Enough of those fourth-quarter collapses. The New York Giants made sure there won’t be a repeat of their endgame woes from the past two games as they eased past the Washington Redskins in a one-sided contest at MetLife Stadium on Thursday. They will look to even their win-loss record this coming Sunday when they take on the resurgent Buffalo Bills in a marquee matchup at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Who will emerge victorious in this clash over in the Atlantic? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this much-anticipated game and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh and Cleveland vs. San Diego.
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New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills Preview
Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo
When: Sunday, October 4, 1:00 PM ET
Line: New York Giants (+6) at Buffalo Bills (-6); total: 47.0 – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the New York Giants
The New York Giants finally secured their first win of the season with a convincing 32-21 victory over the Washington Redskins on Thursday night. It was a huge bounce-back victory for the Giants, who suffered gut-wrenching defeats to Dallas and Atlanta in their first two games of the 2015 season.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Leading the way for New York in this game was quarterback Eli Manning. He completed 23 of 32 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Reuben Randle and Odell Beckham Jr. benefited from Manning’s highly-efficient play, finishing with 116 and 79 yards, respectively. The two receivers also nabbed a touchdown apiece.
It’s crucial for the Giants that their receivers step up their play again this coming Sunday against Buffalo. The Giants are averaging 253.3 passing yards per game this season, 14th-best in the NFL. They will fancy their chances against a Buffalo secondary that has been simply atrocious thus far this season. They are allowing a whopping 326.7 yards per game via the aerial route this campaign, the second-worst mark in the NFL.
Providing a major boost for New York in this department is the returning Victor Cruz. The star wide receiver has confirmed that he will finally make his season debut against Buffalo on October 4. Cruz has not played in the NFL since suffering a season-ending torn patellar tendon in his right knee against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 12 last year.
The Giants are 4-6 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 road games.
The Buffalo Bills returned to winning ways Sunday with a commanding 41-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. It was a huge bounce-back division win for the Bills, who suffered a humiliating 40-32 setback against defending champions New England in Week 2. With their victory against Miami, the Bills improved their season record to 2-1.
Starring for the Bills in this all-important road win was Tyrod Taylor. He threw for 277 yards and three scores in his first-ever NFL road start. To further illustrate Taylor’s effectiveness in this game, he finished with an impressive quarterback rating of 136.7.
The Bills now set their sights on a possible 3-1 start when they take on the New York Giants this coming Sunday. For Buffalo to achieve this feat, it needs to continue its excellent play on the defensive end. Buffalo’s defensive line was simply relentless on Sunday as it forced Ryan Tannehill to throw three costly interceptions. Tannehill finished the game with a measly quarterback rating of 59.7.
The main concern for head coach Rex Ryan heading into the Bills’ next assignment is the ongoing struggles of prized signing LeSean McCoy. His troublesome hamstring limited his production once again on Sunday, with McCoy finishing with just 16 yards on 11 carries. Fortunately for Ryan, the Bills have unearthed a hidden gem in rookie Karlos Williams. He gained 110 yards on 12 carries against the Dolphins, including a spectacular 41-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Bills will have their work cut out for them, however, against a New York defensive line that has been rock-solid this campaign. They are surrendering just 74.7 yards per game on the ground this season, second-fewest in the NFL. With that being the case, the Bills need to consistently attack the Giants through the air. The Giants have the worst passing defense in the league this season, allowing a whopping 335.7 yards per game.
The Bills are 6-4 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 home games.
