Giants vs. Buccaneers: 5 Things We Learned

Nov 8, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Giants running back Orleans Darkwa (26) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

1. A Running Back Committee Can Work

Jason Pierre-Paul will rightly hog the storylines from Sunday’s game, but to me the Giants’ effective run game might be the most important headline. Not one of Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Shane Vereen, or Orleans Darkwa was particularly great, but the four backs combined for 115 yards on the ground Sunday. It set up a bunch of short passing plays the Giants needed on a day where the weather played a factor, and as I alluded to earlier, it kept the Bucs’ offense off the field long enough where they didn’t have enough time to take a late lead in the game as the Giants have so often been surrendering this season.

The days of the three-head Jacobs-Ware-Bradshaw monster are long gone, but the Giants would take 100+ yards on the ground from their four-back committee all day. If the offense can develop a more consistent run game, it’ll help the Giants on both sides of the ball. And those games the Giants couldn’t close earlier in the year when the defense looked worn out and the offense couldn’t control the clock? Well, this could be the difference right here.

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