The Tampa Bay Bucs secondary continues to look lost at times, giving up a near game-tying drive at the end of the fourth quarter after TB12 managed to turn around what was a pedestrian game by the GOAT.
The Bucs could never get the running game going, as Fournette and Jones both struggled, only managing to get 3.4 yards per carry. That was a big reason for Brady’s struggles, as the play action was about as effective as me pump faking at the three-point line in pickup basketball games, and Brady missed a couple key throws. But, in the end, Tom managed to put together a couple of those clutch, Brady-like drives against a pretty below-average Giant defense.
Gronk and Evans both hauled in the two Brady TDs, but the offense looked like it missed Chris Godwin, who was out with a thumb injury. It will be interesting to see if newly-signed Antonio Brown will get some snaps next week in the Bucs’ key matchup with the Saints, especially if Godwin is unable to go again.
Defensively the Bucs were able to “force” Daniel Jones to throw a couple incredibly stupid interceptions by getting some pressure on the second-year quarterback. He looked like Jameis without the occasional big play, although Jones looked pretty explosive in that last drive.
“Danny Dimes” (how he got that nickname while being so inaccurate I’ll never know) still managed to throw 256 yards and a pair of TDs, despite overthrowing open receivers down the field every other play. Honestly, with any competent quarterback, the Giants probably win this game. The Giants also ran the ball exceptionally well against the Bucs first-ranked rush defense, as they tallied over 100 yards, much higher than the 66 yards rushing per game the Bucs defense was giving up going into the game.
Ryan Succop continues to be as automatic as it gets, as he nailed four field goals and an extra point, and the Bucs managed to only turn the ball over once on a fumble by Ronald Jones (who also had a pedestrian game, only running for 23 yards and no TDs). So the Bucs managed to just suck a little less than the Giants. But hey, that’s football for ya.
As for the rest of the NFC South, the Saints increased their win streak to four games with an overtime victory over the Bears, and the Panthers fell to the now 2-6 Falcons. The Saints and Bucs are running away with the division, which makes their matchup next Sunday night on NBC all the more important, because the Saints holding the tiebreaker with their Week 1 victory over Tampa.
But the important thing is, the Bucs are 6-2. That’s all that matters.
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