Buccaneers game grades: 2017 Week 4 vs New York Giants

It pained me last week to write about the struggles of Buccaneers punter Bryan Anger as he has been the focal point of one of the best punting units in the NFL.

His first punt this week changed all that though. It traveled 53-yards down field and was downed inside the New York five-yard line after being thrown out of the end zone by Ryan Smith and downed by Josh Robinson.

The trio did this all last year, and it was great to see them back at it again in 2017.

In total, Anger punted four times with an average per punt of 49.8 yards with two of them pinning the Giants inside their own 20-yard line. His longest kick of the day went 62-yards.

Nick Folk had a much different afternoon.

His first miss of the game came on an extra point which could have given the Buccaneers a 14-point lead.

Then, he missed a field goal. This sparked some memories of Roberto Aguayo, and some tweets about the kicking game in general.

As the second half was nearing an end though, Folk did make a field goal try, which gave the Bucs a 16-10 lead entering halftime.

The celebration would be short-lived though. On the team’s first possession of the second half, the Bucs got Folk in range for a 49-yard try which he pushed wide as well.

With the lead intact it wasn’t the end of the world. However, the missed kick seemed to spark the Giants who went on to take the lead for the first time in the game later that same quarter.

Fortunately, Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas returned the favor as New York tried to take a four-point lead with momentum on their side.

Guess misery loves company.

Of course, every Buccaneers fan was biting their nails as the team moved into field goal range needing those three points to pull out the win.

As Folk lined up for the 34-yard kick, I’m certain some of you couldn’t watch. Those of you who did may have even gotten that feeling of impending doom as the ball sailed towards the left upright.

If you’re like me, when the ball grazed off the upright, you were trying to process as quickly as possible whether it had bounce out or in, until we all saw the officials hands go up in the air.

For now, Folk gets to be a hero, but like many pointed out; the Bucs shouldn’t have been in that position to begin with.

When the clock hit zero, the Buccaneers pulled out an exciting 25-23 victory and take their record to 2-1 on the year.

Grade: D

Next: Immediate Reaction to Bucs Win over Giants

It’s victory Monday now, so enjoy it as we all get ready for Thursday Night against the Patriots.

These were this week’s grades as I saw them. My scale isn’t the same as your scale though, so tell me how you think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers position groups or individual players did against the New York Giants.

Find me on Facebook, Twitter, or at walkingtheplankpodcast@gmail.com to give your part of the conversation.

Tom Brady is looking to tie Brett Favre and Peyton Manning next week for the regular season win record.

His next try is coming in four days as the Buccaneers visit the Patriots on Thursday Night Football. Come back to The Pewter Plank all week leading up to the first primetime game of the season.