PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: K Cairo Santos is the seventh kicker the Bucs have hired since 2014. Six of them are out of the NFL, including Chandler Catanzaro, who was released after missing two field goals against the Redskins Sunday. Santos kicked for parts of four years with the Chiefs until an injury knocked him out. He bounced around with brief stops with the Bears and Rams before earning a job in Tampa Bay two weeks after a solid workout for the Bucs.
GAME PLAN: This one is easy. The Bucs have to stop the run. They have to stop Saquon Barkley. That will be a tough order. Tampa Bay already is without Pro Bowl linebacker Kwon Alexander, who is on injured reserve. Now linebacker Lavonte David has a sprained MCL and may not play Sunday. The Bucs are hopeful Kendell Beckwith will return, but it could be another week.
The Bucs also have struggled in the secondary, where Odell Beckham Jr. could have a big day for the Giants. Safety Justin Evans is injured, so the pass defense is hurting.
Offensively, whether head coach Dirk Koetter calls the plays or not, the Bucs have to continue to try to establish a running game. That can only help their defense with time of possession. But the biggest thing is avoiding turnovers. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has five turnovers in the past two games, including four interceptions. If the Bucs don’t give the ball away, they stand a good chance of beating the Giants.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Giants WR Odell Beckham vs. Bucs CB Carlton Davis. Beckham had two touchdowns Monday night at San Francisco. Davis is a rookie but is a fierce competitor and his size could help him against Beckham.
–Bucs DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Giants LT Nate Solder. Pierre-Paul is motivated and wanting to seek revenge from the team that traded him to Tampa Bay. Solder is a solid pro but may need help Sunday.
