans’ star running back, Henry has no injury status entering the game, despite concerns earlier this week that he would have to enter concussion protocol after leaving Sunday’s game following evaluation . But he’s ready to go, a crucial upgrade considering the way Tennessee’s offense moves through running backs. On the bad end of the injury spectrum, the Titans will be without one of their leaders on defense, Jeffery Simmons, who will miss at least a few weeks with a knee injury. The Titans are facing a matchup with the best offense in the league and suffered a major loss due to Simmons’ absence. WHERE: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN+, NFL+Can Love continue his winning streak? The Packers’ return to the playoffs was due in large part to the vastly improved play of their quarterback, with Jordan Love appearing to have found his breakthrough over the last three games. Through the first nine games of the season, Love averaged 223.2 passing yards per game and threw 14 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Green Bay went 3-6. Since Week 11, Love has averaged 285.7 yards per game and posted an 8-0 TD-INT ratio. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the league during this period and led his team to two victories against the best teams in the division. He will look to continue his winning streak against the Giants, a matchup that looks favorable on paper. New York’s defense ranks 28th in the league in yards allowed per game (364.3) – 20th in passing YPG – and has allowed at least 30 points five times. The absence of one of his main targets, Christian Watson, who was ruled out after injuring his hamstring in last week’s game, does not work in Love’s favor, however. Watson has games with 94 and 71 receiving yards and three total touchdowns, and his absence could be glaring as Love tries to get things going and keep his team in the playoffs. The giants under pressure again. The Giants’ offensive line has been notoriously weak this season, as New York’s quarterbacks have been sacked 69 times, 11 times more than the next closest team. Despite his offensive success, Tommy DeVito has still been sacked 26 times in the last four games. A big reason for these problems was turnover due to injuries at most positions, but even when players were healthy, the pass protection just wasn’t there. And now, that group will be called upon to protect DeVito from the Packers’ pass rush, which has been gaining momentum of late, led by Rashan Gary’s 4.5 sacks over the past three games (9.0 over the year). How DeVito and the Giants handle what could be another night of significant pressure will be key to potential offensive success. Will Barkley be able to return to his standards? DeVito played relatively well to send the Giants into the bye on a two-game winning streak, and he did so with only minimal support from the running game. New York had 91 rushing yards against the Commanders and only 58 against the Patriots; not the kind of numbers you want when Saquon Barkley is in charge. Now, after a week off, Barkley will look to get back on track in a favorable matchup against the Packers, who rank 30th in rushing yards allowed per game. Considering Green Bay’s pass defense ranks 10th in yards allowed, coupled with the Giants’ aforementioned sack issues, DeVito might struggle to find yards through the air to get the support of the running game, which he has lacked in recent years. The matches are crucial on Monday evening.
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