1. WINNING WAYS VS. TAMPA BAY
With a slim lead in the NFC East, the New York Giants (4-4) start the second half of their schedule with a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4). Under coach Tom Coughlin, Big Blue is undefeated in four meetings with Tampa Bay, including a 2007 NFC Wild Card Game.
The Giants have outscored the Buccaneers, 106-51, over the course of the winning streak.
2. D LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK
The Giants' defense went back to the drawing board this week after playing in the third-highest scoring game in NFL history last Sunday.
Losing 52-49 to the Saints, the Giants allowed 608 yards and 35 first downs while Drew Brees became the eighth player ever to record seven passing touchdowns in a single game. The result was the Giants falling to last in in the NFL in yards allowed per game (427.5) and 24th in points (26.0).
3. GIANTS INJURY REPORT
Out: CB Prince Amukamara (pectoral), LB Jon Beason (ankle/knee), WR Victor Cruz (calf), TE Larry Donnell (neck), and LB J.T. Thomas III (ankle)
Questionable: WR Rueben Randle (hamstring), CB Leon McFadden (groin), LB Uani 'Unga (neck)
Probable: OL Geoff Schwartz (ankle), RB Orleans Darkwa (back), S Craig Dahl (neck)
4. BUCS INJURY REPORT
Out: WR Vincent Jackson (knee), DE Jacquies Smith (ankle), S Major Wright (hamstring)
Questionable: DE William Gholston (knee), DT Tony McDaniel (groin), TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder), S D.J. Swearinger (toe)
Probable: G Logan Mankins (not injury related), DT Gerald McCoy (shoulder)
5. DECISION ON JPP
In his second week back, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul ramped up his workload in practice and drew positive reviews from his coaches and teammates. The two-time Pro Bowler cleared his last hurdle during a team workout on Saturday and is eligible to play for the first time since suffering serious hand injuries in a July 4 fireworks accident.
"He's done everything we've asked him to do, and we're very positive about it," Coughlin said.
Playmakers on the Buccaneers first-team offense, defense, and special teams, presented by Nike
QB JAMEIS WINSTON
RB DOUG MARTIN
FB JORVORSKIE LANE
TE AUSTIN SEFERIAN-JENKINS
WR VINCENT JACKSON
WR MIKE EVANS
RT GOSDER CHERILUS
RG ALI MARPET
CENTER JOE HAWLEY
LG LOGAN MANKINS
LT DONOVAN SMITH
DE WILLIAM GHOLSTON
DT GERALD MCCOY
DT TONY MCDANIEL
DE JACQUIES SMITH
LB DANNY LANSANAH
LB KWON ALEXANDER
LB LAVONTE DAVID
CB MIKE JENKINS
CB JOHNATHAN BANKS
SS CHRIS CONTE
FS BRADLEY MCDOUGALD
PUNTER JACOB SCHUM
KICKER CONNOR BARTH
6. EASY ELI VS. FAMOUS JAMEIS
Two former No. 1 overall draft picks will go head-to-head on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Eli Manning, the top selection in 2004 out of Ole Miss, goes up against Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick this past April. In seven starts, the Florida State product and former Heisman Trophy winner has completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,648 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also has 24 carries for 91 yards and two more scores. Winston has not turned the ball over since a four-interception performance in Week 4, throwing four touchdowns with a 65.3 completion percentage in that span as his team won two of its last three games. Meanwhile, Manning is on pace for 4,252 yards, 34 touchdowns, and eight interceptions this season. He also threw for a career-high 510 yards in his last meeting with Tampa Bay in 2012.
7. OBJ VS. EVANS
If Odell Beckham Jr. didn't come along, Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans may have been named the 2014 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
**>> FACT OR FICTION: WEEK 9 PREDICTIONS**
The seventh overall pick out of Texas A&M, Evans caught 68 passes for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns as a rookie. Despite missing Week 1 of his sophomore season, he is leading the team again with 24 receptions for 386 yards and a touchdown in six games. Meanwhile, Beckham, an LSU product drafted five spots after Evans, is coming off his biggest game of the year with eight catches for 130 yards and three touchdowns against New Orleans. Beckham has 50 receptions for 654 yards and seven touchdowns at the midway point in the season.
Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday
QB ELI MANNING After flirting with history and throwing a career-high six touchdowns last week, Manning will face Tampa Bay for the first time since he threw for a personal-best 510 yards in a 34-7 victory in 2012. Overall, Manning is undefeated in four meetings with the Buccaneers, including a 2007 NFC Wild Card Game en route to winning Super Bowl XLII. "We just have to know each Sunday is different," Manning said. "It's a different day, it's a different game, it's a different team, and so we have to make sure that we're sharp in our preparation this week, that our practices are really good, we're playing fast, have a good game plan, good understanding of the defense and their scheme and their technique, and go out there and make the plays on Sunday."
CB DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIELike the veteran cornerback said, the only way to bounce back from the 600 yards, seven passing touchdowns and 35 first downs the defense allowed last week is with a win this Sunday. The Giants (4-4) take on No. 1 overall draft pick Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers (3-4) in Week 9 at Raymond James Stadium. "I think you've got to go out and get this one," said Rodgers-Cromartie, whose defense is tied for first in the NFL with 13 interceptions. "The things that come along with a win, as far as our division, and trying to get back to where we want to be. So I think that's definitely the biggest thing."
WR DWAYNE HARRIS In his first year with the Giants, Harris became only the fourth player in franchise history to account for a kickoff return touchdown and at least two receiving touchdowns in a single season. Harris caught two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the Saints after being carted off earlier in the game with knee and ankle injuries. "He's a tough hombre," coach Tom Coughlin said in his exclusive, weekly interview with Giants.com. "He goes right back out on the field. His other roles are diminishing because of what he's had to do as the third receiver. He's a gunner; he's a very good one. If he's in there on the last play, who knows?"
![DT JOHNATHAN HANKINS
Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick out of Florida State and former Heisman Trophy winner, presents enough challenges for the Giants, but running back Doug Martin cannot be overlooked. He's fifth in the NFL in averaging 87.4 yards per game and is tied for second with seven runs of 20 yards or more. The Giants hung their hat on run defense earlier in the season but have slipped to 19th in the league. Run-stuffers like Hankins will be key on Sunday.
"I think you've got to stop the run first, can't focus on [Winston] without focusing on No. 22 [Martin] first," defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's really good. Like I said before, he's a legit running back in this league. If we can do that and hopefully get a little pass rush, I think we're all talking."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/qhngj3naw3m2rgu2sl9u.jpg)
DT JOHNATHAN HANKINS Jameis Winston, the No. 1 pick out of Florida State and former Heisman Trophy winner, presents enough challenges for the Giants, but running back Doug Martin cannot be overlooked. He's fifth in the NFL in averaging 87.4 yards per game and is tied for second with seven runs of 20 yards or more. The Giants hung their hat on run defense earlier in the season but have slipped to 19th in the league. Run-stuffers like Hankins will be key on Sunday. "I think you've got to stop the run first, can't focus on [Winston] without focusing on No. 22 [Martin] first," defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's really good. Like I said before, he's a legit running back in this league. If we can do that and hopefully get a little pass rush, I think we're all talking."
TE WILL TYE With Larry Donnell sidelined because of a neck injury, Stony Brook's Will Tye is the next man up. The undrafted rookie has eight receptions for 77 yards this season, including an 18-yarder and a 17-yarder. Jerome Cunningham was also signed to the roster off the practice squad this week to shore up the tight end position. "The game is not too big for him," offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said of Tye. "He seems to play with a calm mind, has some—plays at a good play speed, soft hands, and when there's a lot of moving and shaking going on out there, it doesn't seem to disrupt him much."
8. DON'T FORGET DOUG
Tampa Bay enters Week 9 with the No. 4 rushing offense thanks to running back Doug Martin, who has 612 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns this season.
**>> EXPERTS MAKE PICKS FOR GIANTS-BUCCANEERS**
The 2012 first-round draft pick is also tied for second in the league with seven carries of 20 yards or more. In his 2012 game against the Giants, Martin carried the ball 20 times for 66 yards and a touchdown.
9. FINDING A PASS RUSH
The Giants are last in the league with just nine sacks through eight games, but they have half of a season left to make up those numbers like they did down the stretch last year. They will be going up against a Tampa Bay offensive line that has two rookie second-rounders in left tackle Donovan Smith and right guard Ali Marpet.
10. SEE BALL, GET BALL
A difference-maker for the Giants this season has been their plus-11 turnover differential, which is the best mark in the NFL. While the Giants have given the ball away only seven times this year, they have 18 takeaways, including 13 interceptions (tied with Arizona for first in the NFL). Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is tied for 13th with a plus-two turnover differential.
