ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Throughout the second half this season, the Giants’ offense had been unproductive. In the first two quarters Sunday, led by the passing of Eli Manning and the powerful bursts up the middle by running back Andre Williams, the Giants had dominated the Buffalo Bills.
But near the midpoint of the fourth quarter, the Giants’ offense had been sputtering for more than an hour. The team’s defense had bailed out the offense on at least two occasions, with a goal-line stand and another stop at their own 10-yard line. But in the fourth quarter, the Bills had broken through to draw within 6 points of the Giants, reviving their loud home crowd.