Any hope the New York Giants created after their win in Denver was swiftly crushed by an offensive no-show at home vs. Seattle Seahawks.
- New York Giants 7 (1-6)
- Seattle Seahawks 24 (4-2)
- NFL, NFC, Week 7, Final, Box Score
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
A majority of the New York Giants’ tilt against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon resembled games from their 2016 season, in which they were able to use strong defensive efforts to make up for lackluster offensive performances during an 11-5 effort.
One key difference, however, spoiled the trip down memory lane … the Giants lost.
Seattle put up 24 unanswered points, energized by 334 passing yards and three from Russell Wilson, and sent the Giants back to their losing ways in a 24-7 defeat at MetLife Stadium.
The 2016 flashbacks began from the get-go, as the defense harassed Wilson early and often. The Giants’ first defensive showing ended with a milestone, as safety Nat Berhe earned the first sack of his an NFL career, dropping an elusive Russell Wilson for a 13-yard sack.
WATCH: @NatBerhe tracks down Russell Wilson for his 1st career sack!!! pic.twitter.com/rcDjyg7o08
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 22, 2017
After a brief Giants drive, the Seahawks took up just under nine minutes on a drive that ended the first quarter and began the second. Eli Apple forced a Jimmy Graham drop that sent Seattle away empty handed. Thanks to Giants penalties, the Seahawks were allowed to run 10 plays inside the Giants 10, but the Big Blue defense held tough.
Drop… @TheJimmyGraham pic.twitter.com/BpMI7Uwvxr
— Jukes N Hoops (@JukesNHoops) October 22, 2017
The offensive struggles permeated to the Giants sidelines as well, as Seattle kept the group in check for most of the game. It took a game-changer from the defense, namely a fumble, to get this going, as rookie Avery Moss finished off a stalled Thomas Rawls, freeing the football. Landon Collins, involved in a fumble for the second consecutive week, took it back 32 yards to the Seattle 17.
Two plays later, the Giants’ offense instantly capitalized, as Evan Engram nabbed his team-high third touchdown grab of the season to give the Giants the lead.
ICYMI: @TheHumble_21 returns fumble 32 yards to set up the #NYGiants touchdown!!! pic.twitter.com/eTcilMMIEM
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 22, 2017
The two teams mainly exchanged defensive stop for the remainder of the half, but when post-halftime play commenced, Seattle took advantage of a very tired Giants defensive unit, forced to stay on the field thanks to countless short drives by the offense, when they went 59 yards in four plays, concluding with Doug Baldwin‘s 22 yard touchdown grab to give Seattle a lead they would not relinquish.
Doug Baldwin hauls in the Russell Wilson pass for the #Seahawks TD!pic.twitter.com/Fy4tveB3Oz
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) October 22, 2017
The most the Giants could muster up afterward was a mere fourth-quarter drive where Aldrick Rosas missed a 47-yard field goal. Though the defense picked up a three-and-out afterward, an Eli Manning fumble allowed Seattle to capitalize once more. Using old-fashioned Seattle trickery, Wilson threw a 38-yard pass to Paul Richardson, who got into a battle with Collins for the ball. Ruled a touchdown on the field, the Giants endured a length review that couldn’t find any evidence to the contrary, putting Seattle up 17-7.
PAUL. RICHARDSON ! Il attrape la bombe de Russ pour le TD ! #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/qF9UOUDtiE
— NFL France (@FirstDownFR) October 22, 2017
After yet another forgettable Giants drive, Seattle capped their day with one more score, as Graham was finally able to haul a score in, creating the 24-7 final.
.@DangeRussWilson tosses a late @Seahawks TD to @thejimmygraham. #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/ww3JAyg4um
— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2017
Russell Wilson improved to 5-0 all-time at MetLife Stadium, including a 3-0 mark against the Giants and a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. His top target was Baldwin, who hauled in nine receptions for 92 yards.
As for the Giants, Engram was the lone bright spot of an otherwise pitiful offensive showing, nabbing six balls for 60 yards. The Giants run game, which picked up 300 yards over the previous two weeks, was likewise held in check, picking up just 46 yards on 17 carries. Eli Manning threw for 134 yards on 29-for-39 passing.
