At the end of the day, the Giants finished the job in Tampa Bay.
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That's all that matters when a team takes a division lead on the road in November. The offense converted nine third downs and controlled the clock for nearly 35 minutes. The defense applied pressure at the right times down the stretch and came up with three turnovers, including a fumble return for a touchdown as time expired. And the special teams converted clutch field goals throughout the afternoon to keep the Buccaneers at bay.
The three phases added up to a 32-18 victory for the Giants, who won for the fifth time in seven weeks.
"We always preach about finishing, and tonight we did," coach Tom Coughlin said after the game. "I give them credit. [Buccaneers coach] Lovie [Smith] has done a good job. They battled back. Their young quarterback played well. In the long run, we kind of hung in there and we got ourselves a much-needed win."
IT WAS OVER WHEN
Cornerback Trevin Wade scooped up a lateral on Tampa Bay's last-ditch effort and returned it five yards for a touchdown to seal the victory.
Twenty-eight seconds earlier, Josh Brown made his fourth field goal from 44 yards to give the Giants an eight-point lead.
GAME BALL
Jason Pierre-Paul, Defensive End. The two-time Pro Bowl selection played in his first game since suffering serious hand injuries in a July 4 fireworks accident. He played extensively in the return, recording two solo tackles, as well as two of the team's nine quarterback hits on No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston.
"I just know I'm happy being out here doing what I love to do," Pierre-Paul said. "I basically got a second opportunity and that's basically it. I'm just helping my teammates win football games."
WHAT THE WIN MEANS FOR THE GIANTS
Entering the second half of the schedule, the Giants held onto their lead in the NFC East and improved to 5-4. That sets up a showdown this week with the undefeated and reigning Super Bowl champion Patriots in the Giants' last game before the bye. New England yesterday defeated Washington (3-5). Meanwhile, Philadelphia (4-4) handed Dallas (2-6) its sixth-straight loss in an overtime win on Sunday night.
"It was a good win," said quarterback Eli Manning, who broke Phil Simms' record with his 96th regular-season victory as the Giants' starting quarterback. "We needed this win. We knew it was going to be tough. They're a scrappy team."
WHAT THE LOSS MEANS FOR THE BUCCANEERS
After defeating Atlanta in an overtime thriller in Week 8, Tampa Bay dropped to 3-5 on Sunday with Winston, the former Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida State, at quarterback. Undefeated Carolina continues to lead in the NFC South and defeated Green Bay, 37-29, yesterday, while division rivals Atlanta (6-3) and New Orleans (4-5) lost.
"I don't think people from the outside can really see how much we really love each other and how hard we work and how bad we want to win and how bad our head coach and our coaches are just basically putting it on us to get over that hump," said Winston, whose Buccaneers play the Cowboys in Week 10. "And the more we focus on that brotherhood and the more we come together, we are going to get over that hump together. One person can't do it; one person can't make the change. Together, when you are together and you are making changes and you are fighting for your brother, that's how you win football games."
Gameday photo timeline from the Giants Week 9 matchup against the Bucs
12:00 PM – Giants players arrive at Raymond James Stadium for Sunday's matchup vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1:00 PM – Players take the field to begin their pregame warmups - View Gallery
3:30 PM – Giants get ready to take the field shortly before kickoff
4:00 PM – A USO quartet sings the National Anthem shortly before the Giants and Buccaneers kick off
15:00, 1ST QTR, Sterling Moore intercepts Eli Manning's pass on the very first play of the game and returns it for 18 yards
13:30, 1ST QTR, Connor Barth kicks a 25-yard field goal, TB 3 – NYG 0
9:57, 1ST QTR, Eli Manning drives down the field to set up a 35-yard Josh Brown field goal, TB 3 – NYG 3
8:08, 1ST QTR, Jameis Winston passes to Mike Evans for 68 yards, setting up a 28-yard Connor Barth field goal, TB 6 – NYG 3
1:00 1ST QTR, Eli Manning finds Rueben Randle for an 8-yard touchdown, NYG 10 – TB 6 – Watch Highlight
15:00, 2ND QTR, Jasper Brinkley recovers a Doug Martin fumble
11:25, 2ND QTR, Eli Manning passes short to Shane Vereen who runs it in for a 4-yard touchdown, NYG 17 – TB 6 – Watch Highlight
7:03, 2ND QTR, Connor Barth's 43-yard field goal is no good
0:10, 2ND QTR, Connor Barth kicks a 21-yard field goal, NYG 17 – TB 9
12:44, 3RD QTR, Jasper Brinkley forces a Charles Sims fumble, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie tracks the loose ball before it is recovered by Trevin Wade – Watch Highlight
11:53, 3RD QTR, Josh Brown kicks a 35-yard field goal, NYG 20 – TB 9
7:20, 3RD QTR, Cameron Brate hauls in a 17-yard reception to set up a 53-yard Connor Barth field goal, NYG 20 – TB 12
9:53, 4TH QTR, Jameis Winston scrambles for a 10-yard touchdown, two-point conversion attempt is no good, NYG 20 – TB 18 – Watch Highlight
7:24, 4TH QTR, Odell Beckham's 24-yard reception sets up a Josh Brown 53-yard field goal, NYG 23 – TB 18 – Watch Highlight
5:07, 4TH QTR, The Giants defense forces the Buccaneers to punt after three consecutive imcompletions
4:14, 4TH QTR, With the Giants facing a third-and-6, Eli Manning passes to Odell Beckham for a 9 yards to keep the drive alive
0:28, 4TH QTR, After three big runs from Rashad Jennings, Josh Brown kicks a 44-yard field goal, NYG 26 – TB 18
0:00, 4TH QTR, Trevin Wade recovers a fumble and returns it 5 yards for a touchdown as time expires, NYG 32 – TB 18 – Watch Highlight
Final Score: New York Giants 32, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18. Big Blue returns home in Week 10 to host the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium– Watch Game Highlights
