Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants Preview: Saquon Barkley Playing Sunday Night?

The Buffalo Bills host the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football at Highmark Stadium.

The Buffalo BiIls return from London to host the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football at Highmark Stadium. 

Both teams are fresh off Week 5 losses. The Bills were upset by the Jacksonville Jaguars across the pond in London, while the Giants dropped to 1-4 after a loss to the Miami Dolphins.

Adding insult to injury in Buffalo's 25-20 defeat, the team also suffered injuries to linebacker Matt Milano, defensive tackle DaQaun Jones, and tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. Milano and Jones are likely out for the season. 

The Bills run defense looks to bounce back after its worst performance of the season, giving up 196 rushing yards on 40 carries for two touchdowns. Buffalo may face Giants running back Saquon Barkley in his return from injury, as he was limited in practice on Thursday. Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain at the end of the Giants' Week 2 game against Arizona.

New York's offense has struggled this season, ranking last in total yards per game and second to last in points per game. Quarterback Daniel Jones has been sacked 30 times in five games, including 18 times in the last two weeks. 

Jones' status was questionable for Sunday night after suffering a neck injury against the Dolphins, but coach Brian Daboll said Friday that his starting quarterback will not be active due to the injury. Former Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor will get the start instead.

This matchup features the first time the Bills have faced their former offensive coordinator Daboll. McDermott and Daboll coached on the Buffalo since 2018, quarterback Josh Allen’s rookie year. Daboll is also a native of the Buffalo area, so it will be a 'welcoming home' of sorts. 

The Bills will look fix their penalty issues from last week when they committed 11 infractions, their most since 2021.  

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) pursues during the first half at MetLife Stadium / © Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY

RECORDS: Buffalo Bills (3-2) vs. New York Giants (1-4)

ODDS: Buffalo is a 14.5-point favorite vs. the Giants

GAME TIME: Sunday, Oct 15th, 2023 at 8:20 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Highmark Stadium - Orchard Park, New York

TV/RADIO: NBC, WGR 550

THE FINAL WORD: Coach Sean McDermott reacts to his teams' injuries:

“Those guys aren’t able to play,” McDermott said, regarding the talents he lost in recent weeks. “A piece of it is playing for those guys, too, because they were a big piece of this team and still are, but they can’t help it so much now. So, we play for them.”

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