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Giants (6-1) Seahawks (4-3)
The Seattle Seahawks got off to a good start
last week in their game with the Los Angles Chargers. They were up 17-0 in the
first quarter, and though Los Angeles closed the gap to 17-14 in the second, they
never lost their lead. The Seahawks finished with a 37- 23 win over the Chargers.
The
Giants won their game at Jacksonville last week, but it wasn't easy. Once again
the underdog team had to come from behind and hold their lead. This time it came
down to the final play of the game, where they stopped the Jaguars at the 1-yard
line to secure their 23-17 victory.
Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll coached for
two losing seasons until the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson in the third round,
making him the sixth quarterback drafted in 2012. The team had just signed the
second most sought after free agent, Matt Flynn, who had agreed to a $19.5 million
contract in the offseason. According to Carroll, Wilson beat out Flynn, and he
made him the starter. Russell Wilson was the starting quarterback for the Seahawks
for the last ten years. During that time the team was in the playoffs in all but
two.
In the 2013 season, the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver
Broncos, and made another appearance the following year. This time the Seahawks
lost to the New England Patriots. The first time the Seahawks missed out on the
playoffs was when they had a 9-7 record in 2017. The second time was last year,
and the 7-10 finish was their first losing season in ten years. Wilson had complained
at previous times that he wasn't getting enough protection and taking too many
hits.
Going into 2021, Wilson had been sacked 394 times in his nine seasons,
and at least 40 times in every season since 2013. Last year Wilson missed 3 games
with an injury, and had taken 33 sacks and backup quarterback Geno Smith took
13 for a team total of 46 on the year. Wilson had been looking for more of a say
in personnel matters, and the way things turned out, the team and Wilson parted
ways.
A number of teams were interested, and Wilson agreed to waive his no-trade
provision for a few of them. Maybe they never forgot the lopsided 43–8 Super Bowl
loss Wilson dealt them a while back, but it was the Denver Broncos who agreed
to the Seahawks terms involving their starting quarterback Drew Lock, and more
draft picks in order to acquire Wilson. Seattle
Seahawks Offense
Geno Smith was the backup for Russell Wilson last year, and though the Seahawks
picked up Drew Lock in their trade with the Broncos, Smith beat him out for the
starting job. Smith is completing 73.5 percent of his passes, with 11 touchdowns
and 3 interceptions, while leading his team to a 4-3 record, good enough for the
division lead in the NFC West. Smith has taken 16 sacks thus far with 10 coming
in the last three games as the offensive line tries to live up to their record.
Kidding aside, Seattle is the fifth scoring offense in the league.
Aside from
Smith throwing 11 touchdowns and running for one, his top two running backs have
combined for 6 rushing touchdowns. Rookie Kenneth Walker, and Rashaad Penny have
each averaged 6.1 yards a carry. Unfortunately, Penny, the teams leading rusher
last year, suffered a broken leg in the Week 5 game at New Orleans. In the two
games since then, Walker ran for 97 yards in the first, and last week carried
the ball 23 times, for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Both of Seattle's top receivers
are listed as questionable for this game. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett were
the teams top receivers last season, and are as well this year. Each has caught
2 touchdown passes, and over half the time they've caught the ball, it's gone
for a first down. Tight end Will Dissly leads the team with 3 touchdowns, and
has pulled in 19 of the 20 passes Smith has thrown his way. Seattle
Seahawks Defense
This defense is ranked 29th in the league in yards allowed, which is just about
where they were last year. While the Seahawks have shown improvement with their
passing defense, which has moved up to 23rd compared to 31st, rushing defense
is a big issue. They are 30th in that area, facing a team this week that has made
the rushing attack a major factor in their success. In their seven games, the
Seahawks have allowed five 100-yard rushers, and allowed 149.7 rushing yards a
game.
