Giants vs. Buccaneers: Preview, score prediction for Week 4
New York Giants vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There were some people that were proclaiming the New York Giants possible Super Bowl contenders coming into the 2017 season. As they enter Week 4 with an 0-3 record, that feels like a distant memory. They’ll be looking for their first win of the season as they go on the road to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After Hurricane Irma postponed their Week 1 matchup, the Bucs have gone 1-1. They looked impressive in shellacking the Bears, but then got beat down themselves a week ago in playing the Vikings. As for who this team actually is, we may not know any time soon.
Thus, we have a team looking for its identity early on, and a team who has definitively lost their identity and will take anything positive. Talk about intrigue on Sunday afternoon.
Keys to Victory
It’s pretty clear for this Giants team that the key is giving Eli Manning time to work. Frankly, I don’t think Paul Perkins or Orleans Darkwa are talented enough to get the run game going. Thus, it’s all on the passing game. But if they don’t have time to drop back and let plays develop, their offense becomes inept. That’s been the case for 11 of 12 quarters in the season, so that must change somehow.
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On defense, the sneaky key is going to be stopping the run. Though Jacquizz Rodgers is still in for the suspended Doug Martin, the Buccaneers run game sets up a lot of what they like to do throwing the ball. Jameis Winston can beat you in those situations in a bad way. Thus, the Giants defense must try and make Tampa one-dimensional on offense.
For the Bucs defense, they have to get a pass rush. With Noah Spence likely out, that’s a tall task for this defense. However, they aren’t going to get many matchups better than this one. Guys have to step up and start getting after Manning. If they can do that, it’s going to be a good day for the home team’s defensive unit.
Offensively, Winston just has to be careful. He’s a gunslinger, which makes him both fun and frustrating simultaneously. This New York defense is not to be trifled with. As such, throws into heavy coverage where he trusts his arm and receiver need to be eliminated from the game plan. He needs to tone it down and just play a semi-conservative style to guide the offense consistently.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Tampa Bay -2.5
Moneyline: Tampa Bay -125, New York +135
Over/Under: 45.5
Odds via Sportsbook Review
Next: NFL 2017: Picks against the spread for Week 4
Prediction
If you’re the Giants, the hope would be that the fourth quarter against Philly ignited something in the offense. While things may improve, I don’t think they’re necessarily going to be good. What’s more, I think Tampa bounces back at home with a big offensive showing. Combine the two, and you have New York stunningly dropping to 0-4 to start the 2017 season.
Final Score: New York Giants: 17, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 27