The Seattle Seahawks have gained a reputation for their unique style of play, particularly in prime-time matchups. In the first quarter, we witnessed an abundance of this distinctiveness, which typically sets the stage for intense showdowns involving Seattle and their opponents. However, what transpired was a comprehensive dismantling of the New York Giants’ offensive efforts, serving as a counterbalance to the challenges faced by the struggling Seahawks offense. The final result? A resounding 24-3 victory, much to the disappointment of the Metlife Stadium crowd. In their two home games, both showcased on a national stage, the Seahawks found themselves outscored by a staggering margin of 64-3, while Daniel Jones bore the brunt of the Giants’ offensive struggles.
Now, let’s delve into the categories of ‘Triumphant Figures’ and ‘Unfortunate Figures,’ with the understanding that the latter category will be relatively limited in a contest where the Seahawks enjoyed a double-digit lead for more than half of the game.
Triumphant Figures
Devon Witherspoon
Devon Witherspoon’s performance in this game ranks among the most splendid displays by any Seahawks secondary player, let alone a rookie. Witherspoon demonstrated precisely why Seattle valued him as the fifth overall pick. His achievements for the night included multiple tackles resulting in a loss of yardage, two quarterback sacks, a deflected pass, a remarkable 97-yard interception return for a touchdown, and outstanding instincts when pursuing ball carriers and the football in general. It’s worth noting that Witherspoon assumed the nickel role due to injuries to Artie Burns and Coby Bryant. Thus, any prior doubts about his suitability for this position seem quite misguided in hindsight.
Let us celebrate this rookie; his accomplishment is unparalleled in the history of the NFL, marking a unique achievement that no other cornerback has ever attained.
The Entire Defensive Unit
Why would anyone have any complaints? The statistics speak for themselves: 11 quarterback sacks, 3 turnovers, a mere 3.4 yards per offensive play, and a meager 3 points conceded. The pass-rushing unit applied relentless pressure on Daniel Jones, with Clint Hurtt exhibiting a heightened propensity for blitzing, a departure from his usual tactics. Admittedly, there were a couple of significant gains allowed to Matt Breida as a receiving running back. Nevertheless, the Giants faced considerable resistance in their quest for yardage. Julian Love showcased his most remarkable performance in a Seahawks uniform, Quandre Diggs secured an interception as the last line of defense, and Riq Woolen regrettably missed what could have been his first interception.
Bobby Wagner continued to display his aptitude for blitzing, accounting for several quarterback sacks. Boye Mafe is continuing his surge into his sophomore season, Derick Hall engineered a turnover through relentless pressure, Mario Edwards Jr. has proven to be a shrewd and economical addition to the defensive line, while Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed wreaked havoc. Uchenna Nwosu secured his first quarterback sacks of the season, Myles Adams achieved his first career sack, and the run defense has shown significant improvement compared to the previous season’s struggles.
Is the Giants’ offensive unit severely inept? Certainly. However, had the Seahawks’ defensive unit been similarly ineffectual, they would have squandered the opportunity to exploit this situation. This game witnessed a resounding display of dominance, a collaborative effort of the highest caliber. Kudos are in order for Clint Hurtt and his coaching staff for orchestrating this stellar performance.
Drew Lock
Drew Lock’s inaugural regular-season drive as a Seahawks quarterback culminated in a touchdown. Although a couple of his throws were somewhat off the mark, both completions resulted in first downs. His pass to Noah Fant, following astute recognition and evasion of pressure, resulted in the longest offensive play of the season. Drew fulfilled his role admirably while Geno Smith received medical attention, thus contributing significantly to Seattle’s victory.
Noah Fant
Did I witness yards gained after the catch by a Seahawks receiver? Indeed, I did. Noah Fant’s performance was nothing short of exceptional as he secured a crucial first down, skillfully avoiding the sideline boundary and coming tantalizingly close to his first touchdown of the season. Although the use of tight ends in the passing game was limited on this particular evening, we saw a pivotal contribution from this position.
DeeJay Dallas
Despite having only two returns on the night, DeeJay Dallas executed a 30-yard kickoff return to start the second half and a subsequent 23-yard punt return later in the game. Arguably, this represents his most impressive performance as a return specialist, marked by greater decisiveness when in possession of the football.
DK Metcalf
Technically, DK Metcalf secured all four of his targets, although one was nullified because he stepped out of bounds, officially registering as an incomplete pass. His first-quarter touchdown reception, characterized by a “late hands” diving catch, was nothing short of exceptional. Clearly, Metcalf has refined his receiving abilities this season.
Ken Walker and Zach Charbonnet
Although their performance may not be labeled as exceptionally efficient, Ken Walker and Zach Charbonnet collectively accounted for 23 touches, accumulating 119 yards. Notably, Walker recorded his fifth rushing touchdown of the season. This accomplishment is significantly amplified when one considers the makeshift offensive line that was deployed on this occasion.
