Giants Lose to Bills on Controversial “Non-Call” in End Zone
At least it wasn’t the blowout defeat that many had expected.
That the glass half full approach to a gut-wrenching 14-9 loss for the New York Giants, who had an upset special in their grasp up in Buffalo and couldn’t cash in thanks to what many believe was a blown call by the referees on the final play of the contest between the Giants and Bills.
With Giants back-up quarterback Tyrod Taylor having moved Big Blue down to the Bills nine yard line with two seconds to go, Taylor took his shot into the end zone for Darren Waller, but the tight end couldn’t come down with it as linebacker Terrell Bernard was all over him. The officials called Bernard for defensive pass interference. The Giants got one last shot, an untimed down at the one-yard line.
On that very play, Taylor, again, tried to thread the ball to Waller, but was heavily covered. It appeared Bills safety Taron Johnson was holding Waller on the play. A flag was not thrown. The game ended.
The phantom holding call wasn’t the only controversial play at that end of the field.
Earlier in the game, with just 14 seconds before halftime, the Giants decided to run the ball up the middle from the Bills’ one-yard line rather than try to throw a fade into the end zone. By the time the play concluded and the G-Men lined up to spike the ball, the clock expired.
Head Coach Brian Daboll was irate at Taylor, but one could argue there was fault on all sides. Instead of carrying a 13-0 lead into the break, the Giants were up only 6-0. It gave the Bills life, and proved to be fatal in the end.
While he wasn’t great, Tyrod Taylor was good enough, throwing for 200 yards for the Giants on Sunday. It will be fascinating to see what the status of Daniel Jones is for next Sunday when the Giants host the Washington Commanders.
