Buccaneers try to end four-game losing streak against host Giants

Tampa Bay (4-6) was two games over .500 and challenging for the NFC South lead a month ago before falling in succession against Baltimore (41-31), Atlanta (31-26), Kansas City (30-24 in overtime) and San Francisco (23-20).

The Giants (2-8) have lost five in a row and are also coming off a bye.

Quarterback Tommy DeVito will make his first start of the season and seventh of his two-year career after the Giants announced the benching of Daniel Jones this week after an overtime loss to the woeful Panthers.

“Tommy Cutlets” has a career passer rating of 89.2, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. The 2023 undrafted free agent is 3-3 as a starter.

“Those are never easy conversations,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “[I’ve] got a lot of respect for all three of those guys. After evaluating a bunch of things and looking at a lot of tape and being around Tommy last year where he created a little bit of a spark for us, that’s the reason why we’re going with Tommy.”

DeVito had been the third-string quarterback but Daboll chose him over backup Drew Lock.

Tampa Bay’s potent offense figures to heap even more pressure on DeVito and running back Tyrone Tracy, who has 545 yards and three rushing touchdowns as the Giants’ only viable option.

Rookie Malik Nabers (607 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns) and Darius Slayton (469, 1) could provide inviting targets for DeVito against a Bucs pass defense that has allowed 20 aerial scores this season, which ranks fifth worst in the NFL.

The Giants, meanwhile, have excelled in red-zone defense and rank second in sacks (36).

Tampa Bay (4-6) is the only team in the NFL to pass for more than 300 yards and rush for 100 more on four different occasions. The Bucs, led by a committee of Bucky Irving (492 yards, four touchdowns), Rachaad White (306; 1) and Sean Tucker (186; 1) have rushed for more than 100 yards seven times.

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has been an offensive dynamo. Fourth among Bucs rushers with 192 yards and two scores, he’s third in the NFL in touchdown passes (24), total touchdowns (26) and fifth in passer rating (103.6).

Mayfield could get back a key contributor on Sunday. Wide receiver Mike Evans, who went down with a hamstring injury in Week 7, returned to practice on Wednesday. Evans had 335 yards and six receiving touchdowns before the injury.

Slayton was a full participant on Wednesday as he recovers from a concussion. The wide receiver left the Giants’ Week 9 loss to the Commanders and wasn’t able to gain clearance to travel to the Giants’ Week 10 loss in Germany to the Panthers.

Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum, who departed the 49ers loss with a hamstring injury, did not practice on Wednesday.

All-Pro left tackle Tristin Wirfs, who sprained an MCL in the loss to the 49ers, worked on the sideline with trainers.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles said it is “going to be close” for both players to play on Sunday.

Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) was a limited participant on Wednesday.

Patriots will try to reverse road struggles against the Dolphins

Hitting the road to face the Miami Dolphins has been anything but easy for the New England Patriots over the past 11 years.

Since 2013, New England is 2-9 against the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., where the Patriots will attempt to pick up a rare win on Sunday afternoon.

First-year coach Jerod Mayo has been in the thick of New England’s struggles in the Sunshine State. He spent his entire playing career (2008-15) with the Patriots, then served as inside linebackers coach from 2019-23 before taking over at the helm.

Mayo is making sure that New England (3-8) leaves the past in the past come Sunday, though.

“First and foremost, I won’t address it with the guys as far as the struggles that we’ve had in Miami, even though they’re probably listening to me right now,” Mayo said. “But what I will say is every game is unique. … It’s a tough place to play. It’s not that it’s super loud or anything like that.

“We just haven’t been able to get over the hump.”

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, has given Mayo a reason to believe that New England can turn the corner against Miami (4-6). Maye continued to take steps in the right direction by completing 29 of 39 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.

Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa has been impressed with what he has seen from the 22-year-old Maye so far and is eager to go up against him.

“I respect his game. I respect his game a lot,” Tagovailoa said. “He’s a rookie, so there’s gonna be bumps within his journey. But you see a lot of flashes of things that he can do, not just inside the pocket, outside of the pocket as well.

“I got a lot of respect for him, and looking forward to competing against him.”

Tagovailoa most recently threw for 288 yards and three scores on 28-for-36 passing Miami’s 34-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. One of his favorite targets was former New England tight end Jonnu Smith, who hauled in six catches for 101 yards and two TDs.

