New York Giants 2018 Schedule: Predicting Wins and Losses for Big Blue – Part II

Week 11

Ah, finally a game the New York Giants should be favored in! This is a matchup of perhaps the two most disappointing teams in 2017. The Giants and Bucs both had playoff aspirations last season but will both be picking in the top seven in this year’s NFL Draft.

Jameis Winston missed three games last season, resulting in him falling short of 4,000 yards for the first time in his young career. He also struggled with turnovers (21 in 13 games). He at least has one of the league’s best receivers at his disposal (as long as the new money in his pockets doesn’t slow him down). Mike Evans is fresh off a monster contract extension and will look to continue terrorizing the league.

Tampa Bay is missing a feature running back after parting ways with Doug Martin. They’ll hope Saquon Barkley falls to them in the draft but will realistically select a running back in the middle rounds. Covering tight ends was a problem for Big Blue last season and the Bucs have two good ones in Cameron Brate and OJ Howard. The addition of Alec Ogletree will come up big in this matchup.

Defensively, Gerald McCoy can blow up the interior of an offensive line, Lavonte David is one of the NFL’s best all-around linebackers, and the additions of Vinny Curry and Jason Pierre-Paul should help improve one of the league’s worst pass rushes. As far as the secondary goes, it’s up for debate whether or not Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves can cover Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard.

Even after giving the Bucs JPP, the Giants offensive line should be able to hold their own in this game. If Eli Manning has time to throw, OBJ should have a big game and New York should be able to put points on the board. Mike Evans might find his way into the end zone, but Big Blue’s defense should handle Tampa Bay’s offense.