Giants vs. Buccaneers: 5 Things We Learned
By Eric Mollo
Nov 8, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) drops a pass in the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The New York Giants defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32-18. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
- The Giants Still Haven’t Proven Their Elite
I’ve put a generally positive spin on Sunday’s game with the Buccaneers because overall I think fans saw some pretty good things from the Giants. That said, the team still has a ways to go before I place them, if I ever do, in that elite category.
They don’t have Denver’s dominant defense, they don’t have the high-octane offense of the Patriots, and they don’t come roaring down the field the way teams like the Bengals and Panthers do on both sides of the ball. I’m not even sure they need any of that to be elite, but the Giants 5-4 record speaks for itself—they just don’t perform consistently enough at a high level to be considered among the league’s best. Some moments, they look unstoppable. The next, they look scrambled. Frankly, they’re just not all there right now.
That’s not to say they can’t be competitive or that they can’t make the postseason. But if the Giants really want to compete, they still need a pass rush, more consistency from playmakers on offense like Rueben Randle and Rashad Jennings, and they need to prove they can run the ball effectively against better defenses.
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This isn’t the most talented Giants team I’ve ever seen, though that’s not necessarily a damning thing. They play hard for Tom Coughlin and co. and I do believe they are a postseason team if they straighten a few kinks out. But through the season’s first nine weeks, I’m not sure they will ever be considered among the NFL’s elites. Not yet at least.