Giants vs. Buccaneers: Preview, prediction, what to watch for

An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Buccaneers matchup at MetLife Stadium: Buccaneers WR Mike Evans vs.Giants CB Deonte BanksEvans is a remarkable player.

There has never been a more consistent pass-catcher over the span of a decade.He is the first player in NFL history to start a career with 10 seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards.

Next on the list is Randy Moss with six such seasons.Evans missed the past three games with a hamstring strain, but he is expected back to face the Giants.

Despite missing that time, his six touchdown catches lead the team.Banks had a week off on the bye to consider his regression in his second year, as his lapses in concentration and effort lowlighted his first 10 games of 2024.Evans knows all the tricks of the trade, but Banks should be able to run with the 31-year old, who is the main target for Baker Mayfield, with Chris Godwin on injured reserve and done for the season.These are two teams on downswings, but the Buccaneers have a legitimate offense — they’ve averaged 25.3 points in their four-game losing streak.

The Giants have managed to score 25 points once in 10 games.Can Tommy DeVito provide a spark in the first game of the post-Daniel Jones era? We shall see.

The Bucs are vulnerable on defense, but as we’ve seen, the Giants can make any defense look like the ’85 Bears.Buccaneers 27, Giants 16Big return: Kayvon Thibodeaux started the first five games of the season, and the Giants allowed an average of 115.4 yards on the ground with him in the lineup.Thibodeaux missed the past five games following wrist surgery, and the Giants allowed 178.8 rushing yards in that span.

His replacement, Azeez Ojulari, can pressure the quarterback, but he does not set the edge on defense with the consistency Thibodeaux displays.His return should help contain running backs Rachaad White and Bucky Irving.“That’s one of the reasons why I’m here,’’ Thibodeaux told The Post.

“My teammates have done a great job so far, obvio...