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Back when the NFL schedule was rescheduled in May, fans understandably had this game circled on their calendars.
Brian Daboll, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, taking the Giants to his former team, the Bills, on a Sunday night? Now that is fascinating.
Or so we thought.
The Giants have quickly sunk into a laughingstock this season with an offense that cannot score, a defense that cannot tackle, and a bunch of coaches who look like they stumbled into fool’s gold last year and now have no clue what to do.
“You’re always learning as a coach,” Daboll said this week. “Learned from some really good people, been in a variety of different situations. In 23 years (in the NFL), you’re going to pretty much be in every situation, so be consistent. Go out there, work hard, do everything you can do to put yourself in a good position.”
Look: Some regression with a tougher schedule this season was expected, especially since eight of the Giants’ nine wins came by no more than a touchdown and this was a team that struggled in the second half as opposing teams adjusted to the new coaching staff’s schemes.
But getting embarrassed week in and week out with a league-worst -91 point differential is inexcusable. These coaches deservedly got a ton of praise last year for getting the most out a roster that was in salary cap hell after the firing of general manager Dave Gettleman, and the same logic applies now.
Coaching matters in the NFL more than any other professional league. There’s no reason the Giants can’t be more competitive than this. Remember: The Seahawks were eventually without four of their Week 1 offensive line starters when they came to MetLife Stadium two weeks ago, and they not only didn’t fall apart but still won by three touchdowns.
The Giants will again be banged up on the offensive line going to Buffalo and now don’t have quarterback Daniel Jones because of a neck injury. So in steps Tyrod Taylor, who ironically was the Bills’ quarterback from 2015-17 and even played in a playoff game. His mobility is important on an offense that has been painfully inept mostly because of protection issues, and if anything happens to him, undrafted rookie and New Jersey native Tommy DeVito is next in line.
“It’s going to be an electric atmosphere,” Taylor said. “Obviously, their fan base is one of the wilder ones, I guess they’ve been labeled as it. They create a great environment for football. Communication has got to be at its best when you’re going into an environment like this, but as a player, I think you live for these types of environments and these types of moments.”
Running back Saquon Barkley might finally return after missing three games with a high-ankle sprain, and that would certainly help.
But here is the offense that Taylor is tasked at repairing: Not counting the Giants’ second-half comeback at Arizona in Week 2 (their only win) or end-of-half drives, they have produced one measly touchdown in 44 drives — and that drive started at San Francisco’s 37-yard line.
They have punted 21 times, committed 13 turnovers (five on downs), kicked six field goals, missed three field goals, and had a field goal blocked.
With that level of futility, it’s no surprise that the Giants still lost by 15 points in Miami last week even when they had three takeaways on defense including a 102-yard pick-six. But think about how difficult it is to do that, and yet these Giants somehow find a way to trip over their own shoelaces that badly.
Teams always preach a next-man-up mentality, and in the NFL, it’s the truth. All teams deal with injuries, and the massive talent disparities that are prevalent in college football do not exist in the pros. There are no excuses for being — again — this bad.
If Daboll is really as smart as we all thought he was last year, he’ll find a way to get this team to scratch and claw Sunday night. Establish a running game early for play-action. Design creative plays for shifty receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Roll the quarterback out of the pocket. Throw quick screens to the perimeter. Something — anything — to create a spark.
Outright winning this game is obviously a tall order. The Bills are a Super Bowl contender with one of the best quarterbacks in Josh Allen and rank third in scoring offense. They also rank sixth in scoring defense and lead the league in sacks, while the Giants have allowed the most sacks.
Still, no matter the circumstances, a third meltdown in primetime through six weeks of the season would be an awful look for this franchise.
“I’m not surprised (by the number of challenges the Giants have faced), but maybe that’s 13 years of playing professionally,” Taylor said. “I think the season always takes twists and turns, some for the good, some for the bad. The good teams are the ones that can endure those and be able to stay levelheaded through all that and stay positive. That’s what you see within this locker room. A lot of positive attitudes, guys working to get things right, and obviously, get back in the winning column.”
Giants Gameday
The Game: Giants at Bills, Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
The Line: Buffalo by 14.5
History: The all-time series is tied, 7-7. The Giants have won three of the last four meetings since 2007, but the Bills won the most recent game in 2019 in the Meadowlands, 28-14. The Giants haven’t lost in Buffalo since 1993.
Key Matchups:
Giants TE Darren Waller vs. Bills secondary: Waller leads the Giants in targets (34), receptions (23) and receiving yards (239) but is still seeking his first touchdown. Buffalo hasn’t allowed a touchdown to an opposing tight end and has allowed the eighth-fewest receiving yards (156) to such players.
Giants RT Evan Neal vs. Bills DE Leonard Floyd: Neal infamously allowed an unblocked rusher to sack Daniel Jones last week. It’s been that kind of sophomore season for the former No. 7 overall pick, who now must contend with a former No. 9 overall pick who has 5.5 sacks and nine QB hits this year.
Giants OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux vs. Bills RT Spencer Brown: The Giants need Thibodeaux to be a bigger game-changer, and this is a prime opportunity as the right side of Buffalo’s offensive line has been more vulnerable. Thibodeaux has four sacks in the last three games, and a strip-sack of Josh Allen this week would be huge for the Giants’ upset chances.
Giants secondary vs. Bills WR Stefon Diggs: It’s no secret who Josh Allen’s favorite weapon is. Diggs has 50 targets, 24 more than the next-closest on the team, with 520 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Miami’s Tyreek Hill went off for 181 yards and a touchdown against the Giants last week, and their passing defense ranks 19th overall in terms of yardage. Limiting big plays this time is crucial.
Injury Report:
Giants: OUT: QB Daniel Jones (neck), OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), OT Matt Peart (shoulder), C John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), OT Andrew Thomas (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: TE Darren Waller (groin), RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), RB Gary Brightwell (ankle), G Shane Lemieux (groin), DL D.J. Davidson (knee), OT Evan Neal (ankle).
Bills: OUT: CB Dane Jackson (foot), TE Dalton Kincaid (concussion), TE Dawson Knox (wrist).
Giant Facts: The Giants have six staff members and five players who used to be with the Bills. … The Giants have scored a touchdown on only 45.45 percent of their red-zone trips, which is tied for 24th in the league. … The Giants’ run defense (151.4 yards per game) ranks ahead of only Cincinnati and Denver.
The Prediction: Bills 31, Giants 13
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