Plan: Smash Seahawks with run game

How exactly did the Giants produce their best running game of the season against the league’s best run defense?

“I guess we really don’t have a choice but to run the ball,” right guard D.J. Fluker said with a laugh.

Without injured receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard, Brandon Marshall and Dwayne Harris, Eli Manning attempted just 19 passes in the upset of the Broncos, while the Giants rushed for 148 yards on a season-high 32 carries — with Fluker delivering the block that allowed Orleans Darkwa to break free for 47 yards on the Giants’ longest run in three seasons.

In Sunday’s matchup with the Seahawks, the Giants could have success on the ground again, facing the league’s 26thranked run defense.

“The more you run it, the better you get at it,” Fluker said following Thursday’s practice. “It may be tough sometimes, but we’re very confident in running the ball. We’re gonna bring it to you. I know that. Don’t just expect, on second down, we’re gonna throw it. We’re gonna bring it to you, just so you know.

“We have guys that we can pass the ball to, we know, but we want to focus on the run and get that done. ... We don’t want guys to just think we’re gonna pass the ball. We don’t want to be that team. ... We’re gonna wear you down. That’s our goal.”

Since Fluker’s first start in Week 4, the Giants’ ground game has grown more dangerous behind the 6- foot-5, 339-pound guard. After averaging fewer than 50 yards rushing in the first three games, the Giants have averaged 130.3 yards rushing in the three games since with Fluker in action.

Olivier Vernon (ankle) could be in danger of missing his third straight game.

Vernon, who had never missed a game in his career before this month, appeared to be making progress after participating in individual drills Wednesday, but the defensive end did not practice at all Thursday. “He stayed inside to get treatment,” coach Ben McAdoo said. Linebacker Jonathan Casillas ( neck), center Weston Richburg (concussion) and linebacker Calvin Munson (quad) also did not practice, and safety Landon Collins (ankle), Shepard (ankle) and running back Paul Perkins (ribs) were limited participants for the second straight day.

Shepard said it was “too early” to determine whether he’d miss a second straight game.

“I feel a lot better than what I was feeling last week,” he said Thursday. “I did more today than I did yesterday. Still trying to feel it out.’’