Tag: New York Giants

Giants vs. Buccaneers: NFL experts make Week 12 picks

See who experts around the league are taking in a Week 12 matchup between the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The New York Giants (2-8) will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday afternoon.

Opening the week, the Giants were listed as 5-point home underdogs and that spread has worsened slightly with Big Blue now at +6 as of this writing.

Let’s take a look at who some of the experts and insiders around the league are taking in the Week 12 matchup:

Expert Pick Score (if applicable)
Dan Graziano (ESPN) Buccaneers N/A
Matt Bowen (ESPN) Buccaneers N/A
Seth Wickersham (ESPN) Buccaneers N/A
Pete Prisco (CBS) Buccaneers 27-13
John Breech (CBS) Buccaneers 27-16
Jordan Dajani (CBS) Buccaneers 23-21
Nate Davis (USA TODAY) Buccaneers 24-20
Lorenzo Reyes (USA TODAY) Buccaneers 27-14
Bill Bender (Sporting News) Buccaneers  25-17
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Buccaneers  24-20

In what should come as little surprise, the entire panel has picked against the Giants this week. Some anticipate more of a blowout than others, while a select few see this as a tight, one-score game.

Many other experts and analysts from around the league see this game playing out similarly, with 97 percent picking a Buccaneers victory, per NFL Pickwatch.

Fans are equally confident in Tampa Bay, with 98 predicting a Giants loss.

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Giants vs. Buccaneers: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 12

The New York Giants host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Week 12, and here are three reasons for optimism.

The New York Giants will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium as Big Blue comes out of an action-filled bye week.

The Giants, of course, made the change at quarterback, benching Daniel Jones and making third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito the starter instead of Drew Lock, who was signed in the offseason and spent the whole season as QB2.

The Giants currently have a five-game losing streak and have yet to have a win at home this season.

The Bucs have a four-game losing streak they are trying to snap themselves.

Lost in the hype of the quarterback change is that the Giants will welcome back wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who will be wearing a Buccaneers uniform.

Here are three reasons for optimism ahead of Week 12.

Luke Hales/Getty Images

DeVitomania

Last year, New Jersey native Tommy DeVito came in and provided a much-needed buzz during a lost season. He will once again fill a similar role and hope to create a “spark” beginning in Week 12.

DeVito has familiarity with the offense from last season which was a big reason head coach Brian Daboll decided to turn to him moving forward. He will come in motivated and the fan base will come alive behind him.

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

Favorable matchup for Tyrone Tracy

Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has provided a much-needed boost in the Giants backfield this season and seems to be a nice piece for the team to build around moving forward, especially filling the vacancy left by the departure of Saquon Barkley.

Tracy leads all rookies in rushing yards heading into Week 12. He is likely antsy to get back on the field after the way the Giants’ last game ended before the bye week.

The Bucs allow the fifth-highest yards per carry in the NFL. The Giants would be wise to give them a heavy dose of the running game — not only because of the Bucs giving up 4.8 yards per carry, but also to help DeVito ease back into the role as the starting quarterback.

Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers defense

The Bucs defense provides a favorable matchup for the Giants offense in the first week under Tommy DeVito. While the Bucs have had a tough schedule and have a top-five scoring offense in the league, their defense also gives up the six-most points per game.

Points have been hard to come by for the Giants in 2024 as they sit as the worst team in the league in terms of points per game. Hopefully, DeVito can lead the offense and get the ball to Giants playmakers, Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy.

The Giants will have to put points on the board if they are going to have a chance in this one and the Tampa Bay defense may present them with an opportunity to do just that.

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Can Giants’ Tommy DeVito find a ‘spark’ with Malik Nabers?

The New York Giants are hoping that the presence of QB Tommy DeVito can reignite rookie WR Malik Nabers going forward.

The New York Giants will have a new quarterback, Tommy DeVito, under center this Sunday when they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium.

The move was made to hopefully ignite some spark in the offense, which is the lowest scoring in the NFL this year. But there are other questions that have arisen such as how the switch from Daniel Jones to DeVito will affect star rookie wideout Malik Nabers.

Nabers has 61 receptions and 607 receiving yards on 94 targets this season, including at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in seven of his first eight career games.

If Nabers gets four receptions this Sunday against the Bucs, he will surpass Puka Nacua (64 receptions) for the most receptions by a player in his first nine games in NFL history as well as the first player ever with at least five receptions and 50 receiving yards in eight of his first nine career games.

After a spectacular first four games, Nabers had 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns. He then missed two games due to a concussion.

