Hi Folks,

As we do each week, here are our exclusive Game Recaps where we sit a couple of our guys down in front of every NFL game to pull out the important items you need to know from a Fantasy Football standpoint.

We try to go way beyond what the box score or standard game recaps will offer and bring you what you really Need to Know and what you Ought to Know. Let's jump to it.

Joe

Footballguys Game Recap Writers: Mike Anderson, Bill Brown, Michael Brown, Jeff Caldwell, Stan Dorsey, Cathy Fazio, Rich Fix, Mike Flynn, Bradley Gabbard, Cory Gilbert, Clayton Gray, Tracy Hackler, A. Jalen, Alex Knapik, Mike Krucek Jeff Lewis, Scott Martin, Allen Matirossian, Dave Oleyar, Jeff Pasquino, Greg Porzucek, Steve Prosapio, Steve Schone, David Shick, Jeff Siedsma, Mark Strickland, Dave Teller, Michael Tudor, Kerry Walls, Mark Westmyer, Todd Young

Edited by Joe Bryant

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

New York Giants

The New York Giants' loss came to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on many fronts. Kerry Collins' play was just awful. He only threw for 18 completions for 160 yards on 34 attempts. His passing was inaccurate and he overthrew his receivers several times. He single-handedly overturned the ball 4 times to the Buccaneers with 2 lost fumbles and 2 interceptions.

The Giants defense was undisciplined and was called for penalties time after time that extended the Buccaneers' touchdown scoring drives. Though it must be said that the Giants' lone touchdown was a 56-yard interception return by Frank Walker.

Late in the fourth quarter, poor clock management and play calling on Jim Fassell's part brought any momentum and hope for a comeback for the Giants to an end. They had the ball near the Buccaneers end zone on fourth down and 19 to go. Fassell called a time out inexplicably coming out of the two minute warning. They then gave up a safety and attempted an onsides kick which was recovered by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ending the game.

TE Jeremy Shockey said he warmed up and felt great. He wanted to play but was declared inactive by coach Jim Fassel.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay showed that they are not missing deactivated WR Keyshawn Johnson as Charles Lee filled in nicely in his stead. Lee made 5 receptions for 91 yards. One being a 53-yard touchdown reception on a short slant pass. Keenan McCardell was once again Brad Johnson's favorite target and made 9 catches for 83 yards on his 13 targets.

Michael Pittman and Thomas Jones shared time throughout the game. Jones was utilized in the end zone and came up with the Buccaneer's first touchdown in the first quarter leaping over the Giants' defensive line to score. Jones was called for taunting in the fourth quarter after gaining 2 yards and a first down and did not see the field the rest of the game.

The Buccaneers' defense showed signs of their previous dominance, holding the Giants to only 160 yards passing and only 79 yards rushing. Dwight Smith hit Amani Toomer hard in the end zone and Toomer was unable to make the completion forcing the Giants to settle for a field goal. Smith later came up with an interception in the end zone. The Buccaneers defense recovered 2 fumbles, came up with 2 interceptions, and sacked Kerry Collins 3 times.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

New York Giants

QB: Kerry Collins (18-34-160, 2-22 rushing, 0 TD, 2 Int, 2 fumbles lost) Collins' play throughout the game was simply atrocious. His passing was inaccurate. He targeted his wide receivers deep, but his longest pass was for only 18 yards. A deep pass in the second quarter went right off the fingertips of Amani Toomer. He turned over the ball single-handedly 4 times to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, throwing 2 interceptions and fumbling the ball twice. His first fumble was on what looked to be a miscommunication with RB Tiki Barber. Barber looked prepared to take a handoff and Collins made a poor pitch to him. After throwing his first interception on a pass intended for Ike Hilliard late in the third quarter; Collins only completed one more pass - a short drop off to Amani Toomer. Late in the fourth quarter, he ended any hope of a Giants' comeback by throwing his second interception.

RB: Tiki Barber (13-55 rushing, 5-34 receiving on 5 targets) Barber's longest run of 20 yards up the middle in the second quarter was ended by a tackle from his twin brother Ronde. Barber fumbled the ball once late in the fourth quarter when Warren Sapp knocked the ball out of his hands but Barber was able to recover the fumble.

WR: Ike Hilliard (4-43 receiving on 10 targets) Hilliard had a short 9 yard catch during the second series of the game brought back on a holding call. In the second quarter he made a sharp 17-yard catch to gain a first down for the Giants.

