BUCS at GIANTS

WHEN: Sunday, November 24, 2024 | WHERE: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: CBS

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Andrew Catalon | ANALYST: Tiki Barber and Jason McCourty | SIDELINE: AJ Ross

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Tampa Bay Ends 4-Game Losing Streak With Win In New York

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

The Bucs have a couple of dubious streaks that need ending on Sunday when they take on the Giants at MetLife Stadium. First is a four-game losing streak. Second is four games without an interception. Third is four games without cornerback Jamel Dean. And fourth is three games without star wide receiver Mike Evans. The good news is that Tampa Bay is expecting Dean and Evans to return to action in New York. And if the Bucs finally pick off a pass or two, which they haven’t done since Week 6 at New Orleans, they might be able to snap their losing streak, too.

Tampa Bay is the more talented team and should be able to run the ball against a New York defense that is great at rushing the passer (36 sacks) but not great stopping the run (5.1 rushing avg.). Expect offensive coordinator Liam Coen to run Bucky Irving plenty against the Giants defense and even work in Sean Tucker, who played at Syracuse, too. As long as Baker Mayfield doesn’t force-feed Evans the ball and wind up with interceptions there’s nothing stopping the offense from scoring 30 points or close to it.

Defensively, the Bucs need to stop the run, as Tyrone Tracy Jr. is the league’s leading rookie rusher averages 5.1 yards per carry. Tommy DeVito can – and will – scramble for first downs to extend drives, and Todd Bowles defense must bow up. Tampa Bay’s pass rush needs to come alive, especially the outside linebackers – and make Tommy DeVito play like Danny DeVito. This could be a trap game for the Bucs if Bowles’ defense doesn’t come to play and continues to get exposed.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Giants 24
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 6-4

Matt Matera: Bucs Begin To Save Their Season (Again)

I’d actually feel better about this game for the Bucs if the newly waived Daniel Jones was starting at quarterback for the Giants instead of Tommy DeVito. Why? Because it has more to do with the crowd than anything else. MetLife Stadium would be silenced with the exception of some groans with the performance Jones has brought, but DeVito is a fan favorite due to being locally from the area, and could get the Giants crowd into it more than expected. 

Bucs C Graham Barton and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Overall this is a matchup on paper that the Bucs should win. Their offense has stayed afloat despite all the injuries, and will get Mike Evans back this game. This means Baker Mayfield has his top weapon returning. While this immediately makes the Bucs better, I believe it’ll also open up more things for Cade Otton with less attention on him. Also, even though the Giants are great at rushing the passer, they’re bad at stopping the run, so expect a heavy dose of running the ball.

It’s still difficult to determine what to expect from Tampa Bay’s defense. On the one hand, they’ve been terrible this season. But on the other, they’ve gone up against the best quarterbacks in the league like Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. This is a different story than Tommy DeVito, who’s only had one career game with over 200 passing yards in his six starts. If the Bucs can gain a two possession lead, DeVito won’t be able to throw his way back into the game for the Giants. Add in an injured offensive line and it’s finally a chance for the Bucs to get their own pass rush going.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 26, Giants 19
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 5-5

Bailey Adams: Bucs Take Care Of Business In Return From Bye

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs losing this game would be a disaster. They’re the more talented team, and they’re the team that is still playing for something. And while it is Week 12, it’s essentially a do-or-die game for Todd Bowles’ squad. Considering the stakes — as well as the expected returns of Mike Evans and Jamel Dean — I think Tampa Bay gets the job done.

The biggest reason I took a pause when thinking about who to pick is the combination of New York’s pass rush and the potential absence of Tristan Wirfs. But I expect offensive coordinator Liam Coen to find a way to neutralize that advantage for the Giants, and I think the Bucs run game will have a huge day against New York’s porous run defense. I’m looking for Bucky Irving to break off a couple of big runs and potentially put up the first 100-yard rushing game of his career to spark Tampa Bay’s offense.

As for the Buccaneers defense, it needs to find a way to contain the rookie duo of Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Malik Nabers. Tommy DeVito shouldn’t scare anyone, but he does have a decent cast to work with as he looks to spark what has been a stagnant Giants offense that has now officially moved on from Daniel Jones. Even as bad as Tampa Bay’s defense is, I think it’ll do enough to complement a clean game from Baker Mayfield and another impressive rushing performance. The Bucs win this one and take the first step toward another late-season turnaround.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Giants 17
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 6-4

Josh Queipo: Bucs Come Back From The Brink

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Everyone wants the Bucs to win this game. And when I say everyone, I mean even the Giants are hoping the Bucs reverse their course and pull out a victory. If New York wanted to win this game, they would not be starting Tommy DeVito over Daniel Jones and Drew Lock. The Giants aren’t devoid of talent. Their draft class has been quite good headlined by wide receiver Malik Nabers, safety Tyler Nubin, nickel back Dru Phillips and running back Tyrone Tracy.

But surrounding that strong crop of young players and a good pass rush is just a lot of bad. They are 26th in EPA/play on offense due to poor quarterback play and they just actively chose to go with their worst quarterback. They are also 22nd in EPA/play on defense despite a very good pass rush that I mentioned earlier.

The Bucs should have a gameplan focused on containing Tracy as a runner and bringing all sorts of pressure on DeVito. Unlike other quarterbacks Tampa Bay has faced this year he does not manage the pocket or handle pressure/blitzes well at all. The Bucs should be able to tee off. And on offense as long as the interior can find a way to ensure defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence doesn’t wreck their gameplan, the passing game should be improved with the return of Mike Evans to score enough points to keep the Bucs’ season on life support.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Giants 17
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 5-5

Adam Slivon: Time Off Helps Bucs Get Back Into The Win Column In New York

Bucs OC Liam Coen and WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

To stay in the playoff hunt for the remainder of the season, the Bucs must win Sunday’s game against the Giants. Sitting at 4-6 coming off the bye week, Tampa Bay has the chance to reset with a win going into the final stretch. After going through a gauntlet of tough matchups (and losses), the rest of the year presents the league’s easiest schedule – but games they must still play and win. New York will not just roll over, and although they sit at just 2-8 and emphatically benched and released Daniel Jones on Friday morning, they still have plenty of game-changing talent.

Most of it resides on the defensive side of the ball with Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, while Azeez Olujari and Dru Phillips have played well as their co-stars. Another big defensive piece is likely coming back with reports that Kayvon Thibodeaux is gearing up to return from injured reserve. Each player will present challenges for the Bucs’ offense – specifically the offensive line. Without Tristan Wirfs at left tackle, Burns has a favorable matchup with Justin Skule, while Lawrence will give rookie Graham Barton a tough time inside. That could make Baker Mayfield’s day difficult in the pocket, even with the return of Mike Evans, who needs to play a critical role.

On the Bucs’ defensive side of things, they have a chance to get back on track facing third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito and the NFL’s 32nd-ranked scoring offense. Limiting rookies Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy will be key in disrupting the Giants’ offensive rhythm. With that, I predict that Todd Bowles’ defense blitzes DeVito often to force him into making mistakes in his season debut. This game is a favorable matchup on paper with plenty of factors working in the Bucs’ favor. It has been an up-and-down season so far, but in this one, I see them pulling off a convincing win.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 27, Giants 13
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 6-4