New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills: Full New York Game Preview
The New York Giants may have gotten in the win column last Thursday night against the Washington Redskins, but their task is much tougher this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
From all indications, the Giants will have wide receiver Victor Cruz back in the fold, which will help some against Buffalo's outstanding secondary. In fact, the Bills defense, led by mastermind Rex Ryan, is far above average on all fronts and will be the most difficult challenge Eli Manning and company have faced this season.
Big Blue is well-rested, something that could serve as an advantage in the hostile environment in Orchard Park. Still, the Bills routed the Miami Dolphins last week and didn't seem to exert much energy in the contest.
Though the Giants could easily be 3-0 heading into Sunday, it's possible the Bills are the most well-rounded team they have faced thus far. While Buffalo's defense is extraordinary, their offense has also been surprisingly potent behind quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
The G-Men will have their hands full while they look to even their record and potentially pull even with the Dallas Cowboys for first place in the NFC East.
Viewing Info
Date: Sunday, October 4
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Ralph Wilson Stadium, New York
TV: Fox
Week 3 Results and Recap
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All it took for the Giants to get their first victory of the season was to face a team that was as dysfunctional as they are.
The Redskins made life easy for the Giants, as although the score remained close, there was never the sense that Washington was ever really in the game. A series of miscues, including key penalties, a blocked punt and a few poor decisions by unreliable quarterback Kirk Cousins, allowed the Giants to lead throughout the game and cruise to a relatively easy 32-21 victory.
With the win, the Giants pulled right back into the thick of things in the NFC East and avoided a disastrous 0-3 start. They'll attempt to continue to dig themselves out of their hole on Sunday, though the Bills are a much more formidable opponent than the Redskins.
News and Notes
2 of 6Victor Cruz to Make Season Debut
As evidenced in the video above, wide receiver Victor Cruz plans to make his 2015 debut this Sunday against the Bills. Cruz was originally injured on Oct. 12, 2014, when he tore his patella tendon in his right knee, but has recently been sidelined with a left-calf injury.
Cruz's return will be enormous for the Giants, who can use all of the offensive weapons they can get. With Odell Beckham Jr. already a proven star, Cruz will only give defenses more to plan for and contain.
"I'm excited to team up with Odell [Beckham]," Cruz said. "Man, it's going to be fun."
It won't be fun for opposing defenses if Cruz is back to his old ways, terrorizing teams from the slot position. Cruz has two seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving (2011-12) and will make the Giants receiving corps nearly unstoppable.
Giants Work Out Wes Welker, Hakeem Nicks and Chris Cooley
According to ESPN's Dan Graziano and Josina Anderson, the Giants are working out some big-name players to add to their offensive mix. With Cruz coming back, adding any of these weapons would make offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo a very happy man.
Wes Welker, one of the best possession and slot receivers in NFL history, would serve as a great complement to Cruz and would also be insurance in case he gets injured again. Welker was incredible with the New England Patriots, as he had over 100 catches in five of six seasons from 2007-12.
Hakeem Nicks, the former Giant, flopped in Indianapolis but had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2010-11. Since he has chemistry with Eli Manning and has had previous success in New York, he's worth a shot. He'd be an effective outside receiver along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle.
Latest Injury News
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| Player | Position | Injury |
| Victor Cruz | WR | Calf |
| Ereck Flowers | OL | Ankle |
| Robert Ayers | DE | Hamstring |
| Owa Odighizuwa | DE | Foot |
| Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie | CB | Concussion |
The big news is Victor Cruz's return, but the Giants can use all of these players on Sunday.
Robert Ayers can apply much-needed pressure on Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who has played well above expectations thus far this season. Additionally, the Giants need offensive lineman Ereck Flowers to open up some running lanes against Buffalo's No. 1-ranked rushing defense, which allows just 74 yards per game.
Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media reported Cruz, Flowers, Ayers and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie were all on the practice field on Monday. Their progression over the week will be a solid indication of whether they will play, but practicing on a Monday, even if in limited fashion, is encouraging.
