Giants, Bucs try to take next step

Both teams have struggled since making the Super Bowl.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — One team hasn’t won a playoff game in seven years, the other has gone through hard times since winning the Super Bowl five seasons ago.

The New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are counting on this trip to the postseason to be different.

No more one-and-done.

“I was brought here to help this team get back to the position where we can compete in a playoff game,” said quarterback Jeff Garcia, one of the big changes the Bucs (9-7) made to transform themselves from a last-place team into NFC South champions.

“This is when the great players step up. I’m not necessarily putting myself in that position right now, but I understand what is put on our shoulders, what is put on my shoulders, and I will do anything and everything to help this team reach that next level.”

The Giants (10-6) will be looking for the same from Eli Manning in Sunday’s NFC wild-card game.

The top pick in the 2004 draft has New York in the playoffs for the third straight season, but he’s still trying to deliver the team’s first postseason win since January 2001.

The Giants have lost in the opening round three times since, including the 2005 and 2006 seasons with Manning struggling at quarterback.

In two career postseason games, he’s completed 26 of 45 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He was sacked five times, lost one fumble, and New York exited quickly against Carolina (23-0) and Philadelphia (23-20).

“I am just looking at the game ahead of me. I’m just going to try to play smart, put our team in a situation to win the game — whatever that is,” Manning said. “Just make plays here and there, don’t force any turnovers, and don’t force anything to happen unless you have to.”

The Bucs’ only other playoff appearance since winning the Super Bowl five years ago ended in a first-round loss to Washington.

They had the NFL’s stingiest pass defense this season and hope to take advantage of Manning’s inconsistency and knack for making critical mistakes.

The 27-year-old threw for 3,336 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also tossed 20 interceptions, tied for the league lead with Carson Palmer and Jon Kitna.

It certainly doesn’t help that he’s the younger brother of Peyton Manning.

“Eli has more pressure on him than anybody in this league, but I think he handles it extremely well. ... If his last name were Smith, I don’t think it would be such a big deal,” Giants defensive end Michael Strahan said.

“He hasn’t always been great and hasn’t been nowhere near as bad as people like to say. I know as teammates we stand behind him because we know how talented he is. We feel like he definitely is that guy who’s going to take us to the next level. We’re sure he’s going to do it, and this might be the year.”