Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Giants vs. Bucs Live Blog: 4th QTR

0:00 — GIANTS WIN 41-34

0:12 — LB Michael Boley intercepts Freeman, all but sealing the victory.

0:34 — TOUCHDOWN GIANTS. XP is GOOD. Andre Brown walks in for a two-yard score. NEW YORK 34, TAMPA BAY 34 (drive:

1:58 — WR Ramses Barden gets on the board with a key 24-yard catch down the right sideline.

2:08 — TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS. XP is GOOD. NEW YORK 34, TAMPA BAY 34 (drive: 5 plays, 80 yards in 2:01)

4:09 — TOUCHDOWN GIANTS. Martellus Bennett 33-yard touchdown from Manning. NEW YORK 34, TAMPA BAY 27 (drive: 4 plays, 67 yards in 1:44)

5:51 — Momentum on Giants’ side as they force a punt and take over on their own 33 with a tie game.

6:59 — TOUCHDOWN GIANTS. Classic Manning to Cruz for an 80-yard touchdown when the team needs it most. Andre Brown takes the handoff for a successful two-point conversion. NEW YORK 27, TAMPA BAY 27 (drive: 3 plays, 88 yards, 0:53)

7:41 — Giants force a punt and take over at their own 12, down by 8 points.

10:57 — Giants fail to get off the field on third-and-7 as Tampa converts just its second third down (2-for-8).

12:26 — FIELD GOAL GIANTS. Tynes knocks in his fourth field goal of the game, this time from 24 yards out. TAMPA BAY 27, NEW YORK 19 (drive: 9 plays, 30 yards in 2:59)

13:59 — The Giants offense converts a huge third-down on a Manning pass to Nicks for 14 yards, setting up a first-and-goal at the 5.

15:00 — Brown continues to shoulder the workload in the backfield, picking up 10 yards on a sweep to the left. He now has 62 yards on 9 carries.

*Giants will begin the final frame with the ball on Tampa’s 28.

Giants vs. Bucs Live Blog: 2nd QTR

0:00 — BUCCANEERS 24, GIANTS 13 (key stat: Giants -3 in turnover ratio)

0:23 — TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS on a 60-yard interception return. XP is GOOD. TAMPA BAY 24, NEW YORK 13

1:08 — Giants defense forces a quick three-and-out. Rueben Randle has a 45-yard punt return brought back on a holding penalty.

*On that drive, Eli Manning went 5 of 5 for 45 yards.

1:59 — TOUCHDOWN GIANTS. Nicks hauls in a 23-yard touchdown from Manning. XP is GOOD. TAMPA BAY 17, GIANTS 13 (drive: 8 plays, 80 yards in 4:25)

2:36 — Cruz continues to handle a physical Tampa defense and racks up his seventh catch of the half. He has 70 yards on the day.

6:19 — With Bradshaw sidelined, RB Andre Brown breaks a 23-yard run. Before this game, Brown’s career totals included two attempts for -1 yard since 2009.

6:30 — TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS. XP is GOOD. TAMPA BAY 17, GIANTS 6 (drive: 2 plays, 13 yards in 0:47)

9:09 — Cruz makes another grab in traffic. So far, he has four catches for 59 yards.

10:32 — Jason Pierre-Paul sacks Freeman for a loss of 8. Stressing pressure this week, JPP gets the first sack of the season by a Giants defensive end.

12:01 — Nicks spun around and makes a nice jumping catch for 5 yards. However, the Giants come up short on third down and forced to punt.

13:48 — TOUCHDOWN BUCCANEERS. XP is Good. BUCCANEERS 10, GIANTS 6 (drive: 3 plays, 28 yards in 0:56)

14:53 – Eli Manning throws his first interception since the Jan. 15 playoff game in Green Bay.

15:00 — Buccaneers will begin with the ball on 4th-and-11 from the 50.

Giants vs. Bucs Live Blog: 1st QTR

0:00 — GIANTS 6, BUCCANEERS 3 (key stat: Tampa 0-2 on third down conversions)

0:56 — LB Chase Blackburn sacks QB Josh Freeman for a loss of 7 yards, the first of the game.

2:58 — FIELD GOAL GIANTS. Tynes 24-yard FG attempt is GOOD. GIANTS 6, BUCCANEERS 3 (drive: 12 plays, 63 yards in 5:48).

*Giants fail to capitalize on a first-and-goal at the 2.

5:50 — Ahmad Bradshaw sparks the crowd with a 12-yard run after Cruz’s 20-yard catch-and-spin-and-run (broke four tackles).

7:21 — Rookie RB David Wilson gets his first carry since his fumble in Week 1 — a 4-yard counter.

8:53 — FIELD GOAL BUCS. Tampa Bay responds with a 45-yard FG. GIANTS 3, BUCCANEERS 3 (drive: 7 plays, 60 yards in 4:01)

*Tynes is 2/2 on the season after going a perfect 8/8 in the preseason.

