Below is a transcript from Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians. Full video of press conferences can be found on Buccaneers.com.

*Head Coach Bruce Arians                                        *

(Opening statement)

"Nothing really changed after watching the film. Defensively, I thought our front seven played extremely well. Obviously, Shaq [Barrett] had a big game. Our back end probably had their worst game of the year and it was as simple a plan as it could be, and we lost leverage, didn't line up properly a couple times and gave them huge plays that should've never been made, and we'll get it corrected. Offensively, it was probably as good a half as we could play, and a pretty solid fourth quarter – third quarter, we just didn't convert third downs that were very manageable, so it's something we'll address. Running the ball better inside the five [yard line] obviously was another key. Kicking game-wise, I was very disappointed. We had opportunities for punt returns and just didn't do a very good job of blocking their gunners, and we've got to do a better job getting more physical out there in our vice, because we had opportunities to get the ball inside the 50 a couple of times on punt returns and didn't get it. As far as the kick – when you're looking at it, we substituted, they substituted late, the umpire's standing over the ball, I'm not using a timeout at that point in time – the play is not going to get run – so we took the penalty, moved the ball over – he's got to make the kick, and we don't get it done. We're all feeling a whole lot better if we make a kick, and that's part of it. We'll bounce back and be ready to go Wednesday."

(On Giants QB Daniel Jones' go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter)

"We ran a stunt inside and Vita [Vea] went all the way over the top and Ndamukong Suh doesn't get across the middle to stop the quarterback."

(On if that touchdown was a result of bad execution on defense)

"[Vita Vea] was feeling like he could get around another block – he was making good penetration, so he went one gap wider and [Ndamukong] Suh didn't get across his face, and we had everybody's back turned, doubling all the receivers."

(On if he noticed a different attitude from the team coming out for the second half)

"No, defensively, because we gave up a touchdown and a field goal on the first two possessions of the game and the half, so we didn't come out – especially in the secondary – ready to play either time. Offensively, they were more than ready to go."

(On if giving up an 18-point lead can be attributed to a young team being in a position it's not accustomed to)

"It's a good excuse. I don't like excuses. We talked about it at halftime. I was doing a lot of screaming – I'm a little hoarse because of halftime – for that reason, and it just didn't get done."

(On if the Giants changed their game plan when RB Saquon Barkley got injured)

"No – you never don't want a great player out there, but they were going to throw the ball anyway. They're down, they're not going to run it that much, they were not having any success, so it was just a matter of our secondary covering and we didn't get it done."

(On if the third-and-two play from the Giants' five-yard line in the fourth quarter was a run-pass option)

"Yeah, we had an RPO. We had a run-pass and quarterback option."

(On if QB Jameis Winston made the wrong decision to hand it off to RB Peyton Barber)

"No – we just didn't get it blocked properly on the front side. The end came up field, they were playing man so the pass was gone, so we've just got to make a better – he did it right. And in Bryon's [Leftwich] defense, too, when you run the ball that well – six plays and you go 50 yards – you've got to run it again. I picked that play [and] should've stayed out of it."

(On if there was a thought of throwing it into the end zone against man coverage)

"Yeah, but you never know what coverage you're getting, so it would've had to have been an audible, which was part of the RPO – but the RPO wasn't set up for that."

(On what the Giants were doing in coverage in the second half that slowed down the passing game)

"I think because we ran the ball a whole lot more than we did. When we threw it, it was pretty successful. We opened up with a 40-yard pass then another 30-yard pass. The running game became very successful, so that's what we were going to stick with."

(On the decision to take a delay of game penalty prior to K Matt Gay's final field goal attempt)

"It [wasn't] a matter [of] intentionally taking a penalty. When we ran our guys out, they get to substitute, so the umpire's standing over the ball. It's five, four, three [seconds left on the play clock] – I'm not going to call a timeout and waste the timeout and then have 13 seconds."

(On if he sent the kicking unit on the field wanting to intentionally take the delay of game penalty)

"No, we didn't go out there to intentionally take a penalty. When I saw the umpire standing over the ball, the last thing I wanted was a 10-second runoff, confusion – set it up, put it in the middle of the field and kick an extra point."

