Giants - Bucs Gameday Thread

The Giants are looking to get the Daniel Jones era off to a good start by recording their first win today at Tampa against a 1-1 Bucs team. Be sure to follow and refresh this page for scoring updates, injury news, stats and much more. Don't forget to register for a free account to the site if you want to take part in the discussion in the comments section. (Newest posts will be on the top.)

FINAL: Giants 32 - Bucs 31 

The Giants overcame an 18-point deficit to record their first win of 2019. Daniel Jones, who led the fourth-quarter comeback, finished 23 of 36 for 336 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for a team-leading 28 yards on four carries, with two rushing touchdowns. 

Fourth Quarter

Bucs receiver Mike Evans, who was mostly quiet in the second half, came up with a HUGE 44-yard reception down the field with time ticking down. 

It was Evans' eighth catch of the day and it set up a 34-yard field goal for the win. However, Gay's attempt sailed wide right. 

What a pair of wheels! This is not your Eli Manning Giants any more; Daniel Jones can run, folks, and run he did. Jones rushed seven yards up the gut into the end zone untouched to give the Giants their first lead of the game, 32-31.  

The play was Jones' second rushing touchdown of the day; he also threw two others.

The comeback kid? With the Giants down by six, can Daniel Jones doe what Eli Manning has done over 30 times in his 16-year career and bring the Giants back from being behind? Jones, who topped the 300-yard mark, connected with receiver Sterling Shepard for a 36-yard gain to the 12 with 2:15 left.

INJURY UPDATE: Giants linebacker Tae Davis, who stepped in for the injured Alec Ogletree, has a concussion and is out for the rest of the game. Davis was replaced in the lineup by David Mayo.

6:03: The Bucs cashed in on the Jones turnover, as kicker Matt Gay hit a 23-yard field goal to increase his team's lead to 31-25. 

10:36: If there's one stain on Daniel Jones' day today, it's been his lack of ball security. 

Nate Solder beaten bad by Shaq Barrett forcing a fumble. Fumble is not on Jones, as he was in mid throwing motion

— PFF NY Giants (@PFF_Giants) September 22, 2019

Jones was sacked by Shaq Barrett, who had himself a strong showing for the Bucs defense. Barrett knocked the ball loose from Jones' grip giving the ball to the Bucs offense at the Giants' 42-yard line.

11:24: The Giants defense has its first takeaway of the 2019 season. Rookie Ryan Connelly, who took over the defensive quarterbacking after Alec Ogletree went down with a hamstring injury, picked off Winston's pass intended for Mike Evans over the middle.

Third Quarter

Remember when there was public outcry regarding the Giants' selection of Daniel Jones at No. 6 overall in the draft? 

pic.twitter.com/plRqA9V5t5

— Carl Banks (@CarlBanksGIII) September 22, 2019

8:21: The Giants are showing some nice resiliency on offense in this game. Jones connected with Sterling Shepard on a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-25 Bucs. 

Shepard was targeted 19 times on plays in the red zone last season, tied for 7th most among receivers in NFL, according to Inside Edge.

As for Jones, that was his second passing touchdown to go along with his rushing touchdown he scored in the first half in what's been a huge day for the rookie in his first NFL start.

It was all made possible by the amazing 46-yard pass from Jones to fellow rookie Darius Slayton, the later who was making his NFL debut after missing the first two weeks with a hamstring strain. Jones did a nice job to feel the pressure, roll to the left and find Slayton down the field. 

BREAKING NEWS: The Giants defense finally forced a punt. Repeat: the Giants defense forced a punt. 

Defensive coordinator James Bettcher's Giants defense has allowed 11 drives of 70+ yards in two-plus games / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

15:00: Daniel Jones connected wit tight end Evan Engram on a crossing route for a 57-yard touchdown pass, the rookie quarterback's first of his career. 

Jones then followed that up by connecting with receiver Sterling Shepard for the 2-point conversion to make it 28-18. 

INJURY UPDATE: Running back Saquon Barkley has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Barkley is on the Giants sideline on crutches and in a walking boot after undergoing X-rays.

