5 Things the Giants must do to Beat the Bucs

1. RUN BRANDON JACOBS. Then run him some more. And some more after that.

Jacobs has gained confidence as the season has gone along, and he has been particularly strong his last three games. He's gained more than a third of his overall yardage (342) in that span on 64 carries. The key here is patience, because the Bucs have a stout run defense, yielding just 3.8 yards per carry. So even if it seems as if the running game isn't being particularly effective, the Giants have to keep pounding it with Jacobs. That will make Ahmad Bradshaw, who is expected to return from a leg injury, that much more effective as a change-of-pace back. Ahmad Bradshaw was brilliant against the Bills, especially on that 88-yard touchdown run, so if he can get into the flow early, it makes the Giants' running game that much more effective.

2. ONE FUMBLE, ONE INTERCEPTION for Eli Manning, tops.

There is room for only two turnovers - at the most - by the Giants' quarterback, whose biggest problem is throwing too many interceptions and coughing up too many fumbles. The Giants' turnover margin is an abysmal minus-9, thanks in large part to Manning's seven lost fumbles. He has fumbled 13 times overall. Manning must stay away from turnovers as much as possible, although it's probably asking a bit much for him to be turnover-free against such an opportunistic defense. The Bucs are plus-15 in turnovers, picking off 16 passes. Emerging safety Jermaine Phillips leads the way with four picks.

3. USE THE DOUBLE MOVE.

One of the easiest ways to dupe an aggressive defense such as the Bucs' is to have your receivers use what's called a "double move." All teams use it, but it can be particularly effective against the Bucs. It's when the receiver cuts one way, acting as if that's where the pattern will end, and then suddenly goes upfield on a second move. Manning doesn't often use the pump fake, which will sell the first move, but he should use it against the Bucs when his receivers, particularly Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, are in their patterns. Cornerbacks Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly love to jump routes and go for interceptions, but if Manning can do a good enough job of pump-faking, he can lull the corners into thinking he's passing short before throwing long.

4. USE ANTONIO PIERCE as a spy on Jeff Garcia.

When facing a mobile quarterback such as Garcia, it's often advisable to assign one player to follow his every move. Pierce is the logical choice because he's an every-down linebacker. What it does is allow the linemen, and occasionally a blitzing linebacker or defensive back, to not worry so much about containment and therefore be more aggressive when attacking the quarterback. Garcia has proven quite adept at avoiding the pressure, but with Pierce as a spy, he really can't get very far if he decides to scramble out of the pocket. In the meantime, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who runs one of the most aggressive schemes in the game, should feel free to turn his players loose against a very inexperienced Bucs offensive line. That puts a bit more pressure on the corners, especially if Sam Madison (abdominal strain) can't play. Garcia might be able to produce a big play here or there, but safeties Gibril Wilson and James Butler should be able to keep the damage to a minimum. The big challenge for Wilson and Butler: Keep Joey Galloway's speed from becoming a factor. Don't let him get behind you.

5. PRESSURE UP THE MIDDLE.

It's almost guaranteed that Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan will have their share of effective pass rushes from the outside against the Bucs' inexperienced tackles. But it's equally incumbent upon the Giants' tackles - especially Fred Robbins and Justin Tuck when he lines up over the center or guard - to get a good push up the middle. By successfully attacking the middle, it not only puts pressure on Jeff Garcia but also gives the Giants a better chance at stopping the run. Earnest Graham is the Bucs' leading rusher, but he's averaging only 4.0 yards a carry and has a long run of only 28 yards. Limit his effectiveness on first and second downs, and it puts that much more pressure on Garcia in third-and-long situations.

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