Giants top Bills in preseason win

A clear-eyed editorial look at the Giants 34-25 win over the Bills and what it signals for depth and young players.

Giants deliver strong first team showing in preseason victory

The Giants beat the Bills 34-25 in their first real exhibition of the year, and the first-team units showed enough to make observers hopeful. The opening sequence featured a patient 12-play drive that ended with a Graham Gano field goal after a couple of penalties stalled the march. The message was consistency more than flash, and the penalties in the red zone underscored an ongoing area the coaching staff wants cleaned up during camp. Overall, the offense demonstrated rhythm and patience, while the defense applied steady pressure on the Bills’ attack.

Jaxson Dart led the offense with 12 completions on 19 attempts for 154 yards and a touchdown, plus 24 rushing yards on three carries. He connected with Montrell Washington several times and capped the drive with a 28-yard TD to Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Dart showed resilience in the pocket when a big hit came, and he guided a two-minute drill to finish the first half. On defense, Abdul Carter and Brian Burns flashed with multiple pressures, suggesting the young pass rush is beginning to take shape. The unit without Dexter Lawrence still looked active and aggressive up front. Tae Banks occupied the lead role on the cornerback depth chart for much of the game, while Cor’Dale Flott watched from the sideline with monitoring of his health.

There were briefly concerning moments, including blown coverages late in the second and early in the third period, but the Giants adjusted and forced punts after mistakes. Special teams were highlighted by a notable run block sequence and a field goal that continued to show Gano’s reliability in a camp where every unit is still finding its footing. The Jaguars and Bills provided competition that pushed New York to test its limits, and the result offered a positive glimpse of how the roster could take shape in the coming weeks.

This game highlighted a few clear trends. First, Dart’s presence is no longer in question; his poise and accuracy on short and intermediate routes give the Giants a real option at quarterback in the early going. The rookie contributions from Carter and Banks shaved some of the edge from the outside, suggesting the Giants can lean on youth without sacrificing defense. Second, the penalty issue remains an obstacle. If those errors persist into September, even a strong preseason performance can be muted in the regular season. Third, the defense showed toughness even without a key anchor, reinforcing the idea that the depth pieces are developing a fit that could translate to meaningful snaps in the regular season. The Bills provided a useful test, and the Giants answered with effort and a clear willingness to grow under pressure. The next few weeks will decide which players push for spots and how quickly the coaching staff can tighten the discipline that has tripped the team up in past seasons.

The game also offered a reminder that preseason is about more than results. It is about the tone established by the coaching staff and how quickly the young players adapt to game tempo. If Dart continues to execute with rhythm and mobility, and if Carter and Banks sustain their development under pressure, the Giants can emerge from August with a clearer, more competitive identity.

Highlights

The coming weeks will reveal how much this progress translates into the regular season.