NFL Week 9 teaser: Giants, Dolphins are attractive 'dogs
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Our winning run ended in Week 8 courtesy of the Lions. The Dolphins won outright, rendering the extra points useless, while the Colts steamrolled Detroit.
Let's get back in the win column this week.
Giants @ Washington, 1 p.m. ET
Line: Giants +3
Teaser line: Giants +9
The Giants' mood has to be rather somber right now. They continue to play competitive football, but an inability to limit mistakes and make clutch plays has relegated them to 1-7 despite five of those losses coming in one-score games.
New York's offense has been productive with Sterling Shepard back, and the team's defense has proven to be a strength. The Giants allow just 3.7 yards per rush - fourth in the NFL - and corner James Bradberry is playing at all All-Pro level. They're doing a respectable job of getting pressure on the quarterback and have been opportunistic in the turnover department.
Washington's plethora of playmakers on both sides of the ball gives it the edge in this NFC East battle, but the Giants are playing hard and have enough talent to believe they'll keep this game close. Another one-score loss could be on the docket for Joe Judge's team, but that suits us well with nine points to work with here. The season is on the line for New York in the NFC East, and that will reflect in its performance Sunday.
Dolphins @ Cardinals, 4:25 p.m.
Line: Dolphins +4.5
Teaser line: Dolphins +10.5
As great a story as the Cardinals have been this season, the plot holes are unsettling. Six of the seven pass defenses Arizona has faced thus far have ranked in the bottom half of the league in DVOA. The Dolphins rank third. Not only does Miami boast one of the league's best secondaries, but it's a unit that's getting better by the week.
Byron Jones and Xavien Howard present a nightmarish cornerback tandem for opposing offenses, and a suddenly relentless pass rush is giving quarterbacks fits - just ask Jared Goff. Coach Brian Flores has done a remarkable job with this group, which plays fundamentally sound and opportunistic defense. He'll undoubtedly have a well-orchestrated game plan in place to contain the electrifying Kyler Murray.
A defensive game plan won't be so simple for the Cardinals, who have little film to watch of Tua Tagovailoa in a Dolphins uniform. Critics were quick to pounce on Tua following his first start, but what did he really have to do? The Dolphins took a commanding lead at the half and the rest was a formality. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said he's opening the playbook for Tagovailoa this week to utilize his accuracy and running ability, and there will be ample opportunity for him to impress against a middling Cardinals defense that struggles to rush the quarterback. For the second week in a row, we might not even need the points with the Dolphins.
Full teaser: Giants +9, Dolphins +10.5 ($110 to win $100)
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.