1st Qtr: On a miserable rainy delay up in Orchard Park the G-men attempted to find a way to use the elements to steal a game from the Bills. New York took a 3-0 lead on a 37 yard FG by Joe Danelo with a minute and a half left to go in the first quarter. Gary Jeter's 9 yard sack of Joe Ferguson caused the fumble that setup Danelo's kick.
2nd Qtr: Ferguson was picked off by Brad Van Pelt to start the 2nd quarter, but New York's "Prevent Offense" went 3 and out and Dave Jennings was forced to punt. Buffalo went on a 12 play drive that encompassed 6+ minutes and culmintated in a 30 yard run to paydirt by Roosevelt Leaks. Starting on their own 22 the Giants handed the ball off to Doug Kotar, who fumbled. Thankfully Bill Ard recovered or the G-men would have been in a deeper hole. Two plays later Jennings punted once again. After Joe Cribbs was stuffed for no gain the Bills decided to go back to Leaks, who coughed up the ball on his own 42. Brad Van Pelt was once again in the mix. New York's All-Pro LB fell on the ball for the recovery. 3 incomplete passes later the Giants once again punted. Buffalo went to their two minute drill and Ferguson moved them all the way down to the Giant 18 with :03 left in the half. Nick Mike-Mayer attempted a 35 yard FG, but Bill Neill blocked it cleanly to end the half with the Bills up 10-3.
3rd Qtr: After the Bills went 3 and out to start the second half, young Phil Simms decided to go to the air. A quick hit to Johnny Perkins for 9 yards setup a 40 yard toss to Perkins to put the Giants on the Bills' 14. A couple of hand off's later the Giants faced a 3rd and 9 from Buffalo's 13. The Bills dropped back into soft coverage and Simms dumped the ball off to Leon Bright who went 13 yards untouched for a TD. New York now led 10-7. No futher scoring in the quarter, but Ferguson had the Bills on the doorstep after gaining possession on the Giants 48. A 30 yard pitch and catch run by Joe Cribbs bailed Buffalo out of a 3rd and 10 spot.
4th Qtr: The "Crunch Bunch" ratcheted up the D and Buffalo was forced to settle for a game tying 26 yard FG from Mike-Mayer to start the final quarter. After hitting Earnest Gray for 12 quick yards, Simms had the ball at almost mid field. Electing not to play it conservatively the young signal caller from Moorhead State put too much air on another pass to Gray that wound up in the outstretched arms of Rufus Bess, who returned the ball to NY's 27. Big Blue's defense allowed just 3 yards and forced Buffalo into a 41 yard FG attempt, which Mike-Mayer shanked. New York's offense would not capitalize on its good fortune and once again Jennings booted one deep. Ferguson hit Mark Brammer for 17 yards and Frank Lewis for 16 yards before he hit Jerry Butler for a 28 yard TD to make it 17-10 with 6:44 left to play. New York once again went 3 and out, but this time Jennings uncharacteristically shanked one off the side of his foot for a lousy 12 yard punt. NY's defense had Buffalo pinned on a 3rd and 12, but Joe Cribbs was able to pull off a nifty 296 yard run for a key first down. 3 plays later Mike-Mayer would kick a 25 yard FG to make it 20-10. Simms would throw a pick on his first attempt after the Giants took the kick back to their 41. An errant pass to Johnny Perkins wound up in Charles Romes' hands and with it went any hopes for an improbable Giant comeback.
Buffalo takes their home opener and will host Miami next week as well. New York will host arch rival Dallas in the Meadowlands next week.
