The formula thus far: Victory on the field, losses on the roster.
Not a plan for long-term success.
The Giants (2-0) are off to the fast start they desire but head into today’s game against the Buccaneers (0-2) at Raymond James Stadium a fairly battered bunch. Injuries have picked apart their depth, most notably on defense. The real damaging blow — the knee injury that cost safety Kenny Phillips the remainder of this season — makes the pulsating 33-31 triumph in Dallas seem like a long time ago.
So much physical turmoil makes it tempting for the Giants to concentrate on which players aren’t available, a woe-is-me attitude coach Tom Coughlin won’t tolerate but may eventually find difficult to keep out.
“We’re going to have 11 on the field, as long as we have 11 on the field that’s all that matters, whoever they are,” Antonio Pierce said. “Next guy’s got to step in.”
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Osi Umenyiora made a huge impact in the opener with his sack, forced fumble and recovery for a touchdown, earning him loads of accolades and face-time on highlights. He hasn’t been a consistently dominant force, however, and did not play especially well last week as the Giants were shredded on the ground by the Cowboys. More is needed. Umenyiora goes up against left tackle Donald Penn, who wasn’t drafted but has started 30 games since 2007. It’s a matchup Umenyiora needs to win.
GETTING DEFENSIVE
The Giants will play this game without three starters: Phillips, defensive end Justin Tuck and cornerback Aaron Ross. They’re also without defensive tackle Chris Canty and likely without cornerback Kevin Dockery. That’s a lot of missing pieces. Eventually, the foundation can withstand only so many cracks before it crumbles. Suddenly, the Giants are paper-thin, and the talent drain might be too much to overcome.
WARD OFF THE RUN
This surely caught the attention of Derrick Ward. The Giants allowed 251 rushing yards to the Cowboys.
“That was pretty surprising,” Ward said. “I don’t think out of the five years I was there I don’t think our defense ever gave up 250 yards rushing.”
Ward, the former Giants running back, will start this week in place of Cadillac Williams, whose knee injury will keep him limited to a reserve role, if he plays at all.
BARBER OF THE BUCS
The last man standing for the once-renowned Tampa Bay defense is cornerback Ronde Barber, who is in his 13th NFL season, rare longevity at a position where any slight decrease in speed or quickness can lead to retirement. Tiki’s twin brother is 34 years old — 17 months older than Tampa head coach Raheem Morris — and will have to chase youngsters Steve Smith and Mario Manningham.
LOOSEN IT UP
If Eli Manning and the young receivers continue to get the ball downfield, eventually opposing defenses are going to have to drop back away from the line of scrimmage and provide more help to the secondary. That would be a welcome scenario for a Giants rushing attack that has been alarmingly ineffective.
“Defenses are worried about our running game,” Manning said. “It can be very explosive, that is why we probably had some success throwing the ball. Whatever the defense is doing, we will try to have an answer for it, to attack it, whether it is with the run or the pass.”
DEAD HEAT
The temperature is expected to be around 90 degrees and with a 40-percent chance of scattered thunderstorms, it figures to be steamy. Injuries have robbed the Giants of much of their depth, meaning hydration, cramping and fluid-replenishing IVs will be in vogue.
BUCS BOO-BOOS
Tampa’s top receiver, Antonio Bryant, has a knee injury that kept him out last week and may sideline him again. Backup receiver Maurice Stovall (knee) also might be out. Tampa Bay is also without its two starting safeties. Tanard Jackson is just halfway through serving a four-game suspension and Jermaine Phillips is out for the season with a fractured thumb. Center Jeff Faine is out with a triceps injury.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com
PAUL’S PREDICTION
Figure more points than usual will be needed here, as the depleted defense is going to need time to regroup. This is not the heralded Tampa defense of the past, and is a perfect place for the dormant ground game to get cranked up.
GIANTS 27, BUCCANEERS 17