Giants Roll Over Seahawks 41-7, But Injuries Are a Concern: The Giants rolled over the injury-depleted Seattle Seahawks 41-7 earlier today at Qwest Field in Seattle. The game was basically over at halftime as the Giants took a 35-0 advantage into the intermission.
The Giants are 6-2 at the halfway point of the season and remain one game ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
The main concern for the Giants coming out of the game were injuries. Offensive linemen David Diehl (hip) and Adam Koets (knee) left the game with what could be serious injuries. Wide receiver Hakim Nicks also hurt an ankle.
When asked about Diehl and Koets after the game, Head Coach Tom Coughlin responded, “I really don’t know much. I’m hoping against hope that they are going to be OK.”
When asked about Nicks, Coughlin said, “I think he rolled his ankle. It seemed to be lateral. Hope it’s not an issue.” Nicks said after the game that it is the same ankle that has given him problems earlier this season, but he did not think the injury was serious.
The Giants surprisingly shook up their offensive line before the game. With center Shaun O’Hara (foot) inactive, it was expected that Koets would start at center. Instead the Giants shifted Rich Seubert to center from left guard, moved David Diehl to left guard from left tackle, and started Shawn Andrews at left tackle.
In addition to the scoreboard, the Giants dominated statistically as New York out-gained Seattle in first downs (30 to 8), total net yards (487 to 162), net yards rushing (197 to 49), net yards passing (290 to 113), and time of possession (42:34 to 17:26).
The Giants scored five touchdowns on six of their first-half possessions. Tight end Kevin Boss fumbled the ball away on New York’s first possession. The next five possessions resulted in:
- 7-play, 52-yard touchdown drive with halfback Ahmad Bradshaw scoring from 2 yards out.
- 4-play, 63-yard touchdown drive with quarterback Eli Manning hitting Nicks deep for 46 yards and the score.
- 1-play, 4-yard touchdown drive after H-Back Travis Beckum forced a fumble on a kickoff that linebacker Jonathan Goff recovered. Bradshaw scored again on the next play.
- 11-play, 73-yard touchdown drive with Manning finding wide receiver Steve Smith for a 6-yard touchdown reception.
- 10-play, 86-yard touchdown drive with Manning throwing to Boss for the 5-yard score.
Meanwhile, the defense shutout the Seahawks in the first half, allowing only 81 total net yards. The first three Seattle possessions resulted in three three-and-outs. And the next two after that resulted in interceptions, one by cornerback Terrell Thomas and the other by cornerback Corey Webster. Seattle’s last drive of the first half ended on a 4th-and-15 “Hail Mary” right before the intermission.
In the second half of the game, the Giants had four offensive possessions. The first resulted in a three-and-out. The next two resulted in field-goal scoring drives: 5-plays, 40 yards ending with a 25-yard field goal; and 15-plays, 78 yards ending with a 20-yard field goal. New York’s last possession was an impressive 19-play (all run) effort by the backups that milked exactly 13 minutes off of the clock.
Seattle’s first two possessions of the second half were three-and-outs; followed by a 3-play, 70-yard touchdown drive; and then one short run to end the game.
Manning finished 21-of-32 for 290 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. The leading rushers were Brandon Jacobs (78 yards on 11 carries), D.J. Ware (66 yards on 13 carries), and Bradshaw (57 yards on 19 carries, 2 touchdowns). The leading receiver was Nicks (6 catches for 128 yards, 1 touchdown).
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were OC Shaun O’Hara (foot), OT William Beatty (foot), OL Jamon Meredith, FB Madison Hedgecock (hamstring), KR/PR Darius Reynaud (hamstring), DE Alex Hall, DT Linval Joseph, and LB Gerris Wilkinson (hand).
