Giants Clobber Buccaneers 24-0: The New York Giants improved their record to 3-0 earlier today by defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-0 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The game was not as close as the final score. The Giants out-gained the Buccaneers in first downs (27 to 5), total net yards (397 to 86), net yards rushing (226 to 28), net yards passing (171 to 58), and time of possession (43:38 to 16:22).
“They beat us down,” said Tampa Bay Head Coach Raheem Morris. “We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us…It wasn’t even close.”
The only bad news for the Giants is that RT Kareem McKenzie left the game with a knee injury. LG Rich Seubert also appeared to aggravate a shoulder injury. No word yet on the severity of either injury.
In six first-half possessions, the Giants scored two touchdowns, missed a short field goal, and punted three times. The Giants’ touchdown drives came on their first and third possessions of the game. After receiving the opening kickoff, New York drove 80 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 advantage when HB Brandon Jacobs scored from six yards out.
The Giants also drove 66 yards on seven plays on their third drive to go up 14-0 when QB Eli Manning hit WR Steve Smith for a 4-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-goal.
The Giants went three-and-out on three other possessions, but also did drive 60 yards in 13 plays right before halftime. However, PK Lawrence Tynes missed the easy 21-yard field goal.
Defensively in the first half, the Giants completely shut down the Buccaneers as Tampa did not pick up one first down. The Buccaneers went three-and-out four times, and another drive ended on the first play with an interception by CB Terrell Thomas.
The Buccaneers received the ball to start the second half, but quickly went three-and-out again. The Giants then put together a 12-play, 64-yard drive that ended in with a 26-yard field goal by Tynes. Giants 17 – Buccaneers 0.
On their second drive in the 3rd quarter, the Buccaneers finally picked up their first first-down of the game. But that was it and Tampa punted. The Giants then put the game to rest by driving 77 yards in 12 plays. Manning found WR Sinorice Moss for an 18-yard score to give the Giants a commanding 24-0 lead in the 4th quarter.
The Buccaneers went three-and-out yet again and the Giants started bringing in their reserves, including back-up quarterback David Carr. The Giants went three-and-out. Tampa managed their best drive of the game on their final possession, moving 51 yards in 11 plays, and gaining four of the five first downs they would make on the day. But the drive ended when Tampa could not convert on 4th-and-goal from the Giants’ 5-yard line. The Giants then maintained possession of the football for the final 5 minutes and 53 seconds of the game.
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were WR HB Danny Ware (elbow), WR Domenik Hixon (knee), WR Hakeem Nicks (foot), OC Adam Koets (ankle), DT Chris Canty (calf), LB Clint Sintim (groin), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), and CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring).
Offensively, Manning finished the game 14-of-24 for 161 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. The leading receivers were Steve Smith (7 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown), Mario Manningham (4 catches for 55 yards), and Kevin Boss (2 catches for 27 yards). Ahmad Bradshaw was the leading rusher, gaining 104 yards on 14 carries, while Brandon Jacobs gained 92 yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown.
Defensively, while the Giants did not accrue a sack, Buccaneer quarterbacks were hit 10 times on 26 pass plays. The defense created one turnover and held Tampa to a measly 86 yards of offense.
