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Week 18 Game Recap: New York Giants 24, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
What you need to know
| New York Giants |
Eli Manning didn't let a shaky start rattle him, as the Giants bounced back from a 0-7 first quarter deficit to rattle off 17 unanswered points to help them advance to Dallas next week. Manning completed 20 of 27 passes for 185 yards and connected with RB Brandon Jacobs from five yards out for his first passing score and later hooked up with WR Amani Toomer from four yards out for his second score of the game.
Brandon Jacobs followed up his five yard scoring reception from Manning with an eight yard second quarter run for his second score of the game. While Jacobs had a quiet day yardage wise, he made his mark on those two scoring plays. He was forced from the game late with cramping and Ahmad Bradshaw filled in with 66 yards on 17 carries to help close out the game for the Giants.
Amani Toomer led the way receiving for New York, with seven receptions for 74 yards and a four yard touchdown reception. Plaxico Burress had a quiet game with four receptions for 38 yards.
The Giants were able to hold the Buccaneers running game in check and shut down their biggest offensive weapon in WR Joey Galloway, and those two factors are the biggest reasons New York is moving on in the playoffs. Galloway was held to just one catch for nine yards and was shut out after the first quarter. New York's defense sucked it up after Tampa Bay dominated the first quarter and got on the scoreboard first and the defense did not allow anything else until late in the fourth quarter. They came up with two big interceptions, including one in the end zone, which ended up being game changing plays.
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
QB Jeff Garcia and the Buccaneers dominated the first quarter, and had a 7-0 lead heading into the second period. However, New York's defense began forcing the issue in the second quarter, and Tampa Bay was unable to match the play of New York's offense as they ran off 17 unanswered points. Garcia threw two costly interceptions, but connected with TE Alex Smith on a six yard scoring reception late in the fourth quarter to close the gap. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, that was as close as they would get.
Earnest Graham shouldered the load on the ground for Tampa Bay and finished with 18 carries for 63 yards, including a first quarter scoring plunge from one yard out. Graham ran hard, as he always does, but couldn't find much running room as he had a long run of just 11 yards for the game.
TE Alex Smith scored on a fourth quarter reception that cut the lead to 24-14, but the Buccaneers couldn't get any closer than that. WR Joey Galloway was a non-factor, with just one catch for nine yards and Galloway failed to record a reception after the first quarter.
The Tampa Bay defense did not play all that badly against the Giants, but failed to come up with the turnovers they have been accustomed to forcing all year long. As a result, Eli Manning was able to get comfortable in the pocket and picked them apart on 20 of 27 passing and two scores. The Manning to Toomer score late in the fourth quarter was a dagger for Tampa Bay, as it put the game out of reach and ended their season.
What you ought to know
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 20 - 27 - 185 - 2 TD / 0 INT |
Eli Manning delivered in a big way for New York, as he made great decisions with the ball and did not try to force things that weren't there. He had an efficient day passing as he completed 20 of 27 passes for 185 yards. More importantly, he threw touchdown passes to RB Brandon Jacobs and Amani Toomer and did not turn the ball over. The score to Jacobs came from five yards out, and the touchdown pass to Toomer was a four yard score that put the game out of reach for the Buccaneers.
| RB Ahmad Bradshaw, Rush: 17 - 66 - 0, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (2 targets) |
Bradshaw delivered for the Giants, rushing the ball 17 times for 66 yards on the ground that included a 15 carry, 59 yard second half. Bradshaw got the bulk of the work in the second half with starting RB Brandon Jacobs on the sidelines due to cramping. He was also used in the passing game, catching one pass for nine yards.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 13 - 34 - 1, Rec: 2 - 16 - 1 (2 targets) |
Brandon Jacobs scored two second quarter touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, and totaled 13 carries for 34 yards on the ground and two receptions for 16 yards receiving. Jacobs was forced to miss most of the second half with cramping, but he should be good to go for next week.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 7 - 74 - 1 (7 targets) |
Amani Toomer played well for the Giants. The veteran was targeted a team high seven times and responded by catching all seven passes thrown his way for 74 yards. Toomer hauled in a four yard touchdown reception halfway through the fourth quarter that basically sealed the victory for New York.
| WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 4 - 38 - 0 (6 targets) |
Burress was targeted six times and finished with four receptions for 38 yards. While he wasn't able to get much going downfield, Burress was able to pull in two first down receptions for the Giants.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 3 - 29 - 0 (5 targets) |
Smith received five targets and finished with three receptions for 29 yards.
| TE Kevin Boss, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (4 targets) |
Boss was targeted four times and came down with two receptions for 14 yards. One of his receptions resulted in a New York first down.
| PK Lawrence Tynes 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points |
Tynes connected on a 25 yard field goal and added three extra points as he finished with six points for the game.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The Giants played inspired defense, and it showed on both sides of the ball. In the running game, they allowed just 69 yards on 22 attempts, for just a 3.1 ypc average. While they did allow a first quarter rushing touchdown, they tightened up and gave Tampa Bay no running lanes, as their long run for the game was just 11 yards.
