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Giants Take It To Bills 24-10
Bills lay an egg in front of home crowd with awful loss.
by Steve Saslow
The Skinny:
The Bills played an undisciplined, uninspired, sloppy football game as the Giants defense smothered the Bills most of the game to give them a 24-10 win to even both teams records at 2-2. The Bills couldn't get out of their way as the yellow flags rained down on the field with two touchdowns nullified by penalties. Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes to lead a workmanlike offensive effort from the G-Men. They built a 16-3 halftime lead with the Bills finally getting into the end zone on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor to Karlos Williams. The Bills started moving the ball in the second half but a holding penalty on Kraig Urbik negated a 31 yard touchdown run by Taylor. A chop block penalty in the final minute on Richie Incognito negated a touchdown pass to Charles Clay who led the team with 9 catches for 111 yards.
The Turning Point:
Jennings TD: Nigel Bradham had Rashad Jennings stopped on a 3rd and 3 pass short of a first down. If he makes the tackle the Bills would get the ball back down by just six. He missed and several others missed as Jennings danced his way into the end zone for the game clinching touchdown just after the Bills scored to get back into the game in the fourth quarter.
The Big Drive:
The Giants 2nd TD: They went 76 yards in 10 plays in 4:02 in the 2nd quarter to go up 16-3. The drive included the Giants taking a field goal off the board when the Bills were called for illegal formation on a 4th and 2 play. Ronald Darby added a holding penalty on an incomplete 2nd and 10 pass. Jerry Hughes had a personal foul earlier in the drive that ended on an 11 yard touchdown pass from Manning to Reuben Randle.
Stat I Did Like:
None: They didn't do much right on this day.
Stat I Didn't Like:
Penalties: They were called for a whopping 17 penalties for 135 yards.
Scene Setters:
- For the third straight home game the RV lot soldout more than 24 hours before the game.
- Today's captains were Marcell Dareus, Cordy Glenn, Jonathan Meeks, A.J. Tarpley, and Chris Hogan.
- Thurman Thomas was the man leading the charge this week.
- The Giants won the toss and elected to defer and take the ball in the 2nd half.
Key Matchup Results:
The winners of the battles highlighted in our preview article:
CBs Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby vs. WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Reuben Randle: Winner: Beckham Jr and Randle. The Bills gave up some plays to the Giants receivers in general including a touchdown by Randle. They did keep Beckham at bay but others made plays including Dwayne Harris.
WR Percy Harvin vs. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Winner: Rodgers-Cromartie. He had Harvin hemmed in most of the day.
DE Jerry Hughes vs. LT Ereck Flowers: Winner: Flowers. Hughes was active some but didn't make any big plays.
Keys To The Game Results:
How the keys highlighted in our preview article turned out:
1. Win Turnover Battle: Failure! They were a -1 with one interception and a fumble but only took the ball away once.
2. Get Tyrod Moving: Failure! They kept him sitting in the pocket and got nothing going on offense.
3. Overcome Injuries: Failure! Just an awful performance they needed their playmakers and the Giants just concentrated on the playmakers that were left with McCoy and Watkins out.
My Take:
This game proves once again that a lot can change from week to week in the NFL. The Bills were riding high after their blowout win in Miami. They came home and laid an absolute egg against a team they needed to beat. We wrote in our preview that if they are a playoff contender these are the games they have to win. They didn't win, they didn't even really show up. Since things change from week to week it would be too early to count the Bills out like it was too early to anoint them playoff contenders last week.
What's Ahead:
The Bills travel to Music City to take on the Tennessee Titans. It is the third time this season and second week in a row they take on a team with extra rest. The 1-2 Titans are coming off their bye.
Gameballs
Colton Schmidt - He had seven punts for a 51.9 yard average and two inside the 20. His long was a 62 yard punt.
Charles Clay - He led the game with 9 catches for 111 yards but a lot of it was in garbage time.
Goats
Rex Ryan - See the stat line I didn't like. They were undisciplined, became unhinged, and were out coached.
Tyrod Taylor - His pathetic first half performance put the Bills in a hole they couldn't get out of.
Cyrus Kouandjio - He played in a pinch and was called for two penalties.
Jerry Hughes - Two more personal fouls for his collection.
Preston Brown - Also was called for two personal fouls.
Dan Carpenter - He missed a 30 yard field goal. Ryan may be looking at kickers again this week.
Player Of The Week
Colton Schmidt - You know they lost when the punter is the player of the game.
 Positional Breakdown and Grades
NFL.com Gamebook
Giants Game Preview
Gameday Homepage
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