Amani Toomer (4-34 receiving on 11 targets) In the first quarter, Toomer made a great play by wrestling the ball away from Ronde Barber on what should have been an interception. Toomer was targeted twice in the end zone during the second quarter. The first target was a bad pass from Collins that went over his head. He was coming down with the ball on the second target but was hit hard by Dwight Smith and the ball came out his arms. Collins targeted Toomer deep, but Toomer's longest reception was only for 11 yards. One deep pass went off his fingertips; two others were simply bad passes on Collins' part.

David Tyree (3-23 receiving on 4 targets) Tyree made a couple of nice catches. But his contributions to the game were minimal as Collins clearly favored WRs Ike Hilliard and Amani Toomer.

TE: Marcellus Rivers (2-26 receiving on 3 targets) Rivers filled in adequately for Jeremy Shockey. His longest reception of 18 yards was the longest pass that Kerry Collins threw.

Jeremy Shockey told Lisa Guerrero that he was disappointed he was not playing but he intends to play next week. He said that he warmed up before the game and felt great.

K: Matt Bryant (2-2 FG, 1 XP) Both of Matt Bryant's field goals were for 30 yards.

Pass Defense: The Giants defense was undisciplined and called for penalties throughout the game. The Buccaneers were given 3 first downs on penalties during their first touchdown scoring drive. Frank Walker intercepted Brad Johnson and returned the interception for a touchdown, scoring the only touchdown for the Giants.

Rush Defense: The Giants were able to put pressure on Johnson and sacked him twice. And they held the running back by committee trio of Michael Pittman, Thomas Jones and Aaron Stecker to 93 yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB: Brad Johnson (22-32-269, 1 TD, 1 Int, 5 for -4 rushing) Brad Johnson played well throughout the game and connected with his receivers 22 times for 269 yards. He did fumble the ball twice during the game but both times the Buccaneers were saved a turnover by coming up with the ball. His touchdown pass was on a short slant pass to Charles Lee who broke tackles and ran between the Giants to score.

RB: Michael Pittman (19-55 rushing, 2-22 receiving on 4 targets) Pittman shared time with both Thomas Jones and Aaron Stecker throughout the game. Pittman was wide open over the middle and made a sharp 23-yard catch. He made a diving catch near the sidelines, and though it was called a reception he was clearly out of bounds and the Giants challenged the play and it was overturned. Late in the fourth quarter the Giants defense stopped Pittman on third and 1 and then again on fourth and 1 to go.

Thomas Jones (10-27 rushing, 1 TD) Jones rushed for 27 yards on his 10 carries. He was utilized in the red zone and went right over the top of the Giants to score a touchdown on third and goal to go. Jones also returned punts. In the fourth quarter, after gaining a first down for the Buccaneers with a 2 yard rush, Jones was called for unsportsmanlike conduct as he taunted the Giants. The Buccaneers were given a 15 yard penalty and Jones did not reappear in the game.

Aaron Stecker (4-15 rushing, 1-12 receiving on 1 target) In the first quarter, Stecker caught a short screen pass and broke free to gain 12 yards.

WR: Keenan McCardell (9-83 receiving on 13 targets. 1 fumble lost) As has been the case in recent history, McCardell was clearly Brad Johnson's favorite target during the game. McCardell caught short passes throughout the game. His longest reception was for 15 yards. He had the ball knocked out of his hands on a catch over the middle and the Giants recovered the fumble.

Charles Lee (5-91 receiving on 6 targets, 1 TD) Charles Lee stepped in for the deactivated Keyshawn Johnson and it was clear that the Buccaneers can survive without Johnson. During the second quarter he made a short catch on a slant pass but turned it into a 53-yard touchdown reception by running right between the Giants' defenders.

Joe Jurevicius (3-43 receiving on 7 targets) Jurevicius played well, but was overshadowed by his teammates McCardell and Lee. He made a first down catch in the first quarter. In the second quarter, a pass went incomplete when Jurevicius turned inside but Johnson threw the ball to the outside.

TE: Ken Dilger (0-0 receiving) Ken Dilger's sole contribution to the game was his recovery of the Giants' onside kick attempt.

K: Martin Gramatica (1 FG, 2 XP) Gramatica successfully converted a 21-yard field goal attempt.

Pass Defense: Dwight Smith came up with a number of big plays. He covered Amani Toomer throughout the game, making a play on Toomer in the end zone that held the Giants to a field goal in the first quarter. Smith came up with an interception in the end zone during the third quarter. And in the fourth quarter John Lynch came up with another interception. Kerry Collins was held to only 160 passing yards during the game.

Rush Defense: Simeon Rice put pressure on Kerry Collins throughout the game. The Buccaneers defense sacked Collins 3 times. The Giants were held to a total of 79 yards rushing.