LB Antonio Pierce led the linebacker crew with six solo tackles and veteran DL Michael Strahan added eight solo tackles, one assist, a sack and a forced fumble to lead the defense.
| NYG Pass Defense |
New York's defensive backfield was a force against Tampa Bay, even without starting CB Sam Madison. They allowed just 202 net passing yards, and while they did give up a late touchdown, they completely shut down WR Joey Galloway and did not give Tampa Bay any big plays in the passing game.
DB Corey Webster filled in for the injured Madison and came through with an interception and fumble recovery and R.W. McQuarters picked off a Garcia pass late in the game for New York's second takeaway.
| QB Jeff Garcia, Pass: 23 - 39 - 207 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
Jeff Garcia had a rough outing against the Giants, as he threw for just 207 yards and one touchdown, but was picked off two times and faced constant pressure from the New York front seven. He completed 23 of 39 attempts, but threw a costly interception in the end zone that was intended for WR Joey Galloway, and killed a promising drive. Garcia's touchdown came on a six yard connection with TE Alex Smith in the fourth quarter, but it ended up being too little, too late for the Buccaneers.
| RB Earnest Graham, Rush: 18 - 63 - 1, Rec: 4 - 27 - 0 (6 targets) |
Earnest Graham ran the ball 18 times for 63 yards and added a first quarter touchdown from one yard out that put Tampa Bay on the board 7-0. Unfortunately for Graham and the Buccaneers, that was the only scoring they could manage until the fourth quarter. Graham was also used in the passing game, as he received six targets and brought in four receptions for 27 yards.
| RB Michael Pittman, Rush: 1 - 5 - 0, Rec: 5 - 62 - 0 (5 targets) |
Pittman ran the ball just one time for five yards, but made a nice contribution in the passing game as he finished with five receptions for 62 yards on five targets. He was targeted three times on third downs and turned two of those targets into Tampa Bay first downs.
| WR Ike Hilliard, Rec: 4 - 27 - 0 (6 targets) |
Hilliard was targeted six times and finished with four receptions for 27 yards. Two of his targets came on third downs, and Hilliard was able to convert one of those third down targets into a first down.
| WR Michael Clayton, Rec: 3 - 39 - 0 (5 targets) |
Clayton finished with three receptions for 39 yards on five targets. Two of his receptions resulted in Tampa Bay first downs, but one intended pass for Clayton was picked off by the Giants for one of their two interceptions.
| WR Joey Galloway, Rush: 1 - -4 - 0, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (8 targets) |
Joey Galloway was completely neutralized by the Giants, as he finished with just one reception for nine yards. That catch came in the first quarter, and Galloway was shut out for the remainder of the game. It wasn't for lack of opportunities, however, as the speedster was targeted a team high eight times, including a red zone target that was picked off in the end zone. Galloway was forced to leave late in the game with a shoulder injury.
| TE Alex Smith, Rec: 3 - 26 - 1 (5 targets) |
Alex Smith was targeted five times and finished with three receptions for 26 yards, including a six yard touchdown reception.
| PK Matt Bryant 0 - 0 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points |
Bryant did not attempt a field goal and finished with two extra points in the game.
| TB Rush Defense |
Even though they did give up a rushing touchdown, the Buccaneers played well against the run, giving up 100 yards on 33 carries, for 3.3 yards per carry. They held Brandon Jacobs to 34 yards on 13 carries and they didn't give up a run of ten yards or longer for the ballgame.
LB Derrick Brooks and DB Jermaine Phillips led the way with eight solo tackles and three assists a piece for Tampa Bay.
| TB Pass Defense |
The Buccaneers defense could not rattle QB Eli Manning, who completed 20 of 27 passes and two touchdowns. This defense, which has flourished all year long because of their turnover ratio, could not come up with any big, game-changing plays.
Rookie DL Gaines Adams recorded Tampa Bay's only sack in the game, and the aforementioned Phillips led the way with eight solo tackles and three assists to lead the DBs.