INJURY UPDATE: Inside linebacker Alec Ogletree (hamstring) has also been ruled out by the team.

Halftime Stats

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is the team's leading rusher, with 21 yards on three carries and a touchdown. Jones is also 12 of 19 for 123 yards. He's been sacked once and had the lost fumble.

Sterling Shepard is the Giants leading receiver with 44 yards on three catches. 

Tight end Evan Engram and running back Saquon Barkley are both tied for the team lead in receptions with four each.

The Giants defense has allowed 256.6 Passing Yards per game (8,724/34) since the start of the 2017 season, the third-worst average in the NFL. (stat via NFL Inside Edge)

For the Bucs, Mike Evans has caught 7 out of 11 pass targets for 146 yards and three touchdowns. 

Tight end O.J. Howard has two catches for 48 yards. 

Second Quarter

0:04: Gay added his second field goal of the day for the Bucs, this one from 52 yards as time expired in the half. The Bucs have now scored on every possession in this game and have a 28-10 halftime lead over the Giants.

1:31: Evans caught his third touchdown of the game, this one on a 20-yard throw by Winston. 

Winston took advantage of single-high safety look which left Jenkins one-on-one against Evans, who made the too-easy reception to make it 25-10.

The Bucs have now scored on all five of their offensive possessions as the Giants defense has no answers so far for the what the Bucs are doing to them. 

GIANTS INJURY UPDATE: Running back Saquon Barkley (right ankle) is questionable to return. 

Sep 22, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) is assisted off the field after suffering an apparent injury during the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium / Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Barkley had to be helped off the field and to the Giants locker room, looking like he could barely put weight on his right ankle.

2:22: Ball security was a problem for Daniel Jones in the preseason and it continued in this game. 

Bucs linebacker Shaq Barrett, who had all four of Tampa Bay's sacks, recorded a strip-sack on Jones, who was focused down the field and seemed to be unaware of Barrett closing in on him.  

GIANTS INJURY UPDATE: Giants inside linebacker Alec Ogletree strained his hamstring. His return is questionable.

4:08: The Bucs added another field goal by Gay, this one a 27-yarder. And they can thank their tight end for making it possible.

Maybe one day, the Giants defense will learn how to defend an opposing tight end.

O.J. Howard drew a 29-yard pass interference call against Giants safety Jabrill Peppers on a 2-and-10. The penalty, initially uncalled, was challenged by Bucs head coach Bruce Arians and reversed.

On the next play, Winston hit Howard for 30 yards to give the Bucs 1-and-10 on the Giants’ 12.

The Giants looked like they got a huge break when inside linebacker Alec Ogletree recovered what looked like a fumble and returned it on the field before pulling up lame with a left hamstring strain. Ogletree’s return is questionable.

Unfortunately, the call was reversed and ruled as an incomplete pass, which set up the Bucs’ field goal. 

7:40: The Bucs make it 15-12 on Matt Gay's 47-yard field goal. 

The Winston-Evans continued to roll along. Winston hit Evans over the middle of the field for a 55-yard pickup. 

Evans has been working against Janoris Jenkins all afternoon, and it hasn't been pretty. Jenkins has allowed four receptions for 8- yards and a touchdown to the Bucs' No. 1 receiver, the 55-yarder being one in which there was no safety help down the field.

Giants rookie edger rusher Oshane Ximines came through with a big sack of Winston on third down, forcing Tampa Bay to settle for the field goal.

Winston has been sacked on 12.4% of pass attempts (29/233) on 3rd down since the start of the 2017 season -- 5th worst of 30 Qualified QBs in NFL. 

10:05: The Giants broke out a zone read, taking advantage of Daniel Jones' mobility. He rewarded them with a 7-yard touchdown run to the right side.

That was the first red-zone touchdown surrendered by the Bucs' defense this season. The Giants trail the Bucs 12-10.

It's truly the dawn of a new era: a mobile quarterback era. Here's an earlier scramble by Jones.

First Quarter

0:23: The Bucs made it 12-3 on Winston's second touchdown pass to Evans, this one for three yards. 