The Seahawks signed on Uchenna Nwosu in the offseason to beef up their
pass rush, and it was a good move. So far he has 29 total tackles, 10 quarterback
hits, and three defended passes. Nwosu is tied with Darrell Taylor and Quinton
Jefferson, each having recorded 3 sacks. Rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen is off
to a great start for his career. He's tied for the league lead in interceptions
with 4, including one he returned 40 yards for a touchdown, and has 2 fumble recoveries.
It
should be noted that despite current numbers, it matters where teams are trending.
Over the last two games the defense has made strides. Up front they have been
slowing the run, bringing quarterback pressure, and the secondary has been playing
even stronger. In the Cardinal's game, though their defense scored a touchdown
on a fumble recovery in the end zone, the Seattle defense gave up only three points.
Last week Seattle allowed only 53 rushing yards, to help end the Chargers three
game winning streak. NY
Giants Offense
The Giants offensive line
was showing improvement as the season moved forward, but they took a big hit last
week in Jacksonville. They lost Ben Bredeson to a knee injury and Evan Neal to
an MCL sprain, and will field replacements in this game with the Seahawks. It's
important for the offensive linemen to understand each others tendencies, and
to be able to communicate. That could be a big factor here when the
Seahawks fans exert their "12th Man" influence onto the field before
each of the Giants offensive plays. Getting off to an early lead would help quiet
the crowd, but the Giants don't usually do that.
One big thing in the Giants
favor is that they have the second best rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 173.4
rushing yards per game. They are up against a team that is very weak in that area.
The combination of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley running the ball has led to
winning games. Jones has been doing it all, and last week he became the first
player in Giants history with 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a game.
Jones, the third-leading rusher in the quarterbacks group, also was named the
NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Because of a lack of available players, the
Giants still struggle with their passing game. Last week against the Jacksonville
Jaguars, the receivers dropped at least six passes thrown in their direction.
Running back Barkley has the most receptions on the team with 25, and wide receiver
Richie James is next with 20. Next would be reliable tight end Daniel Bellinger.
The rookie has caught 16 of 18 passes for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, but was
hurt last week, and has undergone a successful eye operation. The focus will be
on receivers James, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton in this game. Giants
Defense
After playing well in earlier games
against some top running backs, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Ezekiel
Elliott, they have slipped, and now have given up the third most rushing yards
in the league. Running back Kenneth Walker has exceeded all expectations as a
rookie, and one of the reasons they are 10th in the NFL in rushing. Running back
Rashaad Penny will miss the rest of 2022 season with his injury, but quarterback
Geno Smith also has to be watched.
With Penny out, Smith shows as second on
the team with 30 carries for 132 yards and 1 touchdown. Run stoppers Dexter Lawrence
and Leonard Williams, pay attention. The Giants passing defense might catch a
break, because it's leaning towards wide receiver D.K. Metcalf missing this game
with a knee injury. They'll still have to deal with Tyler Lockett, who has 41
catches for 468 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Marquise Goodwin, who had a 2 touchdown
game against the Chargers last week. Smith relies on tight ends more than Russell
Wilson had in the past, and three of his tight ends have done well for him. Overall
The Seattle Seahawks are in an NFC West division
where a 4-3 puts you at the top. The Giants are 6-1, and in the NFC East, the
Cowboys 5-2 record is keeping them just above last place. The Seahawks are picking
up their pace and have won their last two games. The Giants have won their last
four being ranked as underdogs, as they are this week as well. The Seahawks have
also had their share of games being the underdog. It's strange the way things
sometimes work out, but the only game this week in which each team has a winning
record, is this one with the Seahawks and Giants. NFC
East Games
Sunday at 1:00pm Bears (3-4)
at Cowboys (5-2).
Sunday at 1:00pm Steelers (2-5) at Eagles (6-0).
Sunday
at 4:25pm Giants (6-1) at Seahawks (4-3).
Sunday at 4:25pm Commanders (3-4)
at Colts (3-3-1).
The Cowboys and Eagles are the NFC East teams favored to
win in these games.
Check out.
Giants
On The Air. Listen to the Radio Broadcasts.
TeamGiants on Twitter.
Next Games
Nov
13 Texans at Giants
Nov 20 Lions at Giants
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