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Key Matchups
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Giants cornerbacks vs. Sammy Watkins
Sammy Watkins has been driving fantasy owners insane due to his inconsistencies, but he's still a player to watch on Sunday.
After being held without a catch in Week 1, Watkins bounced back nicely the following week, totaling 60 yards and a touchdown. He was close to useless last Sunday, however, catching one 39-yard pass in a game in which Buffalo scored 41 points and the Bills threw for 277 yards.
If Watkins keeps up his trend of alternating good and bad games, the Giants are in trouble. Regardless, he's an elite-level talent who must be a main part of the Giants' defensive game plan. If it weren't for Odell Beckham Jr., another rookie last season, Watkins would have been the most talked about wideout from a historically good class.
Watkins is the next big assignment for the Giants secondary who has already faced Dez Bryant and Julio Jones, though Percy Harvin has actually had a better year than Watkins thus far.
Rueben Randle vs. the Bills secondary
Even with Victor Cruz coming back, wide receiver Rueben Randle is still a player to watch this Sunday.
Cruz will undoubtedly be rusty and will presumably be on a snap count in his return, which will limit his effectiveness. Expecting a 100-yard game would be unwise, as Cruz was one of last year's biggest disappointments over the first quarter of the season in 2014. He'll need to prove himself once again before I invest fully in his effectiveness moving forward.
Randle will be this week's best bet to take the heat off Beckham, as he did on Thursday night by racking up 116 yards and his first touchdown of the year. He finally looked healthy and engaged and should see more targets moving forward, with Beckham being blanketed by secondaries.
The Bills actually have the NFL's second-worst passing defense, allowing 326.7 passing yards per game. That number is bloated, however, by Tom Brady's explosion in Week 2 and Miami's endless garbage-time drives last Sunday afternoon. My theory is they're closer to the defense that roughed up Andrew Luck in a stunning upset than the one Brady demolished the following week.
Matchup X-Factors
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Giants X-factor of the Week: LB Uani' Unga
For the second time in three weeks, undrafted rookie Uani' Unga led the Giants in tackles and picked off the opposing quarterback.
The 27-year-old has a team-leading 26 tackles, which is also tied for No. 10 in the league. He's been a revelation in Big Blue's weak linebacker corps and has to be the team's biggest surprise.
Unga will play a key role once again on Sunday when he is tasked with helping stop the Buffalo Bills' top-ranked rushing attack. The Giants contained Washington's Alfred Morris and Matt Jones, who had shredded defenses in past weeks, which is a positive sign for this weekend. Still, even if LeSean McCoy doesn't play, Karlos Williams has proven he has big-play ability and can become a major contributor if given touches.
Buffalo can't be taken lightly at home, meaning Unga will have to come up big. It isn't likely the Giants will be able to put a lot of points on the board, so they're going to have to stifle Buffalo's offense to hang around.
Prediction: Bills 23, Giants 11
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The last time the Giants faced a Rex Ryan team in the regular season was on Christmas eve in 2011. Victor Cruz caught a 99-yard touchdown pass, and the Giants crushed the New York Jets and their playoff hopes, 29-14.
Here's where Ryan gets his revenge.
The Giants are going to struggle to run the ball against the Bills' front line, featuring Marcell Dareus and Mario Williams, among others. Their impotence on the ground will force Eli Manning to carry the load through the air, and although he has yet to throw an interception this season, he will start to make mistakes.
Remember, this is a Bills defense that forced Andrew Luck to complete just 53.1 percent of his passes and toss two interceptions.
Unfortunately for the Giants, this game has the potential to get really ugly, as it's a rough matchup on the road against a top-tier defense. The Giants have had average offensive outputs at home against weaker defenses, such as when they scored just 20 points in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Ryan abuses one-dimensional offenses because they're the easiest to plan for. With the Giants already owning a middle-of-the-pack running game, Ryan and the Bills are likely licking their lips at the chance to dominate the Giants and improve to 3-1.
Prediction: Bills 23, Giants 11
Dan Ferrara is the Giants game-day correspondent. Follow him on Twitter for news and analysis.
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