The Buffalo Bills locked down the New York Giants on Saturday afternoon, building an insurmountable 21-0 lead at halftime on their way to victory. Buffalo dominated defensively all game, limiting the Giants to 166 total yards on offense and collecting four turnovers.
Both teams had a sluggish start to the game, trading punts on their initial possessions.
On Buffalo’s second drive, Tyrod Taylor showed off his playmaking ability, juking a free defender and uncorking a 59 yard pass to Charles Clay. That drive stalled at the two, when Jerome Felton fumbled a reception into the end zone for a touchback.
The first team stayed on into the second quarter, when Taylor drove the team downfield and scored on a twelve yard pass to LeSean McCoy. While the passing game clicked, the Giants shut down Buffalo’s run game; the starting offense combined for 9 rushes that only netted three yards.
The New York first string left the game after failing to garner a point, and Buffalo set the tone immediately with the second string. Zach Brown forced a fumble on the first play of that drive, which gave the ball right back to the Bills.
Gifted a short field, Buffalo strode down and scored on a one yard halfback dive by Jonathan Williams. On their next drive, Greg Little appeared to have a touchdown grab, but the NFL’s catch rules reared their ugly head. It was reversed because the defender ripped the ball away, after four steps and Little’s exit of the end zone. The ensuing field goal kick also went wide.
No worries, as Sterling Moore strip-sacked Ryan Nassib on a corner blitz two plays later, and Buffalo went right back to Little for the no-doubter TD.
The defense didn’t drop off after the third string took over, either. Bryson Albright, Jerel Worthy, Corey White, Robert Blanton, and Jonathan Dowling had big moments as the backup completely shut down the Giants backups, preserving the shutout for the moral victory.
Notes:
Mike Gillislee left the game in the concussion protocol after taking a blow to the head on a run.
Cyrus Kouandjio filled in at left tackle for Cordy Glenn, and performed admirably against big-ticket free agent signing Olivier Vernon for most of the game.
Jordan Gay took on the kicking role today. It didn’t work out well for him, as he missed an extra point and a 37 yard field goal.
Third string defensive tackle Justin Zimmer took some snaps at fullback in the fourth quarter.
The Bills terrorized Giants quarterback Ryan Nassib all game. He finished 2/12 for 25 yards and the aforementioned sack-fumble.
Aside from a 67 yard Bobby Rainey run on a defensive miscue, the Bills held the Giants to 99 total yards of offense. The Giants had 70 yards of penalties assessed against them.