NFL Picks Week 6: Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants in First After Win over Bills

Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants head into the bye week with a sense of relief, after they resurrected the running game in a 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills, propelling them into first place in the NFC East.

Eli Manning and the New York Giants went into Sunday's game against the Bills coming off of an ugly loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which they turned the ball over five times.

Manning and the offense changed gears against Buffalo, committing zero turnovers, and in the process, finding the running game.

Due to the recent injuries to the offensive line, Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs (when he's healthy) have had a difficult time running the ball this season.  Bradshaw entered Sunday's game averaging a mere 57.2 yards per game, and the Giants rushing offense as a whole was only averaging 83.8 yards per game.

That all changed when Bradshaw ran for 104 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 26 carries.  For the first time this season, the Giants saw a player rush for over 100 yards, and also gained confidence that they can win without relying on Manning's arm.

Manning, who was 21-32 for 292 yards in the win, didn't throw a touchdown pass, but also didn't let the ball-hawking Buffalo defense force any turnovers,which was a main key for the Giants going into the game.  Manning managed the game and spread the ball nicely, hitting seven different receivers on the day and opening up the running game.

One of those receivers, Hakeem Nicks, was dominant as usual, going for 96 yards on four receptions on the day.  Mario Manningham also put together a decent game, catching five passes for 56 yards on eight targets.

But the Giants were solid on both sides of the ball.

Aside from Fred Jackson's career-high 80-yard touchdown run, the Giants defense held Jackson and the Buffalo offense in check, allowing just seven points in the second half.  Although Jackson finished the game with another monstrous performance of 121 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards, the G-Men held Fitzpatrick to 244 yards and two TDs, and forced two interceptions, both by Corey Webster in the second half.

Webster's second INT helped set up a game-winning 23-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes to seal the win for Big Blue.

Defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul each sacked Fitzpatrick once, with linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka adding New York's third sack overall.

With the 4-2 Giants finding the running game and playing well defensively, they head into their bye week facing a grueling schedule with New England, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Green Bay and the NY Jets still left to play.

(All stats via ESPN.com)