After a tough stretch of games and a bye week to recover, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will travel on Sunday to try to break their four-game losing streak against the New York Giants, who are either rebuilding or struggling badly.
A month ago, Tampa Bay (4-6) was two games above .500 and fighting for the NFC South lead, but they have since lost to Baltimore (41-31), Atlanta (31-26), Kansas City (30-24 in overtime), and San Francisco (23-20).
The Giants (2-8) have lost five straight games and are also coming off a bye week.
Quarterback Tommy DeVito will start for the first time this season and make his seventh career start after the Giants benched Daniel Jones following an overtime loss to the struggling Panthers.
DeVito, who earned the nickname “Tommy Cutlets,” has a career passer rating of 89.2, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. The undrafted rookie from 2023 is 3-3 as a starter.
“Those are never easy conversations,” said Giants coach Brian Daboll. “[I’ve] got a lot of respect for all three of those guys. After evaluating a bunch of things and looking at a lot of tape and being around Tommy last year where he created a little bit of a spark for us, that’s the reason why we’re going with Tommy.”
DeVito had been the third-string quarterback, but Daboll chose him over backup Drew Lock.
Tampa Bay’s strong offense will put extra pressure on DeVito and the Giants’ running back Tyrone Tracy, who has 545 yards and three touchdowns, as he is their main offensive option.
Rookie Malik Nabers (607 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns) and Darius Slayton (469, 1 touchdown) could be good targets for DeVito against a Buccaneers pass defense that has allowed 20 passing touchdowns this season, ranking fifth-worst in the NFL.
On the other hand, the Giants have been strong in red-zone defense and are ranked second in sacks (36).
Tampa Bay (4-6) is the only NFL team to pass for more than 300 yards and rush for 100 or more yards in four different games. The Bucs’ running backs, including Bucky Irving (492 yards, four touchdowns), Rachaad White (306 yards, 1 touchdown), and Sean Tucker (186 yards, 1 touchdown), have rushed for over 100 yards seven times.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has been key to the offense. He ranks fourth among Tampa Bay rushers with 192 yards and two touchdowns. Mayfield is also third in the NFL in touchdown passes (24), total touchdowns (26), and fifth in passer rating (103.6).
Mayfield may get back an important player on Sunday. Wide receiver Mike Evans, who hurt his hamstring in Week 7, returned to practice on Wednesday. Evans had 335 yards and six touchdowns before the injury.
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton was a full participant in practice on Wednesday as he recovers from a concussion. Slayton left the Giants’ Week 9 loss to the Commanders and wasn’t cleared to travel for the Giants’ Week 10 loss to the Panthers in Germany.
For the Buccaneers, cornerback Zyon McCollum, who left the 49ers game with a hamstring injury, did not practice on Wednesday. All-Pro left tackle Tristin Wirfs, who sprained an MCL in the 49ers loss, worked on the sideline with trainers.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles said it is “going to be close” for both McCollum and Wirfs to play on Sunday.
For the Giants, outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) was limited in Wednesday’s practice.
