New York @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 8, 2015 ) N.Y. Giants 32, Tampa Bay 18

Odell Beckham Jr. and the New York Giants look to get out of the doghouse on Sunday when they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Beckham found himself there with a questionable touchdown celebration last week while the Giants reside in Fido's home after being left with the unenviable task of attempting to become the fourth team since the current playoff format was established in 1990 to rally from an 0-3 start to make the postseason.

Co-owner John Mara publicly said he was unhappy with Beckham's unsportsmanlike conduct, which was one of seven penalties in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-24 loss to Philadelphia. "I want him to go out there and play hard. It's part of being smart in all aspects of penalties," Eli Manning said of the flamboyant wideout, who reeled in nine receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles and faces a Buccaneers' defense that is dealing with key injuries. Three Pro Bowl selections - cornerback Brent Grimes (shoulder), linebacker Lavonte David (ankle) and Gerald McCoy (ankle) - and 2016 NFL leading tackler Kwon Alexander (hamstring) are banged up, but Tampa Bay wasn't willing to cite the injuries as a reason to hang its head. "No time to make excuses. We've gotta be men," McCoy said. "... That's what it's going to take to go 16 straight. You're going to be in pain. You've gotta learn to push through it."

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Buccaneers -3. O/U: 44

ABOUT THE GIANTS (0-3): New York's listless offense has scored in only four of 12 quarters and saw a 24-point eruption in the fourth last week go by the boards after rookie Jake Elliott's 61-yard field goal ended the game. Sterling Shepard (team-leading 16 catches, 200 receiving yards) notched his second seven-reception performance of the season last week and had a 77-yard touchdown. Shepard was unable to come away with a short-yardage grab at the goal line and the Giants' 30th-ranked rushing game failed to punch it in from the half-yard line. Orleans Darkwa, who leads the team with a meager 53 rushing yards, is expected to play Sunday despite nursing a back injury while starting running back Paul Perkins is averaging just 2.1 yards per carry.

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (1-1): While New York's offense has struggled all season, Tampa Bay found itself in that predicament last week as Jameis Winston threw three interceptions and a lackluster ground game failed to get untracked in a 34-17 loss to Minnesota. Jacquizz Rodgers had just five carries for 15 yards with the Buccaneers playing in catch-up mode, but the diminutive spark plug will be tasked to carry the load with Doug Martin serving the final game of his suspension. Tampa Bay, which rushed for just 26 yards as a team versus the Vikings, looks to exploit a Giants defense that has surrendered an NFL second-worst 153.3 yards on the ground.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tampa Bay WR DeSean Jackson, who has come up large against the Giants in his career, scored his first touchdown with his new team last week.

2. New York DE Olivier Vernon did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday after exiting last week's game with an ankle injury.

3. Buccaneers WR Mike Evans has recorded back-to-back seven-reception games heading into a key matchup versus Pro Bowl CB Janoris Jenkins.

PREDICTION: Giants 17, Buccaneers 16