Something new for the Giants: a real shot at the playoffs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith, right, congratulates NY Giants head coach Tom Coughlin after the Giants defeated the Buccaneers 32-18 during an NFL football game Sunday, November 8, 2015, in Tampa, Fla.

Eli Manning threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns, and the defense showed resiliency to rebound from the previous week's 52-49 loss at New Orleans. NY quarterback Eli Manning was at his best in those pressure situations.

Jasper Brinkley - With Jon Beason gone for the season and Uani "Unga inactive due to a neck injury, the Giants turned to the seven-year veteran Brinkley and he answered the call". Tim Jennings, who had started three games was inactive, while Johnthan Banks, who had five starts did not get a defensive snap on Sunday. After the Bucs scored a touchdown on a Jameis Winston run with 9:35 left to cut the Giants lead to 20-18, NY responded with a Josh Brown field goal to extend the lead to five.

"I think the players were excited to have him as a part of our team and have him active tonight", Coughlin said.

On Sunday he played with his hand wrapped in a "club", a soft cast, instead of using the four-fingered glove designed for him by the team's training staff, according to Tampa Bay drove 70 yards on their next drive to the Giants 10, and had to settle for another field goal, which made it 6-3 Tampa Bay. Manning threw two touchdown passes, converting in the red zone when the Bucs couldn't, but his turnovers kept the Bucs in the game when the defense was trying to close out the win.

Tampa Bay is 3-5, but just one of those wins came at home: A 38-31 victory over Jacksonville in Week 5.

If McCoy's shoulder is hurt that badly, it might be best for all parties to put him on injured reserve for the rest of the season, letting him heal up instead of risking making the injury worse. Hankins needs surgery to fix a left pectoral muscle that was torn in the first quarter Sunday in Tampa. Evans' three such performances are tied with Joey Galloway for second on the list. "We've just got to continue to build as a team and get better each and every week to remain there".

Evans wasn't alone when it came to dropping the ball. The Giants had the ball for 34:55, compared to Tampa Bay's 25:05.... Tampa Bay cut him on Monday. 500 at 5-4. It also ensures the Giants will not face a lengthy losing streak, at least not yet, as they have a very hard matchup with the New England Patriots next week.

The Giants were finally able to capitalize on a feel-good moment this season.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection, who signed a contract extension last season that could be worth more than $95 million, has four tackles and no sacks over the past three games.