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Dottino: What To Watch For In Giants-Bills, Plus A Prediction

By Paul Dottino
» More Columns

Just when you thought the Giants were going to start gaining some significant positive momentum...

The much-needed victory over the Washington Redskins that lifted the Giants to 1-2 was followed with the news that WR Victor Cruz aggravated his injured calf and would be out indefinitely. Not exactly the way the Giants planned to go into Sunday's game at Buffalo.

Yet coach Tom Coughlin has been able to use last week's tiny spark -- and the extra rest since their win was on Thursday night -- to get his team on its feet. The increased energy in the locker room and the team's general improving health on defense -- MLB Jon Beason, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and DE Owa Odighizuwa, in particular --should add to it, even with DE Robert Ayers (hamstring) and LT Ereck Flowers (ankle) gimpy.

Buffalo (2-1) has used the NFL's top rush defense and perhaps the league's best pass rush to rejuvenate its fan base under first-year coach Rex Ryan, who admits to having some prickly feelings about the Giants from his days as the Jets' coach.

Here are three key matchups to watch:

1. Bills QB Tyrod Taylor vs. Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo:

Ryan says Taylor is the fastest quarterback in the NFL, and he also happens to have a strong arm -- two big reasons he was brought to Buffalo. Taylor spent four seasons on the bench in Baltimore. Then the Bills used him in relief on opening day. (He lined up as a receiver to start the game.) Perhaps nobody knows Taylor -- outside of the Bills' and Ravens' organizations -- better than Spags, who spent the past two seasons as a Ravens defensive assistant.

You can expect Spags and his scheme to cause a great deal of difficulty for Taylor, much in the same way Bill Belichick's Patriots did to the quarterback. He held the ball too long on three of New England's eight sacks and got picked off three times in Week 2.

2. Giants RB Shane Vereen vs. Bills' linebackers:

It would be unrealistic to expect the Giants' running game to break out against Buffalo, and the Giants are a West Coast-based offense anyway, so they'll likely want to use a controlled passing game to counter the Bills' vaunted pass rush. Getting the ball out of Eli Manning's hands fast will be critical, which means he's got to quickly find the best possible matchup.

Vereen ought to have the edge against any linebacker on the field. Remember how he riddled Seattle in the Super Bowl? Manning's second option likely will be the tight end, so Larry Donnell also should expect plenty of work. At the same time, the Giants must take a few shots downfield and hit on some running plays against the blitz to keep the Bills a bit off balance.

3. Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Bills CB Ronald Darby:

Ryan really likes his second-round corner, who likely will get some help in bracket coverage against Beckham. But the Giants are still going to have to get some key receptions out of their receiver.

There will be times when Buffalo sends a pressure package and leaves Beckham room to operate. Those are big plays waiting to happen if Manning and his receiver can quickly identify them and connect in time.

PREDICTION: Giants 23, Bills 16

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