The Giants continue to struggle to cover tight ends. Bucs tight end O.J. Howard caught an 18-yard pass over the middle, beating Giants safety Jabrill Peppers for 18 yards on a 2nd-and-8 from the Giants' 21.

The Bucs again missed the PAT, as Giants rookie Dexter Lawerence got a hand on it to block it.  

4:10: The Giants answered with a 36-yard field goal by Aldrick Rosas to make it 7-3.

The Giants have now scored on each of their opening drives this season; the Bucs, meanwhile have not allowed opponents a red zone touchdown in seen possessions.

Tight end Evan Engram was a frequent target of Daniel Jones, who made his NFL debut. Engram caught both his pass targets for 24 yards, including this beautiful one-handed grab.

9:54: The Bucs got on the board first as Jameis Winston found Mike Evans for a 21-yard touchdown against Janoris Jenkins in coverage to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive. 

The Giants managed to get pressure on the drive, including Markus Golden's 21st career sack, but Tampa converted on  4th-and-1, a play in which big-bodied Giants defensive lineman Dexter Larence was on the sideline. 

The PAT was no good.

Pregame

Saquon Barkley, Nate Solder, Zak DeOssie, Mike Thomas and Antoine Bethea out there for coin toss.

Giants call tails and win. Defer to second half.

Could be a rule limiting how many captains can be out at midfield.

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 22, 2019

Here is the gameday inactive report and injury impact for both the Giants and Bucs.

From @NFLGameDay: The #Giants loved QB Daniel Jones so much in the draft that they passed up a franchise pass-rusher -- then tried to trade back up for Josh Allen, anyway. Plus, the latest on the #Jaguars potentially holding onto CB Jalen Ramsey. pic.twitter.com/lY1vdsimsG

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 22, 2019

This report, if true, speaks volumes about how the Giants must have felt about their pass rush coming into this season. Given that the Giants have 5.0 sacks and only 28 pressures in two games, it's safe to say that as of now, their concerns were indeed valid.

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Gameday Information

Date: Sunday, September 22, 2019

Place: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL

Game time: 4:05 p.m.

Television Network: FOX

Radio: SIRIUS: 127 (NYG), 83 (TB) | XM: 382 (NYG), 226 (TB) Tune-In Premium;

Giants Radio Network: WFAN 660-AM, 101.9-FM and local affiliates. 

Local Affiliates: Albany, NY—WPYX 106.5FM; Hartford, CT—WPOP 1410AM; Hartford, CT—WPOP 100.9FM; Hartford, CT—WCUS 97.9FM; Danbury, CT—WLAD 880AM; Syracuse, NY—WTLA 1200AM; Syracuse, NY—WTLA 97.7FM; Corning, NY—WENI 1450 AM; Elmira, NY—WENY1230 AM; Corning, NY—WGMM 98.7 FM; Plattsburgh, NY—WIRY 1340 AM; Rome, NY—WRNY 1350 AM; Utica,NY—WTLB 1310 AM; Utica, NY—WTLB 96.5 FM; Oswego, NY—WSGO 1440AM; Oswego, NY—WSGO 100.1 FM; Binghamton, NY—WENE 1430 AM; Cortland, NY—WIII-FM 99.9; Ithaca, NY—WIII-FM 100.3; Burlington, VT—WJKS 104.3 FM; Easton, PA—WEEX 1230 AM; Easton, PA—WTKZ 1320 AM; Finger Lakes (Canandaigua and Rochester), NY—WOKR 1310 AM; Finger Lakes (Canandaigua and Rochester), NY—WOKR 95.5 FM, Giants Spanish Language Radio—WADO 1280-AM

Online Stream: NFL Mobile, Yahoo Sports App, Fubo, FOX Sports 

Referee: Bill Vinovich

Previews

Giants Week 3 Preview: How to ensure the Daniel Jones era begins on a positive note

This is why we call @Daniel_Jones10 Danny Dimes. @sterl_shep3 #GiantsPride #NYGvsTB

📺: FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch FREE on mobile: https://t.co/qnNxI5gZ8j pic.twitter.com/2Ly90mC9d0

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2019