Miami has rattled off back-to-back wins on the heels of a three-game losing streak that began after a 15-10 victory against the Patriots in Week 5.

“We’re looking to go out there and play the plays with what they’ve presented us over the years,” Tagovailoa said, referring to the Dolphins’ familiarity with New England’s game plan. “If we need to adjust in any way, we’ll adjust.”

Cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) and offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee) missed Miami’s practice on Wednesday. Six Dolphins were limited, including star wideout Tyreek Hill (wrist) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee).

Defensive end Deatrich Wise (foot), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (neck) did not practice for the Patriots on Wednesday. Safety Kyle Dugger was among those limited — due to an ankle injury — and defensive end Keion White (knee) also failed to practice in full.

49ers hit Green Bay with Packers in pursuit of NFC leaders

A victory against the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Sunday would bolster the Green Bay Packers’ playoff chances, send a conference rival below .500 and avenge a bitter playoff defeat.

Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don’t shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown.

Host San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

“That’s what you’ve got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “What you could have done differently in that game. … Just knowing that’s the team that knocked us out, we’re definitely hungry for this game.”

Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week’s 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith’s 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play.

Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground.

A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay.

The good news: the 49ers anticipate the return of some key contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks.

“Very excited,” he said. “Can’t pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure.”

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is day-to-day with right shoulder soreness, but coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy is on track to play.

Shanahan and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called “dream team” staff in Washington that included Sean McVay and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays.

Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises.

But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other’s play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points.

Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They’ll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit.

That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late.

Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week’s 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love’s go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play.

Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a “big part” of the attack.

“He’s a guy who’s got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it’s not like those were easy plays he was making,” LaFleur said. “He was making tough, contested catches.”

San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece.

Bosa (hip/oblique) didn’t practice Wednesday but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said this week “there’s just as good of a chance for him to not play as play.”

Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay.

The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1.

Lions speed into Indianapolis with win streak at 8

It’s up to Shane Steichen and his Indianapolis Colts staff this week to figure out ways to neutralize the steamrolling Detroit Lions.

The Lions head into Indiana on Sunday with an eight-game winning streak, their longest since their first season in Detroit in 1934. They carved up Jacksonville 52-6, while scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions last week.

“They’re tough on all three phases, and it shows,” Steichen said. “It definitely shows. All those guys are flying around, making plays. They’re having fun doing it.”

Led by Jared Goff, Detroit (9-1) leads the NFL in points scored (33.6 per game) and point differential (plus-159) this season. Goff bounced back from a five-interception outing in Houston by throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns against the hapless Jaguars.

Top target Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for a season-high 161 yards and two touchdowns. St. Brown has a receiving touchdown in eight straight games.

And the running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs has combined to rush for almost 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. The powerful Montgomery has found the end zone 10 times, including twice against Jacksonville.

“He’s a throwback. There are throwback principles about him, and I mean that with all due respect,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “His running style is — it’s rare. David is just different, and he’s downhill, doesn’t give up, first guy, he’s not going to let him tackle him, continues to churn his legs, and just violent, violent, never give up, never going down.”

The lightning-quick Gibbs is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns. His one reception last week went for 54 yards.

“To me, they’re the perfect combination,” Campbell said.

Indianapolis is scoring just 21.5 points per game and has reached the 30-point mark only one time, in a 37-34 loss at Jacksonville. The Colts rallied to beat the New York Jets last week in the return of super-sized quarterback Anthony Richardson.

But Detroit isn’t just any opponent. The Lions established a new franchise record for points in a six-game stretch last week with 232.

“Their offense is super-powered, so we’re going to have to do our part, and we’re excited for it,” receiver Michael Pittman said.

The Colts (5-6) reinstated Richardson in the lineup and snapped a three-game losing streak. In the 28-27 victory, Richardson passed for one touchdown and ran for two more, including the go-ahead score with 46 seconds left.

“Very encouraged,” Steichen said of Richardson’s outing. “I think when you go through a three-game stretch like we had and you go on the road and get a win, and winning in the two-minute drive, you get some momentum — the confidence. Obviously, coming back at home, we’ve got to continue that momentum and carry that confidence into this week. We’re looking forward to it.”

Richardson wasn’t picked off in 30 attempts, though he fumbled twice and the Jets recovered one of them. He has fumbled eight times this season and lost three of them.

They’ll be facing a much tougher opponent this week, though one of the Lions’ top defenders, linebacker Alex Anzalone, sustained a broken forearm on Sunday and was placed on injured reserve.

