Seahawks MNF Win: Dominant Defense Shines

suppruser October 3, 2023January 12, 2024 0 Comments Dominant Defense, Seahawks MNF

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Seattle Seahawks’ defense had a standout performance as they defeated the New York Giants with a score of 24-3 on Monday night at MetLife Stadium. The Giants’ quarterback, Daniel Jones, had a tough game, losing possession of the ball three times and getting sacked a whopping 10 times.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Seahawks. Their safety, Jamal Adams, had to leave the game early in the first quarter after undergoing evaluation for a possible concussion. This was a significant moment for Adams because it marked his return to the field after suffering a torn left quad tendon in last season’s opening game.

Seahawks MNF Win: Dominant Defense Shines

Table of Contents

Seattle Seahawks

This season, we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 2013 Seahawks team that achieved victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. It feels like it happened even longer ago because of the recent struggles with Seattle’s defense. However, on Monday night, in the same stadium where they won the Super Bowl, the Seahawks had a fantastic defensive performance that reminded everyone of their dominant win over the Denver Broncos in 2013.

They had eleven sacks, made three takeaways, and stopped the opponent twice on fourth down. They even scored a defensive touchdown and allowed only one field goal. It was a performance reminiscent of their famous “Legion of Boom” era.

A rookie cornerback named Devon Witherspoon, who plays with the same aggressive style as the LOB, played a crucial role by intercepting a pass and running it back for a 97-yard touchdown. Despite dealing with many injuries, the Seahawks have a 3-1 record, and they were fortunate to avoid a major injury to their quarterback, Geno Smith, during the game.

Devon Witherspoon had an outstanding game even before his interception return. He had a sack and was credited with another when the opponent made a backward pass. His touchdown came at a critical moment when the Giants were close to scoring and cutting Seattle’s lead to just three points. Some questioned the Seahawks’ decision to draft him fifth overall instead of Jalen Carter, but Witherspoon’s immense talent is starting to shine.

The eleven sacks were a significant improvement for Seattle’s pass rush, which had been inconsistent in the first three games of the season. This performance tied a franchise record and was a dramatic increase from their total of five sacks before this game. Four players, including Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks, Devon Witherspoon, and Uchenna Nwosu, each had two sacks, a feat not seen in the NFL since 1987. The Seahawks have also been putting immense pressure on opposing quarterbacks in recent games, leading the league in that category.

As for the quarterback situation, Geno Smith had been the starter for the Seahawks for 21 consecutive games until he briefly left the game due to a knee injury. He returned for the second half and had a decent performance, completing 13 of 20 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Drew Lock came in as a backup and made a big play that set up a touchdown.

However, there was also some troubling news for the Seahawks. Jamal Adams, who was eagerly anticipated to return, got injured after just nine plays. He took a knee to the helmet and was evaluated for a possible concussion. Adams has had a history of injuries since being acquired by the Seahawks in a trade with the Jets in 2020. Additionally, the Seahawks lost several other players to injuries during the game, including guards Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes, as well as nose tackle Jarran Reed.

Next game: at Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 15)

New York Giants

The Giants’ offense is in disarray. Daniel Jones, their quarterback, has returned to his old habit of making costly turnovers. As a result, the Giants’ season has taken a nosedive after just four disappointing games. In their most recent game, Jones fumbled the ball and threw two interceptions, including one that was returned for a 97-yard touchdown when the game was still competitive. Unfortunately, Jones didn’t receive much support from his teammates.

The offensive line performed poorly, allowing the opposing team to sack Jones 11 times, and the Giants’ special teams committed six penalties. It was a disastrous performance.

As the season continues, the Giants face upcoming away games in Miami and Buffalo, which may only make things worse.

Taking a closer look at Jones’ performance, he completed 27 of 34 passes for 203 yards with 2 interceptions. This is a far cry from the promising quarterback we saw in his first season under coach Brian Daboll last year. While Jones is facing constant pressure, he also needs to improve his gameplay. It’s clear that the three turnovers in the recent game were his responsibility, bringing his total to six turnovers in just four games this season. This raises questions about whether the Giants made a mistake by giving Jones a $160 million contract. This marks the third poor performance in four games, and New York desperately needs him to step up, or their season could spiral out of control.

One alarming trend for the Giants is their terrible performance in the first half of games this season. They’ve been outscored 77-9 in the first half and haven’t managed to score a single first-half touchdown in their four games. Their point differential in the first half is one of the worst in the Super Bowl era. Despite talking about starting games faster all week, the Giants continue to struggle in this regard.

An interesting stat from NFL Next Gen highlights a play where Seahawks tight end Fant was expected to gain 19.8 yards after the catch. He was 15.34 yards away from the nearest defender on his 51-yard catch in the second quarter. However, due to missed tackles by the Giants’ inside linebacker Bobby Okereke and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, Fant ended up gaining 46 yards after the catch and was ruled down at the 1-yard line. The Seahawks capitalized on this, and their running back scored on the very next play. The Giants’ poor tackling has become a recurring issue, and it cost them once again in this game.

Next game: at Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)