Here are five things you need to know from Giants practice on Wednesday:
1. NOISE BLOCKERS ON
Coaches often talk about having poise in the noise when going into a road environment, but the fans at Raymond James Stadium aren't making the only noise this week. With everything swirling around the 0-3 Giants and the NFL as a whole, coach Ben McAdoo is putting a metaphorical pair of noise-canceling headphones on his team, which looks for its first win in Week 4 at Tampa Bay.
"We have our noise blockers on," McAdoo said after Wednesday's practice. "The guys have been focused and did a good job yesterday in the team meeting – in offense and defense and special teams meetings, focusing in. We had a good productive day today. Good to get out there in the heat and humidity today. That will help us on Sunday."
2. INJURY REPORT
GIANTS:
Did not practice: LB Jonathan Casillas (ankle/wrist), RB Orleans Darkwa (back), OT Bobby Hart (ankle), LB J.T. Thomas (groin), DE Olivier Vernon (ankle), RB Shane Vereen (calf)
Limited: LB B.J. Goodson (shin)
Full: CB Janoris Jenkins (ankle)
BUCCANEERS:
Did not practice: LB Kwon Alexander (hamstring), LB Lavonte David (ankle), S T. J. Ward (hip)
Limited: DE Robert Ayers (knee), DT Gerald McCoy (ankle), G J.R. Sweezy (back)
Full: DT Chris Baker (illness), CB Brent Grimes (shoulder), DE Jacquies Smith (illness), DE Noah Spence (shoulder)
A look at the expected starters for the Buccaneers on Sunday
3. GAME PLAN FOR WINSTON
You don't become the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy and the youngest in NFL history to throw 40 touchdowns without being aggressive. The Giants want to take advantage of that fact this week with Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. Since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2015, Winston has thrown 36 interceptions, which are tied with Blake Bortles for the second-most over that span. Three of those came last week in a 34-17 loss to Minnesota.
"Of course, of course. He likes to squeeze balls in tight spaces," safety Landon Collins said. "If he does that, we've got the ability to make plays on those types of balls."
Meanwhile, the Giants are still looking for their first interception of the season. They aren't panicking about the drought, though, because the defense didn't grab one until Week 5 a year ago. Then the floodgates opened.
"Most teams have been throwing it in the flat or throwing it outside to our corners on one-on-ones," Collins said. "It's either going out of bounds or making incompletions and things like that. If they try us in the middle, we'll see what happens."
4. JACKRABBIT HELPING APPLE
Last week, the Giants had 10 penalties that amounted to 137 yards, including separate pass interference calls on cornerback Eli Apple for 41 and 36 yards. Both penalties moved the Eagles deep into Giants territory to set up touchdowns. Pro Bowl cornerback Janoris Jenkins is helping the second-year pro figure it out.
"I just keep talking to him," Jenkins said. "Let him know what I see, help him out a little bit, as far as technique and lining up and what to expect from different formations. He's going to get better."
"Just having better awareness of the situation and seeing the way the calls were going, you don't want to give [the refs] anything that they can easily call," said Apple, whose locker is next to Jenkins. "So just getting your head around, not making too much contact with the receiver, because if you make too much, obviously that's a flag."
5. GIANTS WANT TO MAKE 0-3 HISTORY
You can count on one hand the number of teams that have made the postseason after starting 0-3. The Giants are very aware of those odds heading into Week 4.
"Desperate? I don't know if the word is desperate," offensive lineman Justin Pugh said. "It's a big game for us. Obviously, 0-3 is not where we want to be. I'll say I've had experience being in this position before. I started at 0-6 my rookie year. Just keep doing what you're doing. Keep coming to work, keep working hard. Obviously, you got to do a little bit more. You don't want to press, you don't want to push too hard or do too much. You still have to do your job, but come in here and give a little extra to these guys. We got to go out and get a win on Sunday."
"We're 0-3. Coming back from 0-3 is big," Collins said. "That's what we're looking forward to doing and showing that we're still that team to be reckoned with."