Bucs at Giants, let’s talk about it.
Football is a game of inches, but it’s also a game of quarters. Let’s dive into a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of some Tampa Bay Bucs’ football. This week, Tampa Bay traveled up north to New Jersey to take on the New York Giants.
First Quarter:
On Sunday, the Bucs’ offense was up first. Their introductory drive was a masterclass of team football, featuring all three of their running backs and spreading the ball across an additional three different receivers. Tampa’s drive lasted 14 plays and just over eight minutes, ending in a Sean Tucker score with Vita Vea leading the way. 7-0, Bucs.
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Following in the footsteps of their offense, Tampa Bay’s defense started strong. Tommy DeVito and the Giants were forced to punt after a third down Calijah Kancey sack.
Two drives later, DeVito and the Giants got the ball back for New York’s second drive of the day. In an effort to change some of the early momentum, Brian Daboll decided to leave his offense on the field for a fourth down conversion attempt— Lavonte David quickly thwarted that idea and handed the ball back to his offense with their best field position of the game.
Second Quarter:
Liam Coen went back to the well, bringing Vita Vea into the backfield for a second go around as the team’s goal line fullback. As is normally the case, the sequel failed to live up to the original. Sean Tucker fumbled and almost cost the Bucs points if not for the phenomenal awareness demonstrated by his quarterback, recovering a ball that nobody noticed was rolling on the ground— saving three points. 10-0, Bucs.
On Baker Mayfield’s next possession he found his tight ends for chunk plays. Payne Durham snagged a 26-yard catch and Cade Otton snared 30 more. The Bucs finished the drive with another rushing score, Bucky Irving’s fifth touchdown of the season.
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
Facing the imbalance of having run just 11 plays against Tampa Bay’s 11 first downs gained, Brian Daboll’s offensive manifested its first bit of life. Tommy DeVito’s best drive of the game got New York across midfield but, ultimately still fell short of points and concluded with a punt.
More Bucs’ offense, more Bucky Irving. Irving, who has been a sparkplug for Tampa’s offense all season, wrapped up the first half with 12 touches, 87 yards, and a touchdown. The Bucs’ final drive of the half concluded with their third rushing touchdown, this one by Baker Mayfield, who had something to say to ‘Tommy Cutlets.’
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Third Quarter:
New York began the second half on offense and Brian Daboll turned to his rookies— Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy. The tandem moved their offense down the field but hit a wall in the redzone when Lavonte David flew in and hit Tracy with his signature punch-out— forced fumble, Bucs’ ball.
Lavonte David’s forced fumble would give Tampa an opportunity at a 95-yard drive. With the third quarter winding past the four-minute mark, Rachaad White capped off their 95-yard opportunity with a touchdown— The team’s fourth rushing touchdown of the game. 30-0, Bucs.
Fourth Quarter:
As the game’s final quarter got under way, the Giants got themselves some yardage and made their first alteration to the scoreboard. 30-7, Bucs.
Following Devin Singletary’s score, Tampa Bay took over inside their own 10-yard line for the second consecutive drive. The first finished in the endzone. Despite drive number two starting explosively, it ended in a fumbled exchange between Baker Mayfield and Rachaad White which sent the former into the blue medical tent. Unable to capitalize, New York gave the ball right back to the Bucs and Mayfield returned to action, allowing Tampa Bay fans to breathe and watch peacefully as their team held its 30-7 lead, advanced to 5-6, and came out of their bye week with a win.
Noteworthy performers:
Baker Mayfield – 24/30 294 yards, 29 yards rushing TD
Bucky Irving – 151 total yards, TD
Bucs’ defense – 4 sacks, 1 TO
For more Bucs coverage check us out here:
@Bucs_Nation(X)
@Will_Walsh_NFL(YouTube)