BRADY, TAMPA BAY TRY TO END TWO-GAME SKID
Bruce Arians believes there’s nothing wrong with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that playing smarter and with more passion can’t solve.
The Super Bowl champions have lost two straight games in which Tom Brady and a usually reliable defense haven’t been at their best. They’ll try to get back on track when they host the New York Giants tonight.
Turnovers, costly penalties and an inability to get off the field on third down defensively undermined the Bucs (6-3) in road losses to the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Football Team.
Arians is confident, though, the NFC South leaders can right the ship.
“I mean we’ve played up to our potential, it’s just the last two weeks on the road we haven’t,” the coach said.
“We’re still in first place, and we’ve got a lot of good things going on as far as (being) No. 1 in pass offense and sacks (allowed), and all the things we’re doing offensively
and defensively,” Arians added. “But there are some things we have identified on the road that have cost us two ballgames.”
The Giants (3-6), who could get injured running back Saquon Barkley back this week, have won two of their past three.
They’re rested coming off last week’s bye and have played the Bucs tough the last two seasons, rallying from an 18-point deficit to win at Tampa Bay in Daniel Jones’ first NFL start in 2019 and losing to the eventual NFL champions after leading at halftime of a primetime matchup a year ago.
Jones, who has thrown for 2,059 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions, is excited about the challenge of facing the Brady-led Bucs again.
“Anytime you play these Monday night games, it’s an opportunity for us and you get up to play these games,” the third-year Giants quarterback said.
“Certainly, a lot of respect for Tom Brady, what he’s accomplished, how he’s played the position for as long as he has, but we’re playing against the Bucs defense and preparing to play against them,” Jones added. “We’re looking forward to it.”
Brady is third in the NFL with 2,870 yards passing and has thrown for a leagueleading 27 TDs despite playing much of the past six weeks without injured tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Antonio Brown.
The 44-year-old, seventime Super Bowl champion aims to rebound against the Giants after throwing a pair of interceptions in each of his past two games.
Bears QB Fields hurts rib
Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields was knocked out of a loss to Baltimore with a rib injury on Sunday, and the Packers might have suffered a huge blow when left tackle Elgton Jenkins went out with a left knee injury in a loss to NFC North rival Minnesota.
Fields walked to the tunnel after the first drive of the second half and team officials later announced the rib injury. He was replaced by Andy Dalton. Dalton threw two touchdown passes, including a 49-yarder to Marquise Goodwin in the closing minutes, but the Bears lost their fifth straight.
Fields was coming off several promising outings but struggled against the Ravens, going 4 of 11 for 79 yards before the injury. Dalton could end up starting on Thanksgiving when Chicago plays at Detroit.
The Packers’ Jenkins, a Pro Bowl selection at left guard last year, went down in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury to his left knee and was carted to the locker room.
Jenkins moved to left tackle this season to replace David Bakhtiari, who has yet to return from a torn ACL suffered last year.
More injuries
Cowboys wide receiver
CeeDee Lamb suffered a concussion just before halftime of a loss to the Chiefs. He landed hard after going up for a ball in the end zone that Char varius Ward intercepted.
Lamb was helped by trainers to the locker room and did not return.
• Tennessee’s Marcus Johnson, who had a 100yard receiving game last week, was ruled out after hurting his right hamstring late in the first quarter of a loss to Houston. Cornerback Chris Jackson hurt a foot, and outside linebacker
Ola Adeniyi returned after hurting his hamstring. Defensive lineman Teair Tart went down late.
• Texans linebacker Jordan Jenkins hurt a knee and defensive lineman Ross Blacklock went down late.
• Seattle rookie cornerback Tre Brown appeared to suffer a significant knee injury late in the first half of a loss to the Cardinals. Brown was down for several minutes and limped to the locker room.