New York offense vs. Buffalo defense

	GIANTS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	25
	Pass	10
	Tot. Yds.	16
	Scoring	19
	Int's allowed	15
	Sacks allowed	34
	BILLS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	3
	vs. Pass	1
	Total yds. allowed	1
	# of Ints.	9
	# of Sacks	29
	Turnover differential	-4

The New York Giant offense finally exploded last Sunday against the Jets after weeks of frustration. Quarterbacks coach Gary Payton took over play-calling responsibilities from head coach Jim Fassel, and the players seemed to respond to his aggressive style.

Rookie RB Joe Montgomery has bounced back from a knee injury and seems to be the go-to-guy for the New York ground game. He will have his work cut out for him this weekend, however, as he goes up against one of the league's better run defenses.

Key to Montgomery's success will be the play of OC Derek Engler, filling in for starter Brian Williams who injured his left knee against the Jets. Engler needs to neutralize Buffalo LILB Sam Cowart, one of the better run stoppers in the game. Engler must get off the LOS and engage Cowart, who runs down ball carriers all over the field.

The rest of the Giant offensive line also needs to raise its game against a Bills defense that has been able to consistently pressure the passer without exposing its secondary. The Giants need to take advantage of their size and athletic ability at the WR position, and get the ball to Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard in positions where they can run for yards after the catch. Buffalo's secondary does not give up a lot of deep balls, so QB Kerry Collins must be patient and take the underneath stuff when it is available.

The Buffalo defense has had two weeks to prepare for the Giants, and will definitely not take them lightly given the team's offensive explosion last weekend against the Jets. The Giants thrived on the big play last week, and as a result, expect Buffalo head coach Wade Phillips to continue to rush only three or four defenders, dropping the rest of the team into pass coverage.

DEs Bruce Smith and Phil Hansen are having great seasons, and due to the considerable depth along the Bills' defensive line (which goes seven deep) Smith and Hansen are fresh late in games when opposing teams are trying to rally.

Buffalo definitely needs to pressure Collins this week. He appears to be gaining confidence, and has enough athletic ability at WR to create match-up problems for most teams that play man coverage -- particularly a team like the Bills where the corners are at a size disadvantage relative to the Giant receivers.

The Bills will move both Smith and Hansen around in passing situations to get the best match-up. This means Smith will often line-up over Giants LOG Mike Rosenthal, who despite his considerable size, is no match for Smith's speed and power game. Buffalo should play the Giants with a lot of straightforward looks, and force New York to establish a running game by consistently playing at least five players in the secondary.

Moulds has the speed to get behind defenses; look for him to open up the underneath routes for WRs Andre Reed and Peerless Price. Both of these guys are effective on short routes and each has the ability to do things after the catch.

The Giants are still effective defending the run despite the rash of injuries in their secondary. For Buffalo to be successful this week, the team has to be able to run the football. Running to the left side of the field behind LOT John Fina and LOG Reuben Brown is the Bills' best bet. Running right will be more difficult, as newcomer at ROT Marcus Spriggs will be matched up against perennial Pro-Bowl LDE Michael Strahan.

The Bills get a huge boost this week with the return of RB Thurman Thomas, who adds an entirely new dimension to the Buffalo offense, particularly coming out of the backfield as a third-down back.

What can the Giants do to slow down their opponents' passing games when their secondary is so banged-up? Things got worse for New York this week when LDC Jason Sehorn went down for the remainder of the season with a broken leg.

Against Buffalo, defensive coordinator John Fox needs to tailor a game plan that maximizes the number of players dropping into coverage, while also generating pressure on Buffalo QB Doug Flutie. That means LDE Strahan needs to get out of his season-long sack slump and dominate Buffalo ROT Spriggs. Spriggs will undoubtedly get help from a RB or from ROG Jamie Nails. Other players on the Giants' front seven, such as ROLB Jesse Armstead, will therefore have to step up and have big games.

MLB Pete Monty will be saddled with the duty of spying on Flutie, making sure that the Bills' mobile QB does not beat the Giants with his scrambling ability. By forcing Monty into this role exclusively, Buffalo forces the Giants to dedicate one less player to protecting the team's porous secondary.

The Giants back-up corners must employ a "bend but don't break" philosophy this week -- playing loose enough to not give-up the deep ball and making fundamental tackles on the balls that are completed underneath.