When the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills met in Super Bowl XXV, the AFC’s upstate franchise entered as firm favorites. Utter the phrase “wide right” near any older Buffalo fans to figure out how that game went. The stakes aren’t nearly as high this weekend, but there’s precedent for the unexpected happening in the NFL.
So, two teams looking to respond to a Week 5 loss will cross paths on Sunday night. Will the Giants put on for the city, or is Buffalo’s raucous home crowd too much to overcome?
Which team will add another Sunday Night Football win this week? pic.twitter.com/630mIrS7UA
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 13, 2023
Giants vs. Bills Odds and Match Details
| Team | Spread | Total | ML |
| Giants | +15
-110 |
Over 44
-110 |
+800 |
| Bills | -15
-110 |
Under 44
-110 |
-1350 |
| *Odds Subject to Change | |||
- Fixture: New York Giants @ Buffalo Bills
- Date and Time: October 15, 2023 at 8:20 p.m.
- Location: Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York
- Weather Forecast: Cloudy, Rainy, and 45 Degrees
- Field Surface: A-Turf Titan
Giants vs. Bills Injury Report
Giants Injuries
- Saquon Barkley (RB) – Ankle: Questionable
- Gary Brightwell (RB) – Ankle: Questionable
- D.J. Davidson (DL) – Knee: Questionable
- Daniel Jones (QB) – Neck: Out
- Shane Lemieux (OL) – Groin: Questionable
- Micah McFadden (LB) – Ankle: Questionable
- John Michael Schmitz Jr. (C) – Shoulder: Out
- Evan Neal (OT) – Ankle: Questionable
- Azeez Ojulari (Edge) – Ankle: Out
- Matt Peart (OT) – Shoulder: Out
- Andrew Thomas (OT) – Hamstring: Out
- Darren Waller (TE) – Groin: Questionable
Bills Injuries
- Dane Jackson (CB) – Foot: Questionable
- Dalton Kincaid (TE) – Concussion: Questionable
- Dawson Knox (TE) – Wrist: Questionable
Key Stats
Giants Key Stats
The reward for surviving New York’s lengthy injury report is reading about their offense which is 31st in scoring. That group is putting up 12.4 points per game and only reached 20 points once in their first five tries. The Giants also average the fewest yards per play (4.0), with at least offensive three starters already ruled out for this contest.
New York’s passers have been sacked 30 times already, the most in the NFL, including 18 in the past two weeks. They’ve also turned the ball over eight times, although last week’s game was their first clean one of the season. Saquon Barkley may return this Sunday, but the Giants need a lot more reinforcements if they want to put up points.
Defensively, New York’s NFC squad hasn’t been much better in 2023. They’re allowing 30.6 points per game (29th), and only one team has scored fewer than 28 against the Giants. Some good news is that the defense finished with three takeaways last week. The bad news is that those are New York’s only turnovers for the season.
Entering the week with only five sacks (31st), four of which were credited to Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants aren’t getting much from their pass rush. Surrendering 6.3 yards per play (31st), not much is going right on the defensive end either. Big Blue is having a season to forget in every way.
Bills Key Stats
Buffalo’s offense has had no issues scoring, averaging 31.8 points per game, the third-most league-wide. Only one team has kept the Bills from reaching 20 and that was in Week 1. Along with that, Josh Allen has only been sacked nine times through five games and five of those came in Week 1.
Moving the ball isn’t an issue either, as the Bills gain 6.3 yards per play, a number that trails only two teams. Josh Allen’s 1,407 passing yards are sixth in the NFL, as are Stefon Diggs’ 520 receiving yards. Buffalo’s first two games in Highmark Stadium ended with 38 and 48 points, respectively. What’s in store for Sunday night’s return?
Buffalo’s defense is an interesting case. On one hand, they’re limiting foes to 16.0 points per game, and the most they’ve allowed in a week is 25. On the other hand, the Bills are bleeding 5.8 yards per rush (32nd) and 5.7 yards per play (27th). Things are far from perfect.
This year’s defense has mitigated the damage through two methods. No team has more sacks than Buffalo’s 21, with the closest team trailing by three. Likewise, the Bills’ 13 takeaways are leading the league entering Week 6. They may not be suffocating, but the Buffalo defense excels at making impact plays.
Game Prediction
Brace for another ugly primetime game. Buffalo’s defense should feast on New York’s quarterbacks all night, as their NFL-high sack total faces the league’s worst offensive line when it comes to pass protection. Those sacks, along with turnovers, should keep a Giants offense that’s 31st in scoring off the board. If Saquon Barkley doesn’t suit up, it’ll only be worse.
As for Buffalo’s offense, they’ll be fine if they protect the ball. New York allows the second-most yards per play, doesn’t generate a lot of pressure on quarterbacks, nor secures many takeaways. Unless the Bills are reckless with the football, this game will easily be a blowout.
