Giants opt for caution at QB in second preseason game

Giants Top Dolphins 26-3 in Preseason Showdown

The New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 26-3 on Saturday in a preseason game that offered both teams a chance to evaluate their depth. Jameis Winston, starting in place of resting quarterback Jaxson Dart, threw for 150 yards and added an 11-yard rushing touchdown in the first half. Devin Singletary rushed for 40 yards on eight carries, scoring on a 13-yard run, and kickers Dominic Zvada and Ben Sauls each made two field goals. The Giants outgained Miami 390 to 102 and held a 24:42 to 5:18 time-of-possession advantage over the final two quarters.

A Statement After a Heated Joint Practice

The win came after the Giants and Dolphins held a joint practice on Thursday that ended with multiple fights. Giants head coach John Harbaugh said after the game that his team wanted to follow up that strong practice with a good performance.

"After we did well in the practice, we wanted to make sure we followed it up in the game," Harbaugh said. "That was the goal and our guys did a good job with that."

Harbaugh also expressed confidence in the team's depth, noting that many players are competing for roster spots.

"There's a lot of guys fighting for jobs on this team," he said. "I thought they came out and they made a point to try to make their case, and they did a good job of it."

Winston Shines in Extended Action

Winston completed 15 of 21 passes in two quarters of work. He led a seven-play, 83-yard touchdown drive on the Giants' first possession, capping it with an 11-yard scramble to the pylon. He also connected with Darius Slayton for completions of 29 yards and with Odell Beckham Jr. for a 12-yard gain. Winston said the extended playing time helped him develop a rhythm.

"Any time you get to play for that extended period of time, you get to develop a rhythm," Winston said. "When you run the football, it caters to the entire offense."

Winston left the game with the Giants leading 20-3 at halftime, having engineered six first-half possessions. Brandon Allen took over in the third quarter and completed 13 of 18 passes for 101 yards, while Jake Haener played the final possession and went 3 for 3 for 15 yards.

Singletary and Tracy: A Tale of Two Running Backs

Devin Singletary started at running back and had a strong game, finishing with 40 yards on eight carries, including a 13-yard touchdown run. Harbaugh praised Singletary, calling him "one of the most consistent players."

Tyrone Tracy, however, had a difficult outing. Tracy, who is competing for a roster spot, rushed for 11 and 12 yards on two carries before fumbling without contact at the Dolphins' 10-yard line. He finished with 26 yards on six carries and 22 yards on three catches. Harbaugh declined to comment on how the fumble might affect Tracy's roster chances, saying only, "I'm not commenting on that." Multiple outlets noted that Tracy had also missed a blitz pickup in the Giants' previous game, and the team recently signed veteran Najee Harris, who is recovering from Achilles surgery.

Beckham's Mixed Day Against His Former Team

Odell Beckham Jr., attempting to win a roster spot in his second stint with the Giants, caught two passes for 17 yards but dropped a potential touchdown in the end zone. Beckham said the drop was a play he knows he can make.

"This is the one that keeps me up at night. It's a play I know I can make," Beckham said. "It just felt like I was hanging so long. You take it for granted."

He expressed confidence in his current abilities, saying, "I'm never gonna be 23-year-old me, but I'm very comfortable and confident in this version of myself."

Defensive Highlights and Concerns

The Giants' defense was dominant against Miami's backups, holding the Dolphins to 102 total yards and three first downs. Dru Phillips forced two fumbles, with Micah McFadden recovering one. McFadden also had a sack of Dolphins quarterback Cam Miller. Cornerback Deonte Banks, who did not start, had a pass breakup in the second quarter and tackled running back Ollie Gordon for a 1-yard gain. The Giants allowed only 52 passing yards and 2.8 yards per carry.

The offensive line also impressed, giving up just one sack. Tackles Marcus Mbow and J.C. Davis stood out in pass protection. Harbaugh praised the line's performance: "The protection was good. We ran the ball well."

Kicker Competition Heats Up

Dominic Zvada made his preseason debut, hitting field goals of 43 and 32 yards (some reports said 38 yards) and both extra points. He also handled kickoffs well. Ben Sauls converted field goals of 27 and 37 yards in the second half. Harbaugh had no complaints about Zvada's performance.

"I don't think so," Harbaugh said with a smile when asked for a critique. "Those balls were kicked straight and well." He added, "Ben did well, too."

Dolphins' QB Situation and Injury Notes

Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis was in street clothes as the team rested its expected starter. Cam Miller started and completed 6 of 11 passes for 60 yards, was sacked twice, and threw a fumble that the Giants recovered. Mark Gronowski handled second-half quarterback duties, completing 2 of 5 passes for 1 yard. Quinn Ewers sat out with a groin injury.

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who took a hard hit in the Giants' opener against the Vikings and had been in concussion protocol, participated in pregame warmups but did not play. NFL insider Connor Hughes reported before kickoff that Dart was not expected to play, and multiple outlets described the decision as precautionary given his concussion history. Harbaugh rested many other starters, including Malik Nabers, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Cam Skattebo.

The Dolphins also rested several starters, including four of their five starting offensive linemen and edge rushers Chop Robinson and Josh Uche. They also had to adjust for the absence of wide receiver Braxton Berrios (soft tissue) and Darnell Mooney, who was the best man at his brother's wedding. Giants receiver Calvin Austin III impressed with two catches for 24 yards, a 21-yard jet sweep, and two punt returns for 29 yards.

Looking Ahead

The Giants (1-1) next play the New York Jets, while the Dolphins host the Atlanta Falcons. Both teams will have one more preseason game before making final roster cuts. Harbaugh said after Saturday's game that he believes the Giants are better than they were when they arrived in Miami on Wednesday, a claim that appeared in one outlet's report.

Betting Markets See Giants as Long Shots in NFC East

Despite the preseason win, prediction markets show the Giants with a 14% chance to win the NFC East, according to a report that cited Polymarket odds. The same report gave the Eagles a 39% chance, the Cowboys 33%, and the Commanders 17%. The article noted that the Giants have made offseason additions, including tight end Isaiah Likely and wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin, while other division teams face their own questions. It cautioned against overreacting to preseason results.