The New York Giants and Buffalo Bills played on Sunday Night Football in a battle for New York, and the Bills escaped with a 14-9 victory. The game wasn’t exactly a thing of beauty, but it did bring with it plenty of drama. The Giants outplayed the Bills for most of the game, but some critical, bonehead clock management may have cost them the game.
The Giants were leading 6-0 as the time was dwindling in the first half and had the ball at the 1-yard line, about to score again. Giants backup QB Tyrod Taylor was thrust into the starting lineup on Sunday Night Football and made a horrific decision down by the goal line.
Instead of attempting a pass, Taylor audibled to a run play. The play was abruptly stuffed by the Bills defensive front seven, and the clock ran out before the Giants could get lined up to spike the football. Taylor’s questionable decision cost the Giants a minimum of three points as they walked into the locker room up 6-0.
Ya, there's no "if". This was a mistake by Tyrod Taylor. Here is Head Coach Brian Daboll completely furious with Tyrod.
If there's ONE thing Daboll has proven in his 24.5 games as Head Coach, it's that he's elite at game/clock management. He is never calling a run there. Brutal. pic.twitter.com/XLnzIr4Ott
— Strickly NFL (@StricklyNFLPod) October 16, 2023
“Had a play called, it was a run action pass play and ended up alerting it to a run. Didn’t get it off,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said after the game. “He [Tyrod Taylor] saw a look based on the play that we had, and he ended up alerting it… Ended it up alerting it to a run.”
Taylor told reporters that, “It was a decision, looking back on it, definitely shouldn’t have made. Alerted to a run, thought I saw a look that was beneficial for us, and it wasn’t the right call. That falls on me, as a quarterback, as a leader, as the one that’s communicating everything to everyone – got to be better in that situation….Ultimately, I should have just let the play on and shouldn’t have alerted it.”
Fast forward to the end of the game as the Giants drove down the field. Instead of needing a field goal, the Giants are down five and needed a TD. Oddly enough, the Giants moved the ball down the field to the 1-yard line for one last untimed play after a penalty was called in the end zone. This time, Taylor and head coach Brian Daboll dialed up a quick pop-pass to TE Darren Waller.
Should holding have been called on the final play or did the refs get it right❔ pic.twitter.com/uEQu7s5h9j
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 16, 2023
Unfortunately for Giants fans, it appeared that Waller was held immediately off the line of scrimmage, and the Bills defender didn’t let go the entire play.
A play that would often draw a holding or pass interference call drew no penalties, as the referees held their flags in their pockets just one play after they threw them to continue the game.
Taylor spoke about it in his postgame press conference after a reporter noted that there was some talk on the broadcast that it should have been called a penalty.
“Yeah, I never get into what calls should be made or what shouldn’t be made. It’s our job to go out there and play,” Taylor said. “You are going to get calls that aren’t called throughout the game, but, yeah, it’s tough to go out on that one, especially when we did as much to get down there in that situation. We would like to come out with a win in that.”
Darren Waller, again, being held on his arm as he’s going up for the ball.
And this wasn’t called holding. Thanks to NBC for getting this camera angle. pic.twitter.com/Ef7IVcwXfT
— Doug Rush (@TheDougRush) October 16, 2023
When asked about the play call, Daboll told reporters after the game that there was some discussion on whether to run or pass.
“It was some discussion, but we’d been stopped on two third-and-one’s. We’d been stopped on the goal line at the end of the half, so I thought it was a good call by (offensive coordinator) Mike (Kafka),” said Daboll.
“I thought we had the right play called, Kafka I thought had a good play and just didn’t hit on it…It was a run action pass so it’s a similar run, different personnel groups. Double team run where we’re hoping they would all suck up on (running back) Saquon (Barkley) and give a one-on-one to (tight end) Darren Waller.”
I say this fully understanding the risk it comes with, but I think the referees were afraid to call pass interference on back to back plays
— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) October 16, 2023
The Giants are kicking themselves following this contest. Too many mistakes cost them a victory. Following the contest, social media wasn’t interested in your takes; they wanted to let out their outrage, rightfully so, regarding the no-call on Waller.
