Season on the verge of spiraling out of control before road trip
It’s certainly no surprise that the Giants are 1-2 after three games considering they faced two Super Bowl contenders in San Francisco and Dallas. But fans have to be concerned with not only the context of those games, but also recent events that have this season on the verge of spiraling out of control in the upcoming road trip.
NFL players and coaches will tell you that every week is a “must-win game,” yet here are the crossroads facing the Giants entering Monday night’s home game against the Seahawks.
A win gets them back to a respectable .500 with some momentum and margin for error in October. A loss brings them to 1-3 before two road games at Miami and at Buffalo — where they will be bigger underdogs than in probably every other game besides at Philadelphia in Week 16.
“Without a doubt, it’s a big game, and we’re excited for the opportunity,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “We’re going to do what we always do and prepare and get ready to go. We’re excited to get out there.”
It’s no secret which path is more desirable for a franchise looking to build on last season’s playoff appearance, but at this point it appears unlikely.
The Giants will again be without All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas, who alarmingly suffered a setback with his hamstring in practice this past week and been deemed “week-to-week” by head coach Brian Daboll. Running back Saquon Barkley, meanwhile, is likely to miss a second straight game with a high-ankle sprain.
Those are troubling developments for an offense that has been held to fewer than 200 yards twice already and now must keep up with a Seattle team averaging the fourth-most points in the NFL after posting 37 points apiece in two straight wins against the Lions and Panthers.
On the bright side, the Giants are getting left guard Ben Bredeson back from a concussion and the Seahawks are allowing the fourth-most points per game while featuring a significantly worse defensive line than what New York faced in San Francisco on Sept. 21.
This offense is going to need solid protection and be able to take some shots downfield. Adding tight end Darren Waller and speedy wide receivers Parris Campbell and Jalin Hyatt was supposed to make this offense more explosive, but so far Jones is averaging only 187.3 passing yards per game with just two passing touchdowns — and one of them was to Barkley.
Hyatt played only 16 snaps against the Niners, but the rookie is developing behind the scenes and might get onto the field more in a game where the Giants shouldn’t need to call so many quick passing plays to possession receivers because of a defensive front wrecking a game.
“Jalin’s doing everything we’re asking him. He’s doing a great job,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “Obviously, he’s another one of those young players that are continuing to grow and develop and the role that he’s in right now and continue to expand and grow and he’s handled it like a pro, which has been great. Like I said, every week’s kind of a new week to see where these guys fit based on the schemes that we’re seeing and put together the best game plan.”
The Giants are also going to need their marquee players on the defensive line and at outside linebacker to rise to the occasion. The Seahawks are likely to be without starting left tackle Charles Cross, and center Evan Brown (questionable) should be completely overmatched by All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who has the third-highest salary cap hit in the NFL this season, has been exceptionally quiet with only 0.5 sacks and two QB hits.
At outside linebacker, Kayvon Thibodeaux has simply not made an impact against the run or the pass in a sophomore season with massive expectations after being the No. 5 pick in the 2022 draft. That has to change soon, and it should help that starting passrusher Azeez Ojulari will be back after missing last week with a hamstring injury.
The Giants’ defense has yet to force a turnover, and it goes without saying that getting a takeaway or two could be the difference come Monday night.
“It’s a concern. You always want to get the ball turned over,” defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said. “But if I keep saying, ‘Hey, let’s rip the ball off of them,’ then all the sudden they start slipping through some tackles, you know what I mean? I think that turnovers, interceptions, fumble recoveries, I think they come in bunches. And how they come in bunches is getting back to what I said before, on how you affect the quarterback and how you go tackle the running back with pursuit and all 11 guys there. I think they’ll come.”
This is also an opportunity at payback for the Giants. They started 6-1 last season before falling 27-13 in Seattle, and that was the start of a 1-4-1 slide that nearly cost New York a playoff spot.
If they don’t win this game, they could be staring at an even more painful road this fall.
GIANTS GAMEDAY
The Game: Seahawks (2-1) at Giants (1-2), Monday, 8:15 p.m., ABC The Line: Seattle by 1.5
History: The all-time series is tied, 10-10. The Seahawks have won five of the last six matchups including last year in Seattle, 27-13.
The Prediction: Seahawks 23, Giants 17