2024-10-07 11:50:03
SEATTLE – The first victory of the year saved the season for the New York Giants last month.
The second here on a late Sunday afternoon may have just showed us the team they may still become.
Just call them the OM-Giants, with a hat tip to the Mets, and in heartstopping fashion, they are going to hold onto an improbable upset victory.
Isaiah Simmons blocked what was a 47-yard field goal attempt by Seattle to tie the game and potentially force overtime. Instead, his heroics resulted in Bryce Ford-Wheaton scooping up the loose football and racing 60 yards for a game-sealing touchdown in Sunday’s 29-20 triumph for the Giants with 55 seconds left.
Daniel Jones (23-for-34, 257 yards, 2 touchdowns) outplayed Geno Smith. Tyrone Tracy recorded the first 100-yard game of his career, the first for a rookie with the franchise since Saquon Barkley. And Dexter Lawrence had three sacks, leading a spirited defensive effort against a team that boasts one of the most diverse attacks in the NFL.
Put that all together and what the Giants delivered was a remarkable triumph – not just in one of the tough stadiums to play in football, but with a shorthanded roster without talented rookie Malik Nabers (concussion) and leading rusher Devin Singletary (groin) on the field.
This was without question the best win in Brian Daboll’s three seasons as head coach, following up a difficult prime time loss their last time out against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants (2-3) have watched as the Washington Commanders have surged ahead in the NFC East, knowing when they met in Week 2, Big Blue held Jayden Daniels out of the end zone in a game they believe they should have prevailed.
Sunday’s game did not get off to the best of starts with the Seahawks returning Eric Gray’s fumble at the goal line going in for a potential touchdown a staggering 102 yards for a score at the complete opposite end.
Yet just like the Giants did in Cleveland for their initial triumph last month, they rallied.
Jones was in control from the outset, using his legs to gain first downs and move the sticks in clutch situations. Tracy made the most of his opportunity, showing his reliability.
The Seahawks (3-2) pulled within a field goal after Geno Smith hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba with a touchdown pass from five yards out with 2:09 remaining.
It’s rare for non-division teams in the NFL to meet two seasons in a row, let alone three.
But that’s exactly what was on tap Sunday with the Giants and Seahawks going head-to-head for the third year in a row. Geno Smith’s Seahawks had won both of those previous meetings, one here and one in prime time last season when the Seattle defense completely smothered Jones and the Giants in prime time.
The last victory for the Giants over Seattle came during the 2020 season – the marquee win of Joe Judge’s tenure as head coach – when Colt McCoy replaced an injured Jones and – in an empty stadium thanks to the pandemic and COVID restrictions – led Big Blue to a stunning upset.
The 12s were back inside Lumen Field two years ago and any chance of a Giants’ upset was dashed by a pair of muffs from returner Richie James.
Here’s our analysis as the game progressed:
Greg Joseph kicks his third field goal of the game and Giants extend their lead to double digits.
What a momentum swing.
The Seahawks gambled on fourth and 1 after Geno Smith slid short of the first down marker on third down. Smith faked a handoff and Brian Burns sacked Smith for the turnover on downs. Wow.
Tyrone Tracy is the first Giants rookie RB to surpass 100 yards on the ground since Saquon Barkley vs. Dallas on 12/30/2018. Barkley had 109. Tracy has 102 right now on 12 carries, and Greg Joseph’s third field goal of the game has pushed the Giants’ lead back to seven.
Kayvon Thibodeaux with a potential TD-saving trip up of Kenneth Walker to force a third down. Then Tae Banks with a sweet breakup on DK Metcalf, forcing a FG attempt that Jason Myers knocked through from 48 yards out.
Still, Thibodeaux and Banks combined on back to back plays to essentially save four points and keep the Giants in front.
The Daniel Jones-to-Darius Slayton connection is heating up.
Slayton caught a 30-yard touchdown from Jones on a beautiful toss and the Giants are back in front.