12:48 — FIELD GOAL GIANTS. Lawrence Tynes’ 37-yard FG try is GOOD. GIANTS 3, BUCCANEERS 0 (drive: 6 plays, 51 yards in 2:17)

14:22 — WR Hakeem Nicks looking healthy as ever with a 40-yard leaping catch from Manning on the second play of the game.

15:00 — Game Day Captains: DT Linval Joseph and WR Victor Cruz in addition to season captains QB Eli Manning, DE Justin Tuck, and LS Zak DeOssie Tampa Bay wins the toss, elects to defer. Giants will defend the west goal.

This week’s game will be the 18th regular season meeting between the two teams, with the Giants leading the series, 11-6. In the last meeting, the Giants defeated the Buccaneers, 24-0, in Week 3 of the 2009 season in Tampa.

Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET

Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

TV: FOX - This week’s game will be broadcast nationally with Joe Buck calling the action, Troy Aikman serving as the analyst and Pam Oliver handling sideline duties. (click here for full TV & Radio listings)

Weather: Sunny. Mild. 64 °F, Wind: 6.89 mph/NW

FLIP CARD CHANGES:

NEW YORK

» CB Jayron Hosley (start in place of Prince Amukamara)

TAMPA BAY

» RT Demar Dotson (Jeremy Trueblood)

Giants choose pregame playlist

Giants players lent their musical tastes for the pregame music inside MetLife Stadium before taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s what they chose from their iPods to warm up to:

» Eli Manning: “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister

» Victor Cruz: “HYFR” by Drake feat. Lil Wayne

» Osi Umenyiora: “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” by ODB

» David Diehl: “’Till I Collapse” by Eminem

» Hakeem Nicks: “I’m A Go Getta” by Lil Wayne

» Justin Tuck: “New Day” by 50 Cent feat. Dr. Dre & Alicia Keys

» Jason Pierre-Paul: “Awooga” by Calvin Harris

» Antrel Rolle: “Forget tha Otha Side” by Trick Daddy

DOWNLOAD THE GIANTS “ALL IN” PEPSI ANTHEM BY TRAVIE MCCOY 

Daily Blitz: GM Reese once dreamed of being a head coach

Once a hard-hitting defensive standout at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Jerry Reese always dreamed of becoming the head coach at his alma mater. Look at where he is now.

The general manager was recently profiled in The Pacer, the official newspaper of the college in his home state, and spoke about his journey from humble beginnings in Tiptonville to winning his second Super Bowl last season.

“I had to schedule my classes around football and make sure they were balanced. I had to work for my scholarship,” said Reese, who was a grad assistant and then a secondary coach at Martin from 1988 through 1993 after being named team MVP his senior season. “With my background and leadership qualities I learned at UTM by being part of a team, I still use those skills today.

“You’ve always got to dream big. I always dreamed of being head coach at UTM at some point and look where I am now.”

Charley Deal, a close friend and assistant vice chancellor for alumni relations, sees what he’s done today.

“For someone who came from his background, Jerry pushed himself and was hard on himself,” Deal said. “He worked around the clock to make himself better.”

QUICK HITS

» NFL.com and NFL Network analysts gave their 2012 predictions on stats leaders, MVP, rookie awards, and more. Jason Pierre-Paul appears to be on the short list for Defensive Player of the Year.

» Barden builds on momentum. [Kieran Darcy, ESPNNewYork.com]

» ESPN.com’s NFC East blogger Dan Graziano continued his ranking of the top 20 players in the division. WR Hakeem Nicks came in at No. 6, with five players to go (one player announced a day).

Other Giants in the rankings so far:

8. Justin Tuck, DE, Giants

10. Victor Cruz, WR, Giants

18. Osi Umenyiora, DE, Giants

20. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants

Giants vs. Patriots Live Blog: 1st QTR

0:00 — GIANTS 0, PATRIOTS 0 (key stat: Eli Manning has played three series so far)

6:13 — Steve Weatherford boots a 59-year punt that rolls out of bounds, pinning the Patriots back at their own 10. It was his longest of the preseason. Good play especially on a #WeatherfordWednesday.

9:30 — Returning from a foot injury, Hakeem Nicks grabs his first reception of the preseason on the first ball thrown to him, a six-yard pickup over the middle.

10:53 — Antrel Rolle makes a nice open field tackle, wrapping up FB Eric Kattani until reinforcements arrived.

13:48 — Jacquian Williams, making his first appearance of the preseason, nearly intercepts a pass on the left sideline, which would have been a sure pick-six. Nonetheless, the ball falls incomplete, and the Giants force Patriots to punt. *Jerrel Jernigan getting his turn tonight fielding punts.

15:00 — Game Day Captains: WR Domenik Hixon, TE Bear Pascoe, LB Keith Rivers. Patriots win the toss and elect to receive. Giants will defend the west goal.