“Just seeing the toughness from our team. We’re definitely trying to carry that over because we know we’re getting ready to play a physical team,” Richardson said. “So, they’re going to bring it to us. We got to bring it to them. But just trusting my guys each and every play, like I did in that fourth quarter, and just trust in my ability. I feel like I’m a decent football player, and I like to make plays out there.”

Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta missed Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury but could return this week. He was listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s walk-through.

The Colts listed only offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) as a non-participant in their walk-through on Wednesday.

Chiefs move past first loss, place target on Panthers

Rested and ready, the Carolina Panthers might find a testy crew of Kansas City Chiefs when Patrick Mahomes plays in Charlotte for the first time Sunday afternoon.

The Panthers (3-7) have won two games in a row and are coming off an open week.

The Chiefs (9-1) don’t have a winning streak for the first time since January. They lost last weekend at Buffalo, though they share the best record in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.

The Chiefs are bound to be paying attention to more details after a rare disappointment for the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions.

“Try to use this as a spark so that we can be a better football team in the end,” Mahomes said of the loss to the Bills.

Mahomes said the Chiefs are keeping perspective after their first defeat since Christmas Day 2023 (20-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders).

“The undefeated thing was cool, but that’s not our ultimate goal,” he said.

Kansas City lost back-to-back games once last season but not during their 14-3 season in 2022. They dropped two in a row once in 2021 and finished 12-5 but ran up a 14-2 record in 2020 without losing consecutive games.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the focus clicked quickly from Buffalo to the Panthers without players discussing being undefeated.

“I don’t really hear a lot of that talk from them or think they care too much about that, other than exhausting yourself the best you can to prepare yourself for that team there that week.” Reid said. “Then you get to a point where you say, ‘Listen, I’ve done everything I possibly can. Here’s a product.’ And you go play.”

Mahomes challenges defenses in multiple ways even operating with an offense dented by injuries. There’s a chance running back Isiah Pacheco (broken leg) returns from injured reserve, but Reid said that decision wouldn’t be made until late in the week.

Pacheco’s hard-charging style commands a team approach to tackling, but Carolina doesn’t want to distract from intent to keep Mahomes under wraps.

With defensive backs doing better at formation identification, the Panthers are giving themselves a stronger chance to be effective at the back end.

“And making plays when the ball comes to them,” first-year coach Dave Canales said. “So a lot of growth there.”

The Panthers are sticking with Bryce Young at quarterback, something that was expected given a couple of victories since he returned to the first-string role.

“This is about the continued progress,” Canales said. “Bryce looks more and more confident.”

With a quarterback who’s still trying to settle in and bolster production, the Panthers expect that the Chiefs will dial up some defensive packages to test Young’s ability to handle different looks.

“We just have to be prepared for those answers,” Canales said. “They’re going to have variety, (so) let’s do our best stuff as fast that we can to try to put a little bit of stress on them.”

The Panthers won’t be overconfident by any stretch. They’re aware of what the Chiefs are all about.

“I feel like we just got to tighten up our details even more knowing that they’re coming in to find a way to win,” Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn said.

The Panthers were without starting left guard Damien Lewis because of illness Wednesday, but otherwise the team’s list of available players should be growing.

Receiver Adam Thielen is expected to be in action for the first time since September as he comes off a hamstring ailment.

Perhaps the biggest development that has been brewing for a few weeks is that running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) should be set for his NFL debut.

“I have really high hopes for him playing this Sunday,” Canales said. “Particularly with Miles (Sanders) out (ankle), to give us another running back in there with Chuba (Hubbard).”

Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (leg) could return from IR this week

Kansas CIty Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco could make his return from injured reserve and play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

But he and fellow return-from-IR candidate Charles Omenihu have some work to do, head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday.

“We’ll see. Kind of go through the practice week, see where we’re at the end of this week, and we’ll go from there,” Reid said. “But yeah, just have to see. (It’s a) day-by-day type thing.”

Pacheco had 34 carries for 135 yards when he fractured the fibula in his right leg in a Week 2 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.

While the Chiefs opened the 21-day window for Pacheco and Omenihu last week, Reid immediately ruled out playing either one at Buffalo. He’s keeping the door open for one or both to show they’re ready to play in the Week 12 game in Charlotte, but he’s not going to let Pacheco determine his return date without medical input.

