Miami Next In Line To Try Slowing New Orleans

NFL News - October 20th, 2009 - Written by Scott

It wasn't too long ago that the match-up between the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints was billed to be the game of the season's first half. It featured two of the most prolific offenses that would determine who would stake claim to the NFC's "Team to Beat". A week later, that argument seems silly.

Drew Brees had the best Sunday of any quarterback in the past 15 years against the Giants, throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns against what was the NFL's stingiest defense to that point. Seven different Saints had a touchdown and, in turn, are the highest-scoring offense in the league. The defense was equally suffocating, holding the Giants to their lowest yardage this year. Now, the New Orleans Saints rank in the top-six in nearly every defensive category and has clearly emerged as the cream of the NFC. They are one of only four remaining unbeatens. They will try to avoid a letdown this week when traveling to Miami to face an emerging Dolphins team.

Miami Dolphins have won their last two games executing the Wildcat formation with it's marketed charm, and are currently the top rushing team in the league. It provides an interesting match-up against the NFL's fourth-best defense against the run. Reputation wins out here. BetUS is home to all your NFL Betting needs and where we found the Saints being favored by 6 1/2 points in it's preliminary line, doling out a payout of -110 both ways.

The Dolphins are turning back the pages and could be making a turnaround similar to last year, when they lost the first two games of the season only to go on to win 11 of the next 14. They actually lost their first three this time, but never looked smooth in their various formations. That has since changed, proven by the fact that they ran for 151 yards against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football to get back into the AFC East race.

It was presumed that the Dolphins would struggle once they lost Chad Pennington for the season. But that hasn't been the case. Chad Henne has filled in and increased his passing yardage in each of his three games. Against the Jets he threw for 241 yards with two touchdowns and no picks.

Meanwhile, Brees has continued to make a case for MVP. He was held without a touchdown for two straight games before finally torching the Giants secondary. His favorite target all year has been Marques Colston, who has 25 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns. The running game is diverse, giving three different backs at least 40 carries. Pierre Thomas leads the back with 284 yards and three touchdowns. He's also the only one in the trio without a fumble.

The over/under is 47. The Dolphins are coming off a bye week, which history suggests would signal a good chance to hit the under. Miami has hit the under four out of five times returning from an off week. Then again, the Saints just might go over all by themselves.

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