Seahawks visit winning-but-hurting Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Heading into their bye, the Seattle Seahawks had a good idea about the team they would be facing in a couple of weeks.
The New York Giants were winless. Their offence relied on Eli Manning and the passing game, and the defence was having a down year after helping new coach Ben McAdoo end a four-year post-season drought.
The Seahawks (3-2) are going to see a much different opponent when they face the Giants (1-5) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
New York obviously has a win after stunning the Broncos 23-10 in Denver last Sunday night. The pass-happy offence has become a run-first group with co-ordinator Mike Sullivan now calling the plays, and Manning throwing sparingly to young receivers who have replaced the injured Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Harris.
Despite injuries and the suspension of veteran cornerback Dominique RodgersCromartie, Steve Spagnuolo’s defence rediscovered itself in Denver. Rodgers-Cromartie is also back this week. “We have players who aren’t selfish,” McAdoo said. “Talented men of integrity who want to win football games, and I believe they all see the best way for us to win football games is to be physical in all three phases, heavy-handed, stop the run, run the ball, get timely conversions and timely stops on third down, and play good special teams play.”
Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman isn’t ready to say the Giants are now a runfirst team, even though they have rushed for 300 yards in the past two games.
“It’s the NFL; every week, some teams are totally different in their personnel and the way they attack defences, so they could go from being a majority 12-personel team (with two tight ends) against Denver to all 11,” Sherman said.
The Giants’ passing game might pick up this week if Sterling Shepard returns after missing a game with an ankle injury.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson never had doubts about the Giants’ defence, which blew fourth-quarter leads against the Buccaneers, Eagles and Chargers.
“The reality is all their games have been super close against some tough teams, against some really good players, too,” said Wilson. “They have been right in pretty much every game, and unfortunately for them, they have lost a couple tight ones. We know they are going to be ready to roll and they just came off a big win.”
RUN GAME WOES
Seattle is still struggling to find consistency in the run game. It was held to 62 yards on 25 carries in the victory over the Rams prior to the bye. Thomas Rawls led Seattle with 20 yards rushing. Eddie Lacy was mostly ineffective as well. Seattle has been held under 100 yards rushing three times.
TOP TARGET
With all the injuries, rookie tight end Evan Engram has emerged as Manning’s top target. He had five of the Giants’ 11 receptions last week for 82 yards and a touchdown. The first-round draft pick has 24 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns, second best on the team in all three categories.
EXCELLENT EARL
Seattle’s Earl Thomas continues to show why he’s one of the best safeties in football. He had seven tackles, a pass breakup, an interception and a key forced fumble near the goal line against Rams. His chop on the arm of Todd Gurley as the halfback reached the ball for the pylon caused a touchback and was critical in Seattle’s six-point victory.
GOING EAST
Seattle has shown no problems going to the East Coast and playing at MetLife Stadium. The Seahawks are 4-0 at the stadium, including their Super Bowl victory over Denver. They have beaten the Giants twice — 36-25 in 2011 and 23-0 in 2013 — and knocked off the Jets last year 27-17.
ATLANTA (3-2) at NEW ENGLAND (4-2)
The rematch of the Super Bowl with an historic finish doesn’t have much of a super look right now.
The Patriots are 4-2 and have not cruised in any game, mainly due to a leaky defence. The Falcons are 3-2 and easily could have one win.
Still, NBC must be salivating to have Tom Brady vs. Matt Ryan, particularly with both teams vulnerable when they don’t have the ball.
And, of course, each side has memories — joyful and painful — of New England’s rally from a 25-point second-half hole to win the championship in February.
“Well, I mean those games, they live with you the rest of your life — the wins and the losses,” Brady says. “I mean, I think there’s obviously 18 years for me. There’s probably some games early in my career in the middle of October that I don’t really remember that well, but I would say the Super Bowl ones you always remember pretty well.”
Atlanta comes off blowing a 17-point lead and losing at home to Miami. New England was down 14-0 at the Jets before rallying to win.
“We obviously haven’t played as well as we’re capable of through five games,” Ryan says. “But we’re certainly close. We’ve done a lot of really good things at times.”
Denver (3-2) at L.A. Chargers (2-4)
After four losses — most of them in close decisions — the Chargers have won two straight. With the Dodgers still playing, it’s unlikely many Angelenos will notice if the Bolts win again.
Denver, which beat L.A. in the opener, has the NFL’s top-ranked defence. The Broncos have won 11 of the past 13 meetings with the Chargers.
Arizona (3-3) vs. L.A. Rams (4-2)
Cheers, Adrian. Welcome back to London. Adrian Peterson made this journey with the Saints on Oct. 1. Then he was dealt to Arizona, which lost its star running back, David Johnson, in the opener. So now the Cardinals play across the pond, though in Twickenham rather than Wembley.
“It’s definitely different,” Cardinals QB Carson Palmer says of having Peterson behind him. “Adrian is one of one. There’s nobody in the league like him right now, that runs the ball the way he does. Any time you add somebody who’s that special or that unique, it changes things.”
The Rams don’t want to change much of anything. One of the NFL’s surprise squads under first-year coach Sean McVay — the youngest in league history at 31 — the Rams are 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2001.
New Orleans (3-2) at Green Bay (4-2)
No Drew Brees-Aaron Rodgers matchup, with A-Rod out with a collarbone injury.
Brees is up to old tricks with his accuracy and finding the end zone, and he excels against Green Bay. New Orleans has won three straight.
Dallas (2-3) at San Francisco (0-6)
An all-time series tied 17-17-1, with some classics through the years.
This doesn’t have that look, with the Niners keeping every game close before losing, the Cowboys struggling to find their form. Dallas has equaled its loss total of 2016.
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott got a legal reprieve to delay his six-game suspension.