- Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins will impress in his first professional football game. Watkins has been the talk of training camp for the Bills and is expected to be E.J. Manuel’s go-to threat. Watkins was selected with the fourth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Bills were originally slotted to draft out of the ninth slot but they traded up with the Cleveland Browns to select Watkins. The Bills thought highly of the Clemson product, giving away a 2015 first round pick, and have not been disappointed in camp thus far.
- Eli Manning is not expected to play much in this game. His new receiver, Odell Beckham Jr., should be on the field for the majority of the first half. However, if his hamstring acts up again than Beckham will be sidelined. I believe that Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will put Beckham out there for close to the entire first half. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported that Coughlin was frustrated with Beckham’s injury and missed practices. Based on that, Coughlin will want to test Beckham Jr.’s toughness and mental capacity to play through an injury. Beckham will fail to impress and will show a lack of hustle. It will be due to the injury but Beckham Jr. will have to make up for his poor showing throughout the rest of the preseason.
- Do not expect to see much of quarterbacks Eli Manning and E.J. Manuel. This is the first of five preseason games for both teams. Coaches are usually cautious with their star players and the cautiousness will be ratcheted up due to an extra preseason game.
- It’ll be interesting to see who steps into the spotlight in the Giants backfield. David Wilson suffered another neck injury that will sideline him indefinitely and possibly end his career. Rashad Jennings and Peyton Hillis are the current favorites to take over the primary back duties.
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