“He’s a spark plug now, emotionally,” Reid said. “He’s something that way and he’s worked his tail off to get to the point that he’s at now. We’ve got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that’s sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that mentality. That’s what’s helped him get to this point.”

Omenihu remains on the physically unable to perform list and is working toward a comeback from an ACL tear in the AFC Championship game.

Reid said injured wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who caused a stir by posting a clock emoji on his X account, isn’t ready to practice.

“Making very good progress, (I) can’t tell you when he’ll be back,” Reid said. “He’s another one who is excited to get back out here and get going. So, I appreciate the way he’s approached the whole thing.”

Brown suffered a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint that sent him to the hospital from a preseason game in August.

Bears RB D’Andre Swift (groin) misses practice

Chicago Bears running back and leading rusher D’Andre Swift missed practice Wednesday with a groin injury, but his head coach is hopeful he’ll be ready for Week 12.

Swift rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers but was limited to 57 percent of the team’s offensive snaps.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said he’s hopeful Swift will be ready to play Sunday against the visiting Minnesota Vikings (8-2).

Eberflus also said offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion protocol) and defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Swift, 25, has rushed for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 10 starts this season, his first in Chicago. He also has 28 catches for 243 yards.

Swift earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023 with Philadelphia, rushing for 1,049 yards and five TDs.

Bucs WR Mike Evans (hamstring) on track to return

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans participated in parts of practice on Wednesday and is planning to suit up Sunday for the first time since a Week 7 hamstring injury.

Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) were injured in the same 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21. Godwin, still the team leader with 50 receptions, is out for the year.

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said Evans looked good and is positive about his chances of getting back in the lineup this week when the Buccaneers (4-6) play at the New York Giants (2-8).

“You guys know: Mike’s a pro. He’s going to do everything he can to get back out there with us and fight for this team as we take it one game at a time,” Mayfield said Wednesday.

Evans jumps back into the lineup as the team’s leader with six touchdown receptions. However, his 10-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns is in peril.

With 336 yards in 2024, he’ll need to average 95 yards per game in the final seven games.

“The streak, yeah, it’s important to us, but he cares about winning,” Mayfield said. “He’s a huge part of this offense when he’s there, so I think that’ll come naturally. But I’ve been in the situation where you’re trying to force-feed the ball to a guy and that’s not how this offense works especially.

Titans’ Calvin Ridley (illness), Tyjae Spears (concussion) miss practice

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (illness) and running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) missed practice Wednesday.

Titans head coach Bill Callahan also said Wednesday that cornerback L’Jarius Snead (quad) has been ruled out for a sixth straight game.

The Titans (2-8) are preparing for their game at the Houston Texans (7-4) on Sunday.

Ridley, 29, had four catches for 58 yards last week, giving him 36 catches for 541 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

Spears was injured late in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He’ll have to be cleared from the concussion protocol to play against the Texans.

Spears, 23, rushed three times for 0 yards and caught 2 passes for eight yards on Sunday. In seven games this season, he has 161 yards one touchdown on 43 carries and 17 receptions for 88 tards.

Callahan also said that tackle Leroy Watson (back) is not expected back this week and that the team will open the practice window for cornerback Chido Awuzie (groin) next week.

Sneed, 27, hasn’t played since an Oct. 13 loss to visiting Indianapolis. He has 23 tackles in five games (all starts) this season.

He is in his first season with the Titans after a March trade from the Chiefs. Kansas City had picked him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Louisiana Tech.

Giants mull dropping Daniel Jones to QB4

The New York Giants are considering shutting down Daniel Jones entirely and making Tim Boyle their emergency third-string quarterback.

Boyle, signed by the Giants to their practice squad on Tuesday, took snaps ahead of Jones during Wednesday’s practice. Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters he hasn’t decided whether Jones or Boyle will be QB3 this week.

Daboll on Monday announced that Tommy DeVito will start for the Giants (2-8) on Sunday against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Drew Lock will be his backup, demoting Jones to third string.

At play is a $23 million injury guarantee should Jones play and get hurt. It all but foreshadows that Jones has played his last game in a Giants uniform.

This season, Jones has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards and eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. The 27-year-old is in the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract. He is due to earn $30 million in base salary in 2025, with $12 million fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league season.

Boyle, 30, has appeared in 22 career games, going 0-5 as a starter. He’s thrown for 1,087 yards with four touchdowns against 12 interceptions.