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Giants - Tampa Bay
Game 8 preview
Monday Nov 2, 8:15 PM - Tampa Bay at Giants

Giants (1-6) Tampa Bay (5-2)
Last Sunday the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visited the Las Vegas Raiders. The score was tied at the end of the first quarter at 7-7. Early in the fourth quarter the game was still close, but then Tampa Bay added three straight touchdowns and left with a 45-20 win.
The Giants had a Thursday game with the Eagles in Philadelphia. The Giants held a 21-10 lead midway into the fourth quarter. They let it slip away and took a 22-21 loss to the Eagles.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The last time the Bucs were in the playoffs was back in 2007. They lost in their wildcard game with the Giants 24-14. Since then, there have been just three winning seasons, the last being 9-7 in 2016. Even having the 4th and 1st ranked NFL passing offense in 2017 and 2018, the team finished at 5-11 in each of those years. A change was made, and in 2019 Bruce Arians was brought in to be the head coach. Arians and his new staff finished the season with a 7-9 record.
A combination of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston quarterbacking for the Bucs over two years, gave the team a great passing attack, but there were lots of turnovers. Last year Fitzpatrick was gone and Winston was throwing all the passes. His 5109 passing yards had the team still ranked first in that area, and 33 touchdowns was the most for any quarterback, but his 30 interceptions were also the highest.
When Tom Brady became available in the offseason, Tampa Bay didn't hesitate.

Tampa Bay Offense
Tom Brady has given Tampa Bay what they have been looking for in a quarterback, although not right at the start. In his first two games, he threw 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and the team had a 1-1 record. Since then, Brady has thrown 15 touchdowns and had just 1 interception. As an added bonus for the Bucs, with Brady aboard in a new environment, Rob Gronkowski was attracted to come out of retirement and join him. Like Brady, Gronkowski also started slow in those first two games, catching a total of just 2 passes for 11 yards. Gronkowski has 5 catches in the last two games, and has scored a touchdown in each of them.
Brady has thrown 18 touchdowns this season, which has him second behind Russell Wilson going into week 8. Thanks to his offensive line and how quickly he gets rid of the football, Brady has only been sacked eight times on the season, one of the lowest in the NFL. Chris Godwin led the team in catches, yards and touchdowns last season, ahead of Mike Evans, but he won't be available for Brady this game. Godwin had failed to connect with Brady on only four passes this season, pulling in 25 of 29 for 15 first downs and 2 touchdowns. Ronald Jones led the team last year in carries and rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. Jones has already rushed for 4 this year. Running back Leonard Fournette was back last week,and has 2 touchdowns.

Tampa Bay Defense
How many players have made such a stamp on the NFL, so much so, to be known just by their initials. RG3- Robert Griffin III got off to a great start in his career, and is now with the Baltimore Ravens. For the Giants, it's been OBJ - Odell Beckham Jr., currently on IR playing with the Cleveland Browns. Then there's also JPP, who stated this week. "I'm going to Monday Night Football and I'm going to destroy the Giants." Since the Giants parted with JPP in 2018, he has produced 26.5 sacks for the Buccaneers, 5.5 this year.
The Bucs have one of the top ranked pass rushing units in the NFL. Shaquil Barrett is coming off a year where he led the NFL in sacks with 19. In their last two games, they held Green Bay and Las Vegas, teams that averaged 30 plus points a game, to a combined total of just 30 points. The Bucs came off their win last week ranking first in pass defense and second in run defense.

Giants Offense
Daniel Jones started off his career with a win over Tampa Bay. You could say he did almost everything in the first start of his career to guide the team to a 32-31 win. Even though Jones was sacked 5 times, he completed 64 percent of his passes, threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for 2 more. His 9.3 yards per completion is still the highest of his career. What is Bruce Arians thinking, knowing that he has to face this quarterback now for the second time? Well, he has some consolation knowing that since that first meeting, Jones as a starter has won 3 games and lost 15.
The Giants have a shaky offensive line, and this week placed starting left guard Will Hernandez on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Rookie guard Shane Lemieux is expected to start in his place. Five offensive linemen, including three starters, have missed some practice following the NFL protocol. Darius Slayton is the biggest receiving threat for opposing defenses. He has converted over 80 percent of his receptions into first downs, and Sterling Shepard came back last week looking as sharp as ever, catching 6 out of 8 passes for 59 yards and 1 touchdown.
It shouldn't be this way, but
Jones is currently the leading rusher with 296 yards. He trails only Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson, who have more quarterback rushing yards this year. It will likely stay that way since running back Devonta Freeman is out for this game. Wayne Gallman looks to be the starting running back. Dion Lewis will be in the mix that may include Alfred Morris, who was called up from the practice squad for the game.

Giants Defense
The defense let down near the end of the game with the Eagles last week, allowing them to come back from an 11 point deficit to win. This week they're up against a team that's scoring more points on average than any other in the NFL. Every time they get into the red zone, they come away with either a field goal or touchdown - 22 touchdowns and 6 field goals on 28 red zone trips. It looks to be a tough task to stop them.
The defensive player who knows what he'll be up against the most in this game is Logan Ryan. He was with New England, and practiced against Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski for four years. They seem to be in their usual groove now playing in Tampa Bay.
Head Coach Joe Judge and some on his staff should also be able to offer some insight about their connection. Gronkowski was dealing with a shoulder issue earlier in the week, if that means anything, and the only real break for the Giants is that they won't have to cover wide receiver Chris Godwin. That means that cornerback James Bradberry will likely cover Mike Evans. They played in seven games against each other when Bradberry was with the Panthers.
They say that 'Getting into Brady's face' is the best way to make him feel uncomfortable and keep him from making plays. Best plan for the Giants this week if things aren't working, maybe on some plays when they line up, the defense yells out 'Third Down.', 'Second down!', 'No Third down!' to confuse him.

Overall
Tampa Bay sure looks like a team that could end up in the playoffs. The NFC East is up for grabs, and considering the way things are going for this group, the Giants, could end up there as well. Imagine maybe it could all happen again. The last time these two teams battled it out in the playoffs, the Giants won the game and went on to win the Super Bowl. Just (maybe have a drink or two) and let those happy thoughts unfold in your mind as you watch this game on Monday Night.

NFC East Games
Sunday at 8:20pm Cowboys (2-5) at Eagles (2-4-1).
Monday at 8:15pm Tampa Bay (2-4) at Giants (1-6).
The Eagles are the only NFC East team favored to win in these games.
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Notes.

Tom Brady was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October.

Tampa Bay's defense has intercepted at least one pass in six straight games.

Daniel Jones first career victory was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Next Games
Nov 8 Giants at Washington

Nov 15 Philadelphia at Giants

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