Michael Dickson
It is worth acknowledging an individual who has not often been featured in columns this season. Michael Dickson executed four punts, three of which were artfully downed inside the opposition’s 20-yard line. A stark contrast emerges when comparing the Seahawks’ special teams, even in light of Jason Myers’ recent struggles, with the Giants, who committed an alarmingly high number of penalties on special teams and mishandled a punt.
Unfortunate Figures
Jake Curhan
This was an evening fraught with adversity for Jake Curhan, as he surrendered both sacks to Kayvon Thibodeaux and incurred a costly downfield penalty that nullified a first down. While it would be unwise to be overly critical, given his commendable performance in recent weeks, this episode underscores the wisdom of avoiding prolonged reliance on backup tackles. Nevertheless, the offensive line, despite being beset by additional injuries during the game, acquitted themselves admirably. However, it must be conceded that this was not Curhan’s finest hour.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Ohio State rookie managed only 5 yards on 3 receptions, raising questions about Shane Waldron’s decision to deploy him primarily at the line of scrimmage. If this strategy continues to be the norm, it may be prudent to designate him as a healthy scratch, as his current usage does not appear to justify his inclusion. It is worth noting that Smith-Njigba did receive deeper targets from Drew Lock, although one pass resulted in a drop (albeit on a challenging throw) and the other was delivered behind him. We must await the post-bye period to determine if Smith-Njigba’s role undergoes a substantial transformation from its current uninspiring state.
3rd Down Offense
Ironically, the most significant play of the night occurred on a 3rd down when Drew Lock connected with Noah Fant on a catch-and-run sequence. However, the overall performance on 3rd downs, going 3-for-12, remains a concern, characterized by an excessive number of 3rd-and-long situations. Even in
short-yardage scenarios, it may be advisable to allocate some of Ken Walker’s carries to Zach Charbonnet when a power back is desired. This represents a genuine area of concern, as Seattle will not face subpar offensive units on a weekly basis.
Jason Myers
Once again, Jason Myers failed to convert a field goal attempt from a distance exceeding 50 yards, bringing his total to 8 successful attempts out of 12 for the season. Despite his stellar performance against the Carolina Panthers, legitimate concerns persist regarding his overall reliability.
Final Observations
- Before his injury, Geno Smith seemed poised for a commendable outing. However, his final tally of 110 passing yards appeared underwhelming. There was a near interception by Kayvon Thibodeaux on a screen pass, which would have been deemed an exceptional individual play. His touchdown pass to DK Metcalf was executed with precision, and a beautifully executed deep crosser to Tyler Lockett underscored his competence. Curiously, Smith incurred a penalty for gesturing toward the Giants sideline following a hit by Isaiah Simmons, an action that, in retrospect, was rather understandable given the circumstances.
- Sympathy must be extended to Jamal Adams. His strenuous efforts to return to the field culminated in an almost-sack of Daniel Jones on his initial series. However, the sequence concluded with Adams sustaining a concussion due to inadvertent contact with a knee to the head. Although the extent of the concussion is reportedly not severe, his unsteady and disoriented state on the sideline justified the decision to keep him out of the game.
- Darrell Taylor was deceived on a pivotal 3rd down play, with Daniel Jones executing a read-option keeper. Taylor, in pursuit of Matt Breida, neglected containment responsibilities, permitting Jones to secure a first down. Consequently, Taylor’s playing time has diminished in favor of Mafe and Derick Hall when both are available.
- Seattle incurred 8 accepted penalties during the contest, and for the most part, these infractions were merited. This represents an area that demands attention and rectification during the bye week, as the outcome of the game could have been expedited in the absence of these untimely errors.
- The decision by Brian Daboll to persist with Daniel Jones in the face of continued physical punishment is baffling. It would be prudent to bench him rather than jeopardize his well-being. This marks the second instance of such a decision, and it is increasingly evident that the Giants may be experiencing buyer’s remorse regarding Jones’ contract extension.
- This evening was marked by several noteworthy firsts: Cody Thompson secured his first NFL reception, Myles Adams registered his maiden NFL sack, Devon Witherspoon recorded his first sack and interception, and Mario Edwards secured his inaugural sack as a Seahawk.
- It is imperative not to underestimate the significance of Seattle’s comfortable victory on the road. The last instance of a road win by a margin exceeding 20 points dates back to 2018, and even that victory occurred in a neutral-site London game. To identify a road win of comparable magnitude, one must revert to 2015. The Seahawks are accustomed to navigating treacherous waters in games of this nature, often leaving the outcome in suspense until the final moments. However, this particular encounter defied convention. Let us savor such victories, recognizing that not all triumphs will be characterized by aesthetic brilliance.
- Seattle’s resilience in the face of adversity, exemplified by their victory in Detroit following an 0-2 start to the season, may well signify a pivotal turning point. The Seahawks must continue to amass victories in preparation for a daunting stretch of matchups, including two clashes with the 49ers, battles against the Cowboys and Eagles, all within the span of a month. The upcoming week should be dedicated to recuperation and preparation for an encounter with a Cincinnati Bengals team that, for all we know, may be compelled to field Jake Browning on that fateful afternoon.
