The New York Giants will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium with hopes of making a spark out of the bye week.
That spark should come through the Giants’ new QB1, Tommy DeVito, or as most Giants followers know him, “Tommy Cutlets.”
This, after all, comes following the choice by the Giants earlier this week to bench Daniel Jones and begin DeVito as a substitute of Drew Lock, who they signed within the offseason for $5 million. He has served because the backup quarterback all season.
The Giants are available in well-rested off the bye week sporting a five-game shedding streak after their embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany.
In the meantime, the Buccaneers are available in with a four-game shedding streak all of which have come in opposition to groups which are at the moment .500 or higher.
Whereas most followers are in all probability rooting for losses at this level for 2025 NFL draft positioning, the Giants are hoping to get again within the win column, particularly Brian Daboll, who could also be teaching for his job.
Listed here are three causes for concern forward of the Week 12 matchup.
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The return of Mike Evans
Large receiver Mike Evans is trending towards a return on Sunday after being out with a hamstring harm since Week 7. Evans, one of many league’s finest and most underrated receivers, will current a significant problem for the Giants’ secondary — particularly, Deonte Banks, who has struggled mightily in his sophomore season.
The Bucs come into Week 12 with the second-best completion share within the league and can go up in opposition to a Giants’ protection that ranks thirtieth in opponents’ completion share. If Evans can go, it might give Tampa Bay an added enhance on this sport.
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Bucs could also be higher than their file
As beforehand talked about, the Bucs are available in with a four-game shedding streak. All six losses this season have come in opposition to groups that enter Week 12 with a file of .500 or higher.
The Bucs additionally had some spectacular victories this 12 months. Three of their 4 wins have come in opposition to in opposition to the Washington Commanders (7-4), Philadelphia Eagles (8-2), and Detroit Lions (9-1).
In actual fact, the Bucs’ solely sport in opposition to an opponent below .500 was in opposition to the New Orleans Saints.
The Giants would be the worst opponent (record-wise) the Bucs have had on their schedule to this point this season.
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The Bucs dashing assault
The Bucs are averaging 5.0 yards per carry this season, which ranks fifth within the league and could possibly be a recipe for catastrophe contemplating the Giants have struggled in opposition to the run all season lengthy.
The Giants are giving up a league-worst 5.3 yards per carry heading into Week 12.
The Bucs rush the ball at simply over 41 % of their performs. Nonetheless, given the mismatch on this class, the Giants can count on a heavy dose of the Tampa Bay dashing assault on Sunday.