The play was set up by a long strike to Slayton on a play that was Mario Manningham-esque from Super Bowl XLVI. But Slayton got called for an unsportsmanlike penalty, signaling for a first down, but officials apparently deemed the gesture looked too close to firing a gun. Was a 41-yard play, then minus 15 yards for the foul.
Big time splash play and Big Blue has the ball back. Tae Banks forced a fumble from DK Metcalf and Tyler Nubin recovers. The Seahawks were in field goal range, but coughed it up.
GIANTS
Passing: Daniel Jones 14-18, 145 yards, TD
Rushing: Tyrone Tracy 6-48, Jones 9-34, Eric Gray 4-4, Wan’Dale Robinson 1-4
Receiving: Theo Johnson 4-43, Gray 3-50, Darius Slayton 3-30, Robinson 3-21, Tracy 1-1
SEAHAWKS
Passing: Geno Smith 9-14, 97
Rushing: Kenneth Walker 2-2
Receiving: Walker 2-21, Zach Charbonnet 2-15, Tyler Lockett 1-28, DK Metcalf 1-14, AJ Barner 1-13, Jaxon Smith-Njigba 1-3, Jake Bobo 1-3
The Seahawks refused to go quietly into halftime and thanks to a deep pass from Geno Smith to Tyler Lockett, Jason Myers kicked a 43-yard field goal that tied the score with two seconds left.
Greg Joseph nailed a 38-yard field goal to put the Giants in front in a half that the Giants have completely dominated, save for the wacky goal line fumble that turned into Seattle’s only points.
Daniel Jones is going to take a beating today. Took a beating last year against the Seahawks when he was sacked 11 times. Today’s beating is going to be from carrying the ball 8,000 times.
But so far it’s working with Jones converting a pair of first downs. Then he threw a dart to Wan’Dale Robinson, who scooted away from two defenders for a 7-yard touchdown that ultimately helped the Giants pull even.
The Giants are dominating this game, yet thanks to the miscue early, the score is tied.
The Giants out-Giants themselves on their opening drive. Instead of scoring a touchdown of their own, facing a fourth-and-1 and looking to cap an impressive first possession, Eric Gray fumbled the ball into the end zone before crossing the goal line. Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins scooped up the turnover and raced a staggering 101 yards, completely in the opposite direction for a stunning touchdown and a Seattle eventual 7-0 lead.
GIANTS
SEAHAWKS
The Giants will be without Malik Nabers (concussion protocol) and more than likely will also not have Devin Singletary, who is listed as doubtful with a groin injury. That’s going to bring a different look offensively for Big Blue with expected to turn to rookie Tyrone Tracy as the lead back and second-year pro Jalin Hyatt to get more involved in the pass game.
Defensively, the Giants were encouraged by what they saw from Adoree’ Jackson (calf) in practice and could see him return. Rookie Dru Phillips (calf), like Jackson, came in listed as questionable, so we’ll see if he can be back as well.
Still expecting Giants to have Tae Banks and Cor’Dale Flott on the boundary with Nick McCloud in the slot and Isaiah Simmons working in for sub packages.
For the Seahawks, expect former Giants Leonard Williams (ribs) and Julian Love (quad contusion) to play.
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The pick: Seahawks 27, Giants 17
Here’s why: The Giants are going to have to win one of these games many expect them to lose in order to make up for failure to close out the Commanders and Cowboys. Can they put together a perfect game on both sides of the ball and come up with a takeaway or two to steal this one? It’s possible. But without Malik Nabers and the running game sputtering, compounded by the doubtful status of Devin Singletary (groin), Big Blue is really up against it. The Seahawks gave up 42 points Monday night and Lions QB Jared Goff was perfect (18-of-18 passing), yet it’s unrealistic to expect Jones and the Giants to repeat that performance, especially with former Giants DL Leonard Williams (ribs) expected to lead the return from injury for a contingent of Seahawks’ defensive players.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM:
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