(On if he thought about going for a touchdown in the final seconds)

"No, not with a one-point game. A lot of things can happen if you call a pass."

(On if he still felt comfortable with K Matt Gay attempting a field goal after missing two extra points earlier in the game)

"He had just made five in a row, so yeah, we felt very comfortable."

(On Gay's extra point attempt that was blocked)

"[They] got penetration a little bit over our guard and it was a low kick because the first one was so high – he tried to kick the second one low and being a rookie – just hit it."

(On if the extra point distance is where Gay struggles from)

"That and the right hash. That's where, when you chart him back all the way through, those kicks – short kicks on the right hash – so we moved it over to the middle for him."

(On how a kicker can work to overcome struggles through repetition or fundamentals)

"It's both. Go out there and kick it on the right hash until you're comfortable – and he's been doing that. He's been doing it really well."

(On Gay being a rookie kicker for a franchise that has struggled in the kicking game in recent years)

"That's one of those half-empty glass things – this history [stuff]. This is a new team. This is our team, this new team. Just go kick."

(On what he would say to the fans angry at Gay)

"You paid your money, [so say] whatever you want to say. He isn't going anywhere."

(On if Daniel Jones' 36-yard pass to Giants WR Sterling Shepard late in the fourth quarter was a busted coverage)

"Yes, and the coaches are screaming the play from the sideline. That's disappointing."

(On if he believes in the kicking game being cursed)

"No [laughs] – it's just finding ways to win games. We found a way to win in Carolina, we didn't find a way against San Francisco, we didn't find a way [against] New York – we found a way [but] we just didn't get it done. You can't say enough about the two-minute drive to put him there. That's getting lost, Mike [Evans'] day is getting lost, Shaq [Barrett's] day is getting lost because we missed a kick. There were some great performances – there were some really poor ones too, and the kicker was one of those poor ones."

(On if he ever envisioned that OLB Shaquil Barrett would have this kind of impact)

"I don't think anybody could totally realize it would happen, but you saw things on tape and he was going to get opportunities, so he's made the best of them."

(On if he wants to build his team around players like Barrett, who come in on one-year, prove-it deals)

"Yeah – it works out a bunch of times."

(On how much Barrett's individual success reflects the defensive scheme)

"Normally, if a quarterback's back there [holding the ball] and he gets a sack, it's coverage, but he's getting some quick sacks – he's whipping guys fast – and that's all him. He's got a good delay move – he's got a nice toolbox of moves, and as teams get used to him, I think he's got a few more he hasn't even used yet. Carl [Nassib] is starting to get a good job, but we are getting good interior pressure. Kevin [Minter] got some good blitzes up the middle that pushed him out to him, so yeah, it's a combination, but he's whipping his guy enough times."

(On if he can tell that Barrett has played with other effective pass rushers)

"Yeah, he's studied other guys and he's got his own moves, but you need to have three or four if you're going to be elite and he's shown it."

(On if having multiple moves allows him to win his matchups so often)

"Yeah, he's talented."

(On what his message was to the team going into this week)

"We had the best practice of the year last Tuesday. I expect to have a better one Wednesday."

(On OLB Jason Pierre-Paul's status)

"He's just progressing right on time."

(On if it is good to see Pierre-Paul in the building)

"Yeah – he's been in and out a bunch."

(On what play Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich wanted to run when Arians took over on the run-pass option call on the 3rd-and-2 play in the fourth quarter)

"The same one, but I kind of reinforced it harder."

(On if both of them were going to run the ball)

"Yeah."

(On if they should have called a passing play in that situation)

"I think inside the 10, we've got to do a better job throwing the football. Outside, at the 20, we're scoring a lot of touchdowns. Inside the 10 – where we were pretty good – we've gotten average real fast. We had some runs we liked. Could it be conservative? Not if it's just a run, but there's always an RPO involved."

(On what lesson he wants the players to take from this loss)

"You learn a hell of a lot more by almost losing than you do by losing."

-BUCCANEERS-