Giants-Buccaneers: 5 plays that led to New York’s loss

There were only 5?

Halloween was last month, but the New York Giants resembled a collective lifeless corpse in this 30-7 home loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers carved through the Giants’ defense; their run containment remained an issue, and Baker Mayfield exploited the off-leverage early. The Giants’ offense provided punter Jamie Gillan a leg workout, as Tommy DeVito and the offense hardly cracked 200-yards of total offense (before their final drive).

The Giants were lethargic, listless, and ineffective for the SIXTH time this season in front of their home audience. I don’t know how this can continue with no change. Here are five plays, or sequence of plays that led to this debacle.

Play(s) 1: AWOL

I don’t need five plays. The Giants were devoid of competition. It was complete and utter domination by Todd Bowels, Baker Mayfield, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New York entered this week by benching their starting quarterback, who severely struggled. That quarterback than went to ownership and asked for his release, which was granted. 2024 can be summed up with one word: chaotic.

New York came out of the bye week with DeVito as their signal caller; however, the Giants, on both sides of the football, were missing against Tampa Bay: Absent Without Leave. The effort of this team is in question. It’s a turbulent environment. I don’t know how the team avoids significant changes at this rate.

Play 2: Tracy Jr. fumble

There was a slight sign of life from the Giants’ offense to start the second half. The offense remembered the existence of Malik Nabers. DeVito connected on three passes for 42 yards to Nabers to start the half. The camera panned to fans celebrating and, dare I say, unwonted joy started to imbue Big Blue faithful in the face of adversity. But then there was the return to the mean:

Tyrone Tracy Jr. had the football punched away at the Buccaneers’ five yard line. This was the second devastating fumble by Tracy Jr. in as many games, depending on how you quantify devastating. Tracy Jr. is one of the few bright spots on the Giants, but he has to do a better job with ball security.

Play(s): Capitalizing on mistakes

The Buccaneers had a 23 point lead after the Tracy Jr. fumble. Mayfield took the football from the five yard line and, in 12 plays, the Buccaneers went 95 yards for a touchdown that was scored by Richaad White — the fourth Buccaneers’ player to score a rushing touchdown.

New York could not stop the run. Tampa Bay rushed for 156 yards (4.9 yards per carry) with four touchdowns. Several missed tackles and over pursuits led to Irving and White finding more yards on the deck.

Play 4: Loose football

Bobby Okereke did a good job meeting Sean Tucker (44) in the hole. Okereke was able to force a fumble at the goal line, but Baker Mayfield recovered it from 15 yards away:

Rarely were the Giants in an advantageous situation. When they did find themselves there, they failed to seize the moment. Kudos to Armon Watts (96) who noticed and almost got to the football, but Mayfield fell on the ball and Chase McLaughlin added three points to the Buccaneers’ early lead.

Play 5: Baker Mayfield

The Giants’ defense allowed a last minute touchdown again to conclude a half. Baker Mayfield went 86 yards on nine plays and ended the drive with this touchdown run:

Mayfield followed the touchdown with a DeVito money sign, while taunting Giants’ faithful. The Giants could not stop the Buccaneers from altering their runs or Baker Mayfield from extending plays. The defense is not playing cohesively; the gap-discipline and backside pursuit are easily exploited. The Giants are a defeated team and the frustration is palpable. The team is, as the kids would say, down bad.