The Buffalo Bills are coming off an incredibly impressive and dominant performance against the Miami Dolphins on the road. They were in control from the opening whistle. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was under constant pressure and never was able to get into a rhythm. On the other side of the ball, Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was so much more composed and it seemed like his struggles against New England were a distant memory. Taylor ended with three touchdown passes as the Bills routed the Dolphins 41-14.
This week they move on to host the New York Giants, who are fresh off a win against the Washington Redskins last Thursday night. The Giants won 32-21 and forced Kirk Cousins to throw two interceptions. The Giants seemed solved some of their main issues defensively. Cousins was under pressure, forced into bad decisions and the Redskins running game was not as effective as it was the week before. Eli Manning also started to find a groove. He ended the night 23-for-32 for 279 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bills will be without star players LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins, meaning they will be relying heavily on rookie running back Karlos Williams. At receiver, they will want big performances out of Percy Harvin, Robert Woods and Chris Hogan. All of these players will have to make plays for Tyrod Taylor and help him move the ball and keep possession.
The X-Factor for the Bills in this game will be cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore will have the tough task of covering stud wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. He has a lot of talent himself, but considering Beckham is one of the best young receivers in the NFL, he will have a lot to deal with. If Gilmore can keep Beckham out of the game, the Giants will have a very difficult time against the rest of the Bills defense.
On offense, the Bills will need more big plays from tight end Charles Clay. Clay, who was acquired in the offseason after the Bills offered him a contract the Dolphins could not match, has been tremendous during the first three weeks of the season. He has wide receiver ability at the tight end position. Clay has the second most targets on the team, just one behind Percy Harvin, and is the only player on the Bills with two receiving touchdowns. If Clay can continue his solid play, the Bills will have a good chance of winning on Sunday.
This Bills team is very different from the last one that played the Giants four years ago. They have a new quarterback, running back, wide receivers and tight end. The Giants were able to beat the Bills in that game, but if the Bills play at the level they are capable of, the Giants will have a very tough time slowing down these new look Buffalo Bills.