10 things to watch in Giants vs. Buccaneers

While wide receiver Malik Nabers will be catching passes from Tommy DeVito in a regular-season game for the first time this Sunday against the Buccaneers, the two are far from strangers. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was asked Thursday about the developing connection between the young quarterback and rookie wide receiver, a relationship that has been growing for a while now.

“They’ve been teammates here this whole season, so it’s not like the first time they were talking to each other was yesterday,” assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said this week. “I think they’re good friends. I think they’re good buddies. I think as they just continue to talk more on the field, talk about certain routes and the timing of those things, whether they’re talking about it or repping it out on a different field, I think all those things will add up and will continue to add up.”

Nabers spoke to the media on Thursday, as well, and the rookie wide receiver shared no concerns about establishing chemistry with his new starting quarterback.

“I took a couple of reps with him during camp,” the rookie receiver said. “I know he got a steamer for an arm, so I got some catches with him after practice. Relationship with me and DeVito is cool. We talk, play the game, so we got a good relationship.”

Nabers added, “I mean at the end of the day, it’s still throw the football, catch the ball. So, I get open pretty well, I create a lot of separation. So, I’m sure he’s going to be able to see me on different routes. When I get open, he’s going to be able to deliver the ball.”

Going up against his former team in Munich, Brian Burns had perhaps his best game of the season in Week 10. Burns picked up his sixth sack of the season to go with two tackles for loss and a season-high nine total tackles (four solo). The veteran outside linebacker also finished with seven total pressures, according to NGS, which matched his career-high. He did this on just 25 pass rushes for an impressive 28.0 percent pressure rate. Four of his pressures came in under 2.5 seconds, which gives him 21 quick pressures on the season, tied for the fifth-most in the league.

Burns lined up on the left EDGE on 69.5 percent of his snaps through the first five weeks of the season. But following the injury to Kayvon Thibodeaux in Week 5, Burns has played 82.1 percent of his snaps on the right EDGE. It is still too early to tell if Thibodeaux will be able to return for Sunday’s game, but if he doesn’t, Burns could be looking at another positive matchup.

Buccaneers three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs suffered a knee injury in Week 10, which head coach Todd Bowles classified as “week-to-week.” If Wirfs is unable to go, Justin Skule will start in his place. Skule has allowed 20 pressures on 170 pass blocking snaps this season, according to NGS. His 11.8 percent pressure rate allowed is the highest of any Buccaneers offensive lineman, while his 4.4 percent sack rate allowed is the highest by any offensive lineman in the NFL with at least 150 pass blocking snaps.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is putting together a breakout campaign in his second season with the Buccaneers. The seventh-year quarterback has completed a career-high 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,505 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a 103.6 passer rating, also the best mark of his NFL career. Mayfield has also contributed on the ground with 36 carries for 192 yards (5.3 avg.) and an additional two touchdowns. The veteran signal-caller has thrown three or more touchdown passes in an impressive five of 10 games this year.

What’s even more impressive is that he produced over the Buccaneers’ last three games prior to the bye despite not having Chris Godwin or Mike Evans out there with him. While Godwin is out for the season, Evans appears to be on track to suit up Sunday, thus giving Mayfield his top target in the passing game.

“He’s having a really good year,” Bowen said about Mayfield. “Again, the ability to create is always there with him, to extend plays, to scramble, he’s going to take the open lanes. If those are there, he’s doing a good job distributing, getting the ball in guys’ hands. They’ve done a really good job after the catch. I think their perimeter players, running backs, they’ve all done a really good job after the catch.

“He’s going to take his shots; he’s going to find ways to get it to Evans down the field. We understand that. But I think he’s comfortable in the system and it shows. Knowing where to go with the ball, he’s including everybody. So, it’s going to be a big challenge for us. He’s playing at a really high level right now. I think he’s top five in just about every category quarterback-wise. He’s got a lot of weapons. I think the two backs, how they utilize them, not only in the run game but also in the passing game with the screens and some of that stuff, they’ve got a lot of ways they can attack you.”

The Buccaneers have lost four consecutive games after starting the season 4-2. The Buccaneers’ offense enters this matchup ranking fifth in points and eighth in yards, while the defense comes in at No. 27 in points and No. 30 in yards allowed. This offense is particularly strong in the red zone, where they have scored a touchdown on 68.4 percent of their trips inside the 20, the third-best mark in the NFL.

Tampa Bay lost their top two pass-catchers in their Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While Chris Godwin was lost for the season, fellow wide receiver Mike Evans appears set to return to action this weekend. In seven games before the injury, Evans caught 26 passes for 335 yards and played a large role in the Buccaneers’ success in the red zone, evidenced by his six touchdowns. In the absence of the two wideouts, tight end Cade Otton stepped up in a big way. Of the Buccaneers’ active pass-catchers, Otton leads the group with 49 receptions for 456 yards to go with his four touchdowns.

Tampa Bay also has a two-headed attack in the run game featuring Rachaad White and Bucky Irving. Irving leads the team in rushing with 492 yards on 96 carries (5.1 avg.), ranking second among rookies in rushing yards on the season. White has been more productive as a receiver, catching 37 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns, while also totaling 306 yards on the ground.

The Buccaneers’ defense has allowed an average of 31.3 points during the team’s four-game losing streak and no less than 380 total yards of offense in each game during that stretch. The unit ranks 30^th in passing yards and 29^th in passing touchdowns allowed, while the run defense ranks 28^th in rushing yards per attempt.

Nose tackle Vita Vea leads the unit with five sacks on the season, while defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (four sacks), linebacker Lavonte David (three) and defensive lineman Logan Hall (three) are right behind him. Rookie safety Tykee Smith has registered a team-high three interceptions, while cornerback Zyon McCollum has the most pass breakups on the team with 10. Smith was ruled out for the Week 12 matchup on Friday.

The Buccaneers also opened the 21-day practice window for starting cornerback Jamel Dean earlier this week. Dean has been on injured reserve since Week 6 due to a hamstring injury, but could return to game action for Tampa Bay this Sunday.