Giant vs. Buccaneers Week 11 preview: Everything you need to know about Monday night's game
Jason Pierre-Paul of the Buccaneers celebrates a sack against Aaron Rodgers of the Packers during the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium on Oct. 18, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: Getty Images/Mike Ehrmann
GIANTS (3-6) at BUCS (6-3), 8:15 p.m., Raymond James Stadium
VITALS
Line: Bucs by 11; O/U 49.5
TV: ESPN (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick)
Radio: WFAN-660 AM (Bob Papa, Carl Banks, Howard Cross); Westwood One (Kevin Harlan, Tony Boselli); Sirius 81; XM 226.
KEY INJURIES
Giants: Out: LB Lorenzo Carter (Illness/ankle), DB Nate Ebner (knee), DB Logan Ryan (reserve/COVID-19), WR Sterling Shepard (quad); Questionable: RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), RB Devontae Booker (hip), FB Cullen Gillaspia (calf), TE Kaden Smith (knee).
Bucs: Out: WR Antonio Brown (ankle); Doubtful: NT Vita Vea (knee); Questionable: TE Rob Gronkowski (back), CB Dee Delaney (ankle/concussion), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (ankle).
QUOTABLE
"Yep." – WR Kenny Golladay, asked if he thinks the Giants are capable of making a playoff push.
INTANGIBLES
The world may be in awe of Tom Brady’s longevity, but the Giants are not surprised by another Buccaneer who just keeps going. Jason Pierre-Paul’s career began as their first round pick in 2010. "The skillset, it’s elite," said Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham who was the team's defensive line coach when Pierre-Paul played there. "There are not too many human beings walking around on this planet that can do what he does and do it when he’s got injuries . . . He’s a different human being. He’s just different." The Giants traded Pierre-Paul to the Bucs in 2018. He’s had a number of serious injuries impact not just his career but his life, including a car wreck that left him with a neck fracture and the infamous fireworks accident that blew off half of his right hand. Bucs coach Bruce Arians called Peirre-Paul "the ultimate warrior." This season he is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to play Monday. "I’m not surprised because he’s a good player," Graham said of Pierre-Paul’s productivity at age 32. "I’m happy for him. I just hope on Monday that it doesn’t go too well."
FANTASY PLAY
Rob Gronkowski, Bucs TE: Gronkowski has missed five games with cracked ribs, a punctured lung and multiple back spasms, but he practiced in full on Thursday and Friday. Pre-injury, he had 16 catches for 184 yards and four TDs in three games, so assuming he’s back to form, he should continue to be a reliable target for Tom Brady against a defense that has been middle-of-the-road against tight ends. -- NICK KLOPSIS
NUMBER, PLEASE
109.8: Passer rating for Giants QBs when targeting Kadarius Toney, the highest mark among all rookie WRs this year. Toney is one of five rookies who came into this week leading their team in receiving yards (he has 352) despite playing just 44 percent of the Giants’ offensive snaps.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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