Remember when the New York Giants started the season 2-3? When it seemed like the 2024 season might actually hold some promise. Those days now feel like a lifetime ago.
The Giants, fresh off their bye week and now sitting at 2-8, hold the second-worst record in the NFL. At this point, they’ve shifted their focus to draft positioning. When head coach Brian Daboll announced Daniel Jones would be benched in favor of Tommy DeVito as the team’s starting quarterback, it wasn’t about sparking a comeback. This isn’t 2023 when the Giants could dream of playoff contention.
Benching Jones signaled the end of a six-year tenure marked by costly contracts, too many losses, and endless frustration. By sitting Jones, the Giants ensure his $23 million injury guarantee won’t be triggered, paving the way for his release in the offseason.
While fans are ready to fast-forward to the end of the season, the Giants still have seven games left to slog through. The first of those games is this Sunday at MetLife Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unlike last season, when DeVito brought a brief spark, there’s little reason to expect a repeat against Tampa Bay.
Four reasons why the NY Giants will fall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12
The Buccaneers are still playing for the postseason
Unlike the Giants, who are once again headed toward the top of the NFL Draft order, the Buccaneers are clearly playing for something in 2024. They’re competing for another shot at the postseason.
Currently sitting at 4-6 and in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the Buccaneers remain in second place in the NFC South behind the Atlanta Falcons. They’re also firmly in the NFC playoff race, and a win would significantly improve their chances of staying in contention.
The Buccaneers were the NFC South champions last season and even won a playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, they’re eager to snap their losing streak with a win over the last-place Giants, which would bring them closer to .500 and help steady their season.
While the Giants are in the middle of their own five-game losing streak, the Buccaneers still have plenty to play for. That motivation gives them every reason to leave Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium with a win.
The return of Mike Evans
Because the Buccaneers have everything to play for heading into the final stretch of the 2024 season, they’re getting one of their best players back for this game: veteran wide receiver Mike Evans.
Tampa Bay’s return of their future Hall of Fame wide receiver for the matchup against the Giants bodes well for Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers' offense. Evans has some ground to make up to secure yet another 1,000-yard season, a feat he’s achieved every year since his debut in 2014.
Missing the last three games due to a hamstring injury has put a damper on Evans’ quest for another milestone season, as he currently sits at 335 yards with seven games left to play.In Evans’ career against the Giants, he has recorded 38 catches for 655 yards and seven touchdowns. Back in 2019, he torched the Giants with an eight-catch, 190-yard, three-touchdown performance. Given Evans’ talent and his history of dominance against the Giants, would it be surprising to see him put up those kinds of numbers again? Not at all.
The Giants offense can’t score points at home
It’s already bad enough that the Giants’ offense ranks last in scoring at 15.6 points per game and also sits dead last in total points with just 156.
The Giants haven’t just struggled to score in 2024, they’ve struggled even more at home. Of their 156 total points, only 53 have been scored at MetLife Stadium. In fact, 22 of those points came during their last home game against the Washington Commanders.
Additionally, the Giants have failed to find the end zone often while playing at home. Across five games, they’ve scored just four touchdowns, three of which came in that same game against the Commanders.That’s how bad the Giants’ offense has been, particularly at home. It’s one of many reasons why it became clear Brian Daboll decided to bench Daniel Jones for the final seven games. With numbers like these, many are left wondering what took the Giants so long to make that decision.
The Giants don't win games at home either
It’s bad enough that the Giants have struggled to score points at MetLife Stadium. On top of that, the Giants have also had trouble winning games there in 2024. They haven’t won a single one.
Of the Giants’ 2-8 record this season, they are 0-5 at home. Out of those five home losses, three have been by 10 points or more. Most teams in the league perform better when playing on their home field, but that hasn’t been the case for the Giants.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are 2-2 on the road this season. Their two losses came in competitive games against the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs. One of their two wins, however, handed the Detroit Lions their only loss of the season.There’s a chance things could change with DeVito under center, as two of his three wins last season came at home. That said, last year is in the past. Teams across the league now have tape on DeVito, and he won’t be catching anyone off guard.
