Giants vs. Buccaneers Week 11 pick and prediction

GIANTS (3-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Spread: Buccaneers -11

The Giants had a week off to feel good about themselves, coming off a win over the Las Vegas Raiders and seeing so many of their injured players back at practice. They have a renewed confidence and a little bit of momentum.

But their timing couldn’t be worse.

With their season at a crossroads and needing every win to stay alive, this is what the Giants are facing as they return: A game on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions, who are coming off a two-game losing streak and Tom Brady’s worst game of the season.

It’s safe to say that even with Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay and others back in the lineup, the Giants aren’t going to catch the Bucs by surprise.

And that’s unfortunate for them because a win in this primetime game would actually establish the Giants as actual playoff contenders. They are only 1 ½ games behind the Carolina Panthers in the race for the final spot in the NFC playoff field, and once they get through the Bucs they’re staring at a pretty soft schedule. An unexpected win could turn their entire season around.

But it would be really unexpected now, considering the Bucs are one of the best teams in the NFL and three-game losing streak would be absolutely shocking – more shocking, even, than their 29-19 loss to Washington last week in which Brady threw for only 220 yards and was picked off twice. The Giants defense may be playing better of late, but the Bucs still have the third-ranked offense and the No. 1 passing attack in the league. It’s going to be hard for the Giants to slow them down, considering their pass rush has been anemic for most of the year.

So most of…