The New York Giants will enter their Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks with some emotional dissonance.
On the one hand, at 4-7, they sit atop the NFC East, as they own the tiebreaker over the 4-7 Washington Football Team. With just five regular-season games left, they’re in poll position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Even if it’s only due to winning their terrible division, earning a postseason berth would be a major step for a rebuilding team.
On the other hand, they’ll likely have to play without their second-year quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones injured his right hamstring early in the second half of last week’s game in Cincinnati. He was on track for his best statistical performance of the season, and his third consecutive turnover-free game. With Jones’ development on the upswing, and the Giants embarking on a crucial December slate against winning teams, the timing of his injury couldn’t have been worse. According to multiple reports, Jones missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, although he has done some light throwing on the side. The young signal caller is a long shot to play on Sunday. New York is hopeful his absence will last just one week.
Colt McCoy
Should Jones sit out against Seattle, his replacement will be the eleven-year veteran Colt McCoy. The former Texas Longhorn star has spent the last five years as a backup for Washington. He started just seven games over that span. McCoy looked pretty pedestrian when he was forced into action in Cincinnati, but he should be better after a full week of practice preparing to be the starter. Without Jones, though, New York’s playbook will be shortened. McCoy won’t be able to execute the read options and designed quarterback runs the Giants have been calling recently.
With New York’s offense limited, the onus now falls on the defense to keep Big Blue in this game. Coordinator Patrick Graham’s unit will have its hands full against quarterback Russell Wilson and this dynamic Seattle offense. The Seahawks rank third in points per game, and fifth in total yards per game. D.K. Metcalf, the NFL’s leader in receiving yards, along with fellow wideout Tyler Lockett, gives Seattle an elite downfield passing attack. The Giants have been very good at preventing big plays this season, but the Seahawks will be their toughest test in that department yet.
Latest Giants News
The Giants’ defense will be without outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell, who on Tuesday was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury. New York will now be without their top four projected EDGE players from the start of the season. Midseason signing Jabaal Sheard and rookie seventh-round pick Carter Coughlin will likely start at outside linebacker Sunday. That spells trouble for Big Blue’s ability to generate a pass rush on Wilson.
Here’s an overview of everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s game, followed by a prediction for the final score.
Where and When
Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST
Injuries
New York: OLB Kyler Fackrell (Out), RB Devonta Freeman (Out), OLB Cam Brown (Questionable), WR Darius Slayton (Questionable), WR Sterling Shepard (Questionable), QB Daniel Jones (Questionable), ILB David Mayo (Questionable), S Nate Ebner (Questionable)
-
Ep 138: Chiefs Survive Jets On Sunday Night Football
by Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 2:18 pm
Seattle: RB Travis Homer (Questionable), RB Carlos Hyde (Questionable), RB Chris Carson (Questionable), OT Brandon Shell (Questionable), OG Jordan Simmons (Questionable), DE Carlos Dunlap (Questionable), CB Tre Flowers (Questionable), OG Damien Lewis (Questionable), C Kyle Fuller (Questionable)
Most Concerning Matchup: WR Tyler Lockett vs. CB Isaac Yiadom
Yiadom has been much improved since his return to the starting lineup in Week 8, but he’s still the weak link in an otherwise strong Big Blue secondary. Against Seattle, holding their star receivers in check will be paramount, so pressure is on Yiadom to have his best game of the season. Top corner James Bradberry should be matched up with Metcalf most of the game, which means Yiadom’s main assignment will be Lockett.
Lockett is a shifty, agile route runner. He’ll be a diffucult cover for the bigger, more physical Yiadom. New York will definitely run plenty of zone to mitigate his one-on-one coverage deficiencies. Still, there will be times when Yiadom will have to man up Lockett. He’ll need to use his length to disrupt Lockett’s releases at the line of scrimmage. If not, it could be a long day for the ex-Denver Bronco.
Most Promising Matchup: TE Evan Engram vs. SS Jamal Adams
Engram has been disparaged by Giants fans this season for some critical dropped passes, but he’s starting to resemble the dynamic playmaker New York envisioned when they drafted him in 2017. The tight end is coming off his season-best output of 129 receiving yards against Cincinnati. The Giants have finally begun targeting him on the vertical routes his speed and size has always called for
It might seem strange to point out Adams, arguably Seattle’s best defender, as someone to exploit, but he can be taken advantage of in coverage. The former New York Jet is a tremendous blitzer and run stopper, but playing tight ends one on one in space is not his strength. If the Giants can find a way to isolate Engram on Adams, especially on playaction given Adams’ eagerness to play downhill, they might be able to manufacture some explosive passing plays.
Keys to Victory
The Giants will be at a pretty big talent deficit against the Seahawks. They have to make sure they play almost flawlessly on the margins. If they hold penalties to a minimum, control the ball for as long as possible, and avoid turnovers, they’ll at least keep themselves in the game.
For as great as Wilson is, he’s hardly allergic to giving the ball away. Wilson is tied for fifth in the NFL with 10 interceptions. A couple takeaways converted into points could be enough for Big Blue to steal a low-scoring affair.
Final Score Prediction: Seahawks 26 – Giants 20
The Giants have a way of keeping games close, but they simply won’t have the firepower to keep pace with the high-octane Seahawks. Big Blue’s defense will be stingy enough to keep Seattle out of the endzone for stretches. Wilson is just too good