ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The leaders versus the bottom-dwellers. This could be a colossal mismatch.
The Bills’ defense leads the NFL with 21 sacks. The Giants have allowed a league-high 30 sacks. It will be the best against the worst Sunday night. And Andrew Thomas is not coming back this week to play left tackle, just as rookie center John Michael Schmitz also will sit this one out with a shoulder injury and right tackle Evan Neal, dealing with an ankle injury, is questionable to play.
“Yeah, they are a talented defense, have some familiarity there playing them in the past,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “They get after the football, they run, they tackle, they’ve had a lot of production in the pass game and the run game, so we are going to make sure we prep it and study and make sure that we are prepared to go.’’
The Bills will be without two of their top defensive players, linebacker Matt Milano and defensive lineman DaQuon Jones, who this week were both placed on injured reserve. Both could miss the remainder of the season.
That defense, though, figures to be bolstered by the increasing presence of Von Miller, one of the top pass rushers of this generation. Miller last week played in his first game since he tore an ACL last November. He was on the field for 20 snaps in a 25-20 loss to the Jaguars in London. The Giants will see more of Miller on Sunday.
“Just dipping my toe in the water,’’ Miller said. “Eventually, I’ll be able to swim in the deep end with the big kids. But it felt good just being out there with my guys and being back in the motion, it’s definitely something I can build on for sure.”
Miller has 123.5 career sacks, 19th on the all-time NFL list.
WR Stefon Diggs was traded to the Bills in 2020. Since then, he and QB Josh Allen have combined for 13 touchdowns in games played in prime time, the most of any duo in that span.
“I’ve talked to the defense about plaster coverage because the combination of those two with Josh and Diggs, I mean, it turns into, like, when you’re growing up playing football at recess,’’ Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said. “The play breaks down and you’ve got to defend the second play, the third play. Josh is elite at avoiding the rush, buying time, and he can put the ball wherever he wants.’’
Another night game for the Giants? Yes, this is their fourth appearance in prime time in the first six weeks. The first three did not go well.
“Guys are motivated, man,’’ wide receiver Parris Campbell said. “We’re going into a tough environment, on the road, in Buffalo, Sunday night but this is why we play the game. Obviously we haven’t done well, whatever, the record is the record is but if you love football this is why you do it. We work our tails off to get to this level to play in games like this. I think it’s more motivation than anything.’’
The Bills will wear their Color Rush blue-on-blue uniforms. The Giants will be in all white.
Oft-injured LB Azeez Ojulari was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least four games. The current malady Ojulari is dealing with is a sprained ankle.
QB Tommy DeVito and OL Justin Pugh were elevated from the practice squad. OL Jalen Mayfield was signed to the active roster.