Hall of Fame Game Halftime Update: Bills, Giants

The Buffalo Bills and New York Giants are currently tied. 

Both teams had many of their starters play well into the first quarter, with the New York getting a slight edge over Buffalo 7-3.  The Bills’ first-team defense forced a three-and-out on the Giants’ first possession, and then Kyle Williams got a sack and forced fumble of Eli Manning on the second New York possession, which put the ball at the Giants’ 20.

Buffalo’s offense got a first down on its first possession before punting, and then another one on its second before New York’s defense stopped them, and settling for a 30 yard Dan Carpenter field goal. The Giants offense, against a Bills defense with mostly second-teamers, answered with a 12 play, 80 yard drive that ended with a 3 yard touchdown run by rookie running back Andre Williams, ran for 37 yards on drive.

E.J. Manuel was 2 of 7 for 19 yards, with two batted balls at the line of scrimmage, two passes for Sammy Watkins incomplete, and a pass that was almost intercepted by linebacker DeQuan Williams. Manning was 6 of 7 for 43 yards with the lost fumble.

On Buffalo’s third possession, backup quarterback Jeff Tuel led a 15 play, 80 yard drive, finding Robert Woods for a 3 yard touchdown. Tuel was 8 of 11 for 43 yards and the score on the drive.

Former Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, who played for Marrone, completed two passes on an 8 play, 52 yard drive that ended in a 47 yard field goal for rookie kicker Brandon McManus to even the score at 10.  Marcuse Easley blocked a punt in the last two minutes of the half, giving the Bills the ball inside the Giants’ 40.

Tuel took the team inside the 10, but a ball that bounced off the shoulderpads of receiver T.J. Graham and the hand of cornerback Zachary Bowman was intercepted by safety Cooper Taylor. Tuel ended the half 12 0f 17 for 74 yards, a touchdown and a pick, while Nassib was 5 of 8 for 49 yards.

The game began with the introduction of all seven 2014 Hall of Fame inductees (Andre Reed, Claude Humphrey, Walter Jones, Derrick Brooks, Ray Guy, Michael Strahan, Aeneas Williams). Jim Kelly was part of the pre-game coin toss for the Bills as their honorary captain, while Harry Carson was the honorary captain for the Giants.

Andre Reed led the Bills’ pre-game huddle, with Strahan doing the same for the Giants.  The game is also the first that includes referees wearing headsets, wireless tablets on the sideline, and 33 yard extra points.