Giants launch Daniel Jones era against wary Buccaneers
TAMPA, FLA. (AP) >> No disrespect to Daniel Jones.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers feel the key to beating the New York Giants is slowing down Saquon Barkley, not necessarily exploiting the inexperience of a rookie quarterback who’ll be making his first NFL start when the teams meet Sunday.
“For us, we’ve got to stop No. 26. It all starts and ends with him,” Bucs coach Bruce Arians said. “Then we’ll try to contain the quarterback because he’s a heck of a lot more mobile than the other guy.”
The “other” guy is Eli Manning, benched this week with the Giants (0-2) off to a slow start with a sputtering offense and even worse defense. The two-time Super Bowl MVP has been New York’s starting quarterback since the 10th game of 2004, Manning’s rookie season.
Jones was the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, and the Bucs (1-1) insist they aren’t underestimating him or the Giants’ offense, which despite averaging 420 yards per game has only scored four touchdowns the past two weeks.
“I think Daniel Jones is a very bright guy. He had a heck of a preseason. They wouldn’t be making this call if he didn’t have a great preseason and them thinking he could do the job,” Arians said, referring to the rookie completing 29 of 34 passes for 416 yards, two TDs and no interceptions.
“I think the biggest thing is just keeping him off balance,” Arians added of the approach to defending an inexperienced quarterback. “First and foremost, stop the run. Stop the run, try to take the easy bootlegs away and make them play from the pocket.”
Tampa Bay’s rejuvenated defense did a good job of slowing down Christian McCaffrey in beating Carolina last week, however stopping Barkley poses an even bigger challenge.
The second-year pro is the NFL’s second-leading rusher with 227 yards and a touchdown through two games. He 152 yards from scrimmage and scored three TDs — two rushing, one receiving — in New York’s 38-35 victory over the Bucs last season. teams and ultimately what we’re trying to do is improve our team.”
Now, the Patriots are without Brown after cutting him Friday amid sexual assault allegations and Demaryius Thomas remains a deep threat for an injury ridden Jets.
It may be the only bit of kindness Belichick shows New York (0-2) when it arrives at Gillette Stadium for Sunday’s matchup.
The Patriots (2-0) ran through Pittsburgh and Miami in their first two games, outscoring them 76-3 in a pair of routs .
Now they face a Jets team against which they have won six straight games and eight consecutive regular-season games in New England. The Jets beat the Patriots in Foxborough in the playoffs in the 2010 season, but haven’t won a regularseason game there since 2008.
The Jets opened as an 18-point underdog. The line quickly grew to 23 by early in the week.
Asked this week if he’s ever gone into a game with his opponent favored by that much, Gase smiled.
“Oh, I’m sure,” Gase said. “I was in Detroit five years.”
Some things to know as the two AFC East rivals square off in the first of two meetings this season: NEXT UP Luke Falk will make his first NFL start after making his debut last Monday night against Cleveland.
The 24-year-old quarterback was on the practice squad a week ago, but was promoted to the active roster a few hours before the game. That was because Sam Darnold is recovering from mononucleosis . Trevor Siemian started against the Browns, but is now out for the season after injuring ankle ligaments. Falk went 20 of 25 for 198 yards after replacing Siemian.