In the four games since his return, Nabers has 26 receptions for 221 yards and no touchdowns. The Giants lost all four games.

The targets have been there recently for Nabers but the route tree is not sending him downfield to make the big play. He is averaging 10.0 per reception with just seven catches of 20 or more yards.

Nabers pales in comparison to three other LSU stud wideouts — Brian Thomas Jr. (16.5 YPR), Justin Jefferson (15.5), and Ja’Marr Chase (14.5).

Will DeVito be able to maximize Nabers’ talent going forward, is the question. He hasn’t played a snap all year in the regular season but is familiar with the offense and many of the players as he has been in the building for two years now.

“I’m going to get more and more comfortable throughout the week,” DeVito told reporters on Wednesday. “I haven’t had a ton of reps with them, obviously, this year if you will. I got a good amount in OTAs, which was definitely helpful, so I know how people move. And then the guys who were here last year, I know how they move. So just being able to get the ball in their hands and let them do what they do.”

Jones did not seem comfortable this season coming off the torn ACL and subsequent surgery. He didn’t look like he was having fun, either. That is something DeVito intends to bring to the huddle.

“If you don’t enjoy going out there, you don’t play with the same kind of passion that you would if you did, so really just trying to keep everybody’s high spirits up, enjoy it, and just bring energy when I’m out there,” he said.

With any luck, DeVito will be able to click with Nabers and lift this Giants offense out of the ditch it’s been in all year. And that’s what the rookie expects.

“I know he got a steamer for an arm, so I got some catches with him after practice. Relationship with me and DeVito is cool. We talk, play the game, so we got a good relationship,” Nabers said. “I’m able to get open, I’m able to create separation. So, I mean that’s a plus for him for sure. He’s comfortable throwing me the ball.”

We’ll get the first taste of DeVito-Nabers in just a few short days.

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Report: Finger-pointing, eroding trust have infected Giants’ locker room

Brian Daboll is reportedly blaming the defense (again) for the New York Giants’ struggles as trust continues to erode in the locker room.

Things have been getting uglier and uglier in East Rutherford since the airing of “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” this past July.

General manager Joe Schoen’s handling of running back Saquon Barkley has been widely criticized, and head coach Brian Daboll’s falling out with former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and other assistants has left a stain on this regime.

Following the benching of quarterback Daniel Jones this week, the erosion has been kicked into high gear.

Defensive captain Dexter Lawrence publicly questioned the decision, while other anonymous players offered even harsher takes.

One player called DJ’s benching “trash” and “weak as (expletive).” Meanwhile, other reports surfaced suggesting that Schoen is not well-liked in the locker room.

With Jones now subjected to humiliating roles during practice, the locker room trust continues to evaporate, reports Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.

There was no energy on the field at the start of the Giants’ practice on Wednesday.

“A little dead” is how one player described it afterwards.

The humiliating scene of Daniel Jones taking snaps as the No. 4 quarterback behind new signing Tim Boyle had everything to do with that. And it was just as much about the questions that Jones’ shutdown invited for the Giants’ players.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton joined Lawrence in speaking publicly and candidly about the ongoings in East Rutherford.

“I think ultimately anybody can respect and get behind any decision that’s made [when] you ask yourself the question, ‘Does this help us win? Yes or no?’ And the answer is yes,” Slayton said. “You can get behind any decision that is made as long as that answer is yes.

“When that answer starts being ‘I don’t know’ or ‘no,’ it doesn’t matter how you did or what you did, because at the end of the day, our job is to win. Nobody’s going out there risking their body to lose.”

Slayton stopped short of providing his own answer but the implication was obvious. He added that there were many reasons for the team’s eight losses beyond Jones.

Meanwhile, Leonard reports that a familiar theme is also playing out inside 1925 Giants Drive this year. Similar to last season, Daboll has apparently begun to place much of the blame on the defense, which is run under first-year defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

It’s the same scenario that ultimately ran Martindale out of town.

Sources say Brian Daboll and the coaching staff, meanwhile, are ratcheting up pressure and frustration with the defense for giving up big plays — as if Daboll’s league-worst 15.6 points per game offense that just shut down its starting quarterback isn’t the root of the problem.

That blame game and discord sounds familiar to 2023, doesn’t it?

One anonymous player lamented that seven games remained this year, saying it’s like “a whole college season” left to play.

As many things change in East Rutherford, so many seem to stay the same.

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Giants’ Pat Hanlon slams ESPN’s Elle Duncan for mocking Daniel Jones

ESPN’s Elle Duncan immaturely mocked New York Giants QB Daniel Jones in an unfunny segment on Thursday, which drew the ire of Pat Hanlon.

On Thursday, an emotional Daniel Jones read a prepared statement in which he essentially said goodbye to the New York Giants, acknowledging that his time in East Rutherford had come to an end.

Jones expressed gratitude for the organization and his teammates, many of whom have publicly stood up for him.

But it didn’t stop the vultures from circling. Almost immediately, Jones was mocked for being emotional and caring. Shade was thrown from every direction, including courtesy of ESPN.

Anchor Elle Duncan changed the entire format of her Thursday show in an effort to dunk on Jones in a segment that felt almost personal.

“We normally reserve ‘Taking the Elle’ for Fridays but Giants quarterback Daniel Jones just did something so inexplicable that we made an exception,” Duncan said. “After being benched this week, Jones took to the podium to say goodbye to the franchise and fans but with, like, seven games left in the season.

“I’m sorry, you have to write this down? Didn’t you go to Duke?”

Duncan continued to mock Jones with snide remarks, exaggerated facial expressions, and fake gagging sounds.

“Do you guys think he had this saved in his notes since, like, 2020?” she continued. “In all seriousness, DJ, I could have saved you like 90 seconds. A re-write: ‘Sorry you paid me $180 million for one playoff win. And I look forward to reviving my career as Brock Purdy’s backup.’ The end.”

Painfully unfunny. And sad that she didn’t even bother to fact-check the contract.

The awkward attempted comedy skit that fell flat was not well-received by the Giants as senior vice president of communications, Pat Hanlon, was quick to remind Duncan that neither she nor ESPN are in any position to throw stones from their glass homes.

Jones may not have become the franchise quarterback so many in New York hoped he would, but the punching down, mockery, and disparaging remarks directed at such a hard-working, community-loving player are bizarre. It wreaks of desperation and comes across as immature. It’s bully behavior but in the weakest sense.

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Daniel Jones weighs leaving Giants for remainder of season

Daniel Jones doesn’t want to let his New York Giants teammates down but admits some consideration has been given to leaving the team.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones showed rare emotion as he took the podium in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the final time on Thursday.

Recognizing what is to come, Jones read from a prepared statement in which he effectively said goodbye after thanking the organization, his teammates, and the fans.

That goodbye is likely to become official sooner rather than later.

Jones admitted that consideration has been given to requesting his release or leaving the team for the remainder of this season. Whatever decision he makes, it will likely come following Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I think first you think about what’s best for the team and how you can help. And then myself, and what’s best for my situation going forward,” Jones told reporters. “I’m still processing and trying to think through what the best thing is for this team and what the best thing is for me.”

Given the emotional nature of Jones’ statement and how it was written in the past tense, it’s pretty evident which way he’s leaning. And as much as he’d like to help the team, there’s nothing left for him to do. During practice on Thursday, Jones was relegated to taking practice squad reps at safety.

There’s no need for him to continue wallowing in the humiliation.

“This is the NFL,” Jones said when asked if Joe Schoen has shown him respect. “I’ve got the injury guarantee. So, that’s that. I understand it. They don’t want to take any risks. At that point, it’s just do as you’re told.”

Jones does not believe his professional career is over and feels there is plenty left in the tank. He looks forward to the next opportunity, which may even come this season if the Giants ultimately decide to release him.

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Giants, Daniel Jones discussed adjusting injury clause before benching

The New York Giants and QB Daniel Jones discussed adjusting his injury clause before his benching but the two sides failed to reach a deal.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones gave what is likely his final press conference as a member of Big Blue on Thursday.

The former No. 6 overall selection in the 2019 NFL draft was uncharacteristically emotional in his delivery. He thanked the franchise and fans and accepted accountability for his role in the team’s recent failures.

“Football’s a team game, certainly. But the quarterback is a big piece of that, and I understand that. For my part and my piece of it, I take responsibility,” said Jones, who is now at the bottom of the Giants’ depth chart.

His “benching” was not entirely merit-based. The Giants will likely cut ties with Jones after the season as they have an “out” in his contract. In the interim, they will keep Jones out of harm’s way. During drills on Thursday, he played safety on the scout team.

From the New York Post:

It’s not unusual for offensive players who are not playing Sunday to lend a hand at a walking/jogging pace in that situation, but it is unusual for a $160 million investment to be reduced to that role.

There is an awkward dynamic to practice right now because the Giants do not want to risk Jones getting injured. There is a $23 million injury guarantee in his contract that will activate if he cannot pass a physical by March 12, which would raise the dead-salary-cap charge for cutting Jones from $22.2 million to $45.2 million.

Jones also told reporters that the injury guarantee was discussed during the conversation, during which he was told he was being sat down.

“That was a piece of the conversation, for sure,” Jones said. “I wanted to play. I wanted to play badly and do what I could to play. I think it was a part of it. Most of those discussions took place with my agents and Joe.”

Jones obviously isn’t happy about the decision but understands the business side of the game. There was talk of him waiving the injury guarantee but no agreement could be reached.

Still, Jones standing out in the secondary watching his successors hand off was strange to onlookers.

“Well, I’ve got the injury guarantee,” he said. “So, that’s that. I understand it. they don’t want to take any risks. At that point, it’s just do as you’re told.”

And Jones might be told to simply go home and stay there. A sad ending to what began as a promising Giants career.

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Giants injury report: Dexter Lawrence limited for second straight day

For the second straight day, New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was limited in practice with a knee injury.

The New York Giants took the field on Thursday for their second of three practices ahead of a Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Beforehand, head coach Brian Daboll met with reporters and expressed optimism that edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux would be activated from injured reserve (IR) and play on Sunday.

“Encouraged,” Daboll said.

Even if Thibodeaux suits up on Sunday, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said that fellow edge rusher Azeez Ojulari has earned the right to play, hinting at a rotational snap share.

Meanwhile, nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, who is usually given veteran rest days, was limited in practice for the second consecutive day.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: None

Limited participant: WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), NT Dexter Lawrence (knee), LB Darius Muasau (hamstring), S Tyler Nubin (back)

Full participant: WR Darius Slayton (concussion), LB Matthew Adams (knee), TE Theo Johnson (back), CB Andru Phillips (hip), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), OL Greg Van Roten (abdomen)

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Daniel Jones says goodbye to Giants in emotional statement

Quarterback Daniel Jones said goodbye to the New York Giants, his teammates, and the fans in an emotional statement on Thursday.

The Daniel Jones era has officially come to an end for the New York Giants.

On Thursday, following a session in which he took practice squad reps at safety, an emotional Jones said thank you and goodbye to the organization that drafted him.

Jones read from a prepared statement as he met with reporters.

“The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true and I’m extremely grateful to the Mara and Tisch families for the chance to play here,” he said. “The Giants are truly a first-class organization, and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who have built it and who helped carry on that tradition. I’ve met so many special people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime.

“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches and staff that have done so much for me these past six years. There have been some great times but, of course, we all wish there had been more of those. I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win more games worse than me, and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation.

“Of course, this season has been disappointing for all and, of course, I wish I could have done more. I’m 100% accountable for my part. I did not play well enough, consistently enough to help the team get the results. The reality of the NFL is it’s hard to win games and it requires consistent performance from everyone involved. We didn’t do that well enough. So, the idea to change something happens and I understand.

“I love the game. I love being part of a team. I’m excited for the next opportunity. I know that there’s a lot of good football in front of me and I’m excited about that. To all the fans, I have deep respect and appreciation for your passion and love for the Giants. The fans are a huge part of what makes playing for the Giants so special. Thank you.”

Jones thanked co-owner John Mara and Steve Tisch, saluted the fans, and classily shouldered responsibility for the team’s failures during his time as starting quarterback.

An emotional Jones also held back tears as he addressed his teammates, many of whom have shown public support, and acknowledged that he is giving consideration to requesting a release or leaving the team.

Finally, Jones threw the weight of his support behind Tommy DeVito, who will replace him on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Once a Giant, Always a Giant.

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Daniel Jones shared a classy written goodbye to the Giants as they unsubtly end his tenure

Daniel Jones showed more respect to the Giants than they deserved.

Say what you want about Daniel Jones as a professional quarterback. He’s still a human being with feelings, and he deserves a lot better from the New York Giants as they unsubtly end his tenure as their starter and turn to Tommy DeVito (again).

Amid likely the most challenging point of his NFL career, kudos to Jones for being a bigger person.

On Thursday, during a regularly scheduled press conference, Jones read out his official goodbye to the Giants organization, thanking leaders in the organization for giving him an opportunity to play for New York in the first place. In other words, he gave the Giants more respect in an adverse situation for himself than they probably deserved.

Man, I just feel bad for the guy because you know he’s taking this whole situation to heart:

As of now, Jones remains on the Giants roster. Beyond the fact that he will likely not start another game for them, it’s still unclear how they plan to proceed with him over the next few weeks. When you see tidbits like this press conference, it would’ve been nice if they could’ve shown a little more public decency in the meantime.