Offense struggles; Defense loses it's cool in game to forget.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:Tyrod Taylor struggled mightily in the first half completing just 6 of 13 passes for 36 yards and a QB rating of 21.0. He rebounded some in the second half but only found the end zone once. He finished with 274 yards passing on 28 of 42 passing.
Grade D+: Nice recovery but didn't do nearly enough for the win.
Karlos Williams found no room running the ball finishing with just 40 yards on 18 carries for a 2.2 yard average. He did catch a 23 yard touchdown pass.
Boobie Dixon barely played but had two catches in garbage time.
Grade D: Got no help from the offensive line.
Robert Woods made a nice catch on a 3rd and 12 pass to convert. He tried to get extra yards instead of going out of bounds after a late game catch. He fumbled the ball away. He finished with three catches for 33 yards. Hardly what they were looking for from him with Watkins out.
Percy Harvin dropped the first pass to him and was taken out of the game by the Giants. He had three catches for 26 yards.
Chris Hogan had a pedestrian 5 catches for 43 yards in the number three role.
Charles Clay was the go to guy for Taylor when they were trying to make the second half comeback. He had a game high nine catches for 111 yards.
Marquise Gray bobbled a screen pass that could have been a good gainer. He then dropped a pass.
Grade D: They sorely missed Sammy Watkins.
Richie Incognito was called for two penalties including a costly chop block penalty that negated a touchdown pass.
Cordy Glenn injured his ankle and left the game in the first half but did return in the second half.
Cyrus Kouandjio replaced Glenn when he was out and was called for a false start penalty on a critical 3rd and 6 play at the start of the 2nd quarter and another false start later in the quarter.
Kraig Urbik got the start for the injured John Miller. He was called for a costly holding penalty that wiped out a 31 yard touchdown run by Taylor.
Grade F: Terrible effort in opening holes and too many penalties.
Mario Williams got the edge rush to force a run for loss near the Giants goal line in the first quarter. He missed a tackle on a first down run for nine yards. Had a pile driving tackle in the backfield. He finished with four tackles
Jerry Hughes was called for two more personal fouls, this is a bad habit he has developed.
Kyle Williams was very quiet in this game and was the man guilty of an illegal formation penalty that allowed the Giants to take a field goal off the board for the first down. They would get the touchdown on the drive.
Marcell Dareus was very quiet with four tackles.
Grade D: Too many holes in the middle of the defense and little pressure.
Manny Lawson had one tackle.
Nigel Bradham broke up a third down pass to force the Giants to settle for a field goal in the first quarter. He teamed with Mario Williams on a tackle for loss deep in Giants territory. Missed a tackle that would have forced a punt, it ended up going for a touchdown instead. He had eight tackles.
Preston Brown was called for two personal fouls. He did have 11 tackles.
Grade D: Not this unit's best performance.
Stephon Gilmore had good coverage on a deep sideline pass to Beckham that was incomplete. Was beaten by him twice in the first quarter and called for a pass interference penalty.
Ronald Darby made a nice tackle for loss on a screen pass. Was called for a costly defensive holding penalty that kept a Giants touchdown drive alive.
Nickell Robey had three tackles.
Bacarri Rambo was beaten by Dwayne Harris for a touchdown. Missed a tackle on Jennings long TD catch and run.
Corey Graham had 13 tackles and a sack.
Grade D: Below average play from this unit as well.
Colton Schmidt had 363 total punting yards on seven punts with a 51.9 yard gross average and a whopping 49.3 yard net including two downed inside the 20.
Dan Carpenter hit a 51 yard field goal but missed a 30 yarder which may put his job in jeopardy.
Marcus Thigpen had 20 yards on five punt returns for an anemic 4 yard average. He had two kickoff returns for 29 yards.
Percy Harvin had two kickoff returns for 39 yards.
Coverage Units Marcus Easley made a great tackle for a loss on a punt. Chris Hogan was called for a holding penalty.
Grade D: Illegal formation penalty on FG gave the Giants a 1st down. Probably the worst penalty of the day.
Rex Ryan didn't have a good day as the team was flat and not ready to play. Penalties were an absolute killer once again.
Greg Roman had some terrible play calling especially on the goal line stand early in the fourth quarter. He didn't move Taylor around enough.
Dennis Thurman had his defense playing pretty well but they missed too many tackles and made too many penalties.
Grade F: 17 penalties for 135 yards is ridiculous.
Bills Blitz
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