Kickoff: 7:00 pm ET

Location: MetLife Stadium, E. Rutherford, NJ

TV: NFL Network

Weather: Partly Cloudy. 79 °F, Wind: WNW 8 mph

FLIP CARD CHANGES:

» Sean Locklear will start at LT in place of Will Beatty

» Mitch Petrus will start at RG in place of Chris Snee

» David Wilson will start at RB in place of Ahmad Bradshaw

» Craig Marshall will start at LDE in place of Justin Tuck

» Matt Broha will start at RDE in place of Jason Pierre-Paul

» Jacquian Williams will start at LB in place of Mathias Kiwanuka

» Keith Rivers will start at LB in place of Michael Boley

» Michael Coe will start at CB in place of Prince Amukamara

Around the locker room: Preparing for Dallas

Giants.com takes you around the locker room as the defending Super Bowl champs enter the final week before the season opener. 

Starters will spend most of the time on the sidelines during Wednesday’s game against New England, giving the younger players an extended opportunity. In the meantime, QB Eli Manning awaits the Sept. 5 kickoff against Dallas and players returning from injury.

“Obviously we’ve got another week before we play our first game to get guys rested. We need that and hopefully they’ll be back for the Dallas game. We’ve just got to work on getting better, the guys that are out there. Keep improving. It’s a chance for some young guys to get a lot of playing time this week and show that they’re learning this offense, learning their assignments and see if they can help us out.”

Meanwhile, WR Hakeem Nicks could be seen in the final preseason game, but nothing is for certain yet.

“Definitely can’t wait, going against some live action knowing that somebody is going to be hitting me after I catch the ball now. It will get my feet wet a little bit for this opening game. That’s what I look forward to, getting some live snaps and hopefully I get in a couple routine routes down with Eli.”

Quick Hits from Practice

Catch up on all the action from Giants camp as the team prepares for Preseason Week 3 vs. Chicago. 

Martellus Bennett calls his dance the "tostitos" dance to add to Cruz's salsa.—
Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) August 22, 2012

The Rocky IV soundtrack is blaring from the speakers in the Giants' weight room. They are now officially ready for Opening Night. #NYG—
Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) August 22, 2012

Martellus Bennett salsas after catching a touchdown pass. #nyg—
Jorge Castillo (@jorgeccastillo) August 22, 2012

Bear Pascoe catches a touchdown over the middle from QB David Carr—
New York Giants (@Giants) August 22, 2012

Domenik Hixon looks to grab a Manning pass in the back of the endzone! http://t.co/ChKCY640—
New York Giants (@Giants) August 22, 2012

QB Eli Manning and WR Hakeem Nicks are already in sync! Let's go big blue! http://t.co/6iZsykdO—
New York Giants (@Giants) August 22, 2012

Rueben Randle working with Eli Manning & QBs on back shoulder fade throws to back corner of end zone #NYG yfrog.com/h8ackihfj—
Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 22, 2012

Around the locker room: Giants prep for Chicago

Giants.com takes you around the locker room as the defending Super Bowl champs prepare for their third preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

QB Eli Manning gave his thoughts on the upcoming game:

“It should be a good opportunity for us, to go against another good defense. I think it’s been good this week, having three days to game plan and treat it like a normal work week. So, that’ll be good. Everybody should know their assignments, and have a good plan to go in, we should be able to execute, and do some things well.”

Breaking a bone in his foot nearly three months ago, WR Hakeem Nicks said he’s right on schedule:

“Definitely.  I feel like I’m right on schedule.  No setbacks thus far, so we just have to keep going the way we’ve been going and just keep it simple and go out there and do what I need to do.”

First-round draft choice RB David Wilson is looking to show what he can do on Friday night:

“They got me going with the ones so I look at it as really my first preseason game. Getting a real feel and going against a first team defense and out there with the starters and see how productive I can be.”

Veteran offensive lineman Sean Locklear spoke about meshing with a new system in his first season with the Giants:

“It’s a learning process. Just getting out there with the ones and learning the entire system, which I’m still probably about 90 percent, 95 percent there, so it’s still a learning process. I felt I’ve done well over the two games that I did get to play.”

Around the locker room: Giants coming off win vs. Jets

Giants.com takes you around the locker room as the defending Super Bowl champs prepare for their third preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

WR Hakeem nicks returns to practice for the first time since breaking a bone in his foot at the end of May:

“My mind is saying, “Take it easy, but at the same time still be smart about it.”  Still want to be on pace to make it back for the first [regular season] game.  I don’t want to have any setbacks.  That’s the mindset.  Still want to progress at the same time though.  Get back into the shape that I would like to be in when it comes time for the first game.”

Fellow wideout Victor Cruz is happy to get another member of the band back together.

“I’m happy. That’s my guy, and he’s getting healthy. He’s healthy again. His foot is right. I saw him out there, while we were up in Albany. He was running, doing all of the things that he had to do, to get back out on the field. So, I’m happy to have him back, he’s always been around, we talk all of the time, and it’s good to see him back on the field.”