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Bucs-Giants report card: A win is a win

 
Jameis Winston was there when the Bucs needed him, making big plays, leading the Bucs from behind twice in a game they had to have. [LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Jameis Winston was there when the Bucs needed him, making big plays, leading the Bucs from behind twice in a game they had to have. [LOREN ELLIOTT | Times]
Published Oct. 2, 2017

Mike Evans stood. DeSean Jackson stood. The New York Giants locked arms. One of them kneeled. No one really booed. And that's your national anthem update for October 1, 2017.

First came the rain. Then came the Bucs. Then came the Giants. Then came the Bucs. The Bucs could have and should have put this one away in the first half, but wore down. The kicking game came to the game worn down. Eli Manning and the Giants could have won on a day the Bucs couldn't afford to lose.

So, the Bucs didn't lose it. Jameis Winston threw a TD to Cameron Brate for what looked like the winner. The Giants came back to take the lead. Winston was great to Brate again, perfect throw and catch to help set up a field goal as time expired … by Nick Folk. Mr. Automatic. Bucs win.

Now comes Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on Thursday night. Quick turnaround. Gulp.

So here are the grades from the Bucs' 25-23 victory Sunday.

JAMEIS, COMEBACK

Winston was there when the Bucs needed him, making big plays, leading the Bucs from behind twice in a game they had to have. Leading is leading. Grade: A

DEFENSE COMEBACK, SORT OF

The defense that was often shredded at Minnesota showed up at first against New York. Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander and T.J. Ward were out, but what was left made plays. The Bucs killed one Giants drive on downs in the first quarter and the Giants had to settle for a field goal on another. But it came undone as the Giants came back. Zero Bucs pass rush helped the Giants. Bucs did a pretty good job on Giants receiver Odell Beckham until they didn't when it mattered. The pressure and coverage were nowhere on the winning Giants' go-ahead touchdown. Grade: C

YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIGHT ENDS – REALLY

Brate was great, but the Bucs drafted tight end O.J Howard for a lot of reasons. We hadn't seen one of them for the first two games. Howard made up for it by getting behind the napping Giants defense and catching and running for a 58-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Grade: A

HOW ABOUT CLOSING?

I know Nick Folk cost the Bucs points Sunday, but how do you have first and goal at the half yard line and not come close to a touchdown. The call that Mike Evans did not score a touchdown on that pass was correct. But Bucs coach Dirk Koetter and his offense have to get a touchdown just before halftime, not settle for a field goal. You have to finish there. Grade: F

ONCE UPON A TIMING

Winston to Jackson. It was supposed to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. And it will be if they ever truly hook up. They need to take dance lessons or something. They haven't found each other on a consistent basis, surely not consistently enough to bringing Jackson here. Grade: D

SEEING DOUBLE

Ronde and Tiki Barber became the first set of twins to broadcast and NFL football game. Ronde and Tiki Barber became the first set of twins to broadcast an NFL football game. Good guys, good broadcasters. Good guys, good broadcasters. Grade: B+, B+

A RUNNING START

The running game was awful and rarely used at Minnesota, but it came back around Sunday, 23 carries for 111 yards, including 83 yards from Jacquizz Rodgers, though 36 of those came on one play. Grade: B-

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THE CURSE OF AGUAYO?

He was a Folk hero, but the Bucs kicker still missed on an extra-point try and two field-goal attempts. He left the door open and was lucky to get a chance to close it at the end. Folk has missed two extra points through three games. Aguayo missed two all last season. We're just saying. Grade: C

Contact Martin Fennelly at mfennelly@tampabay.com or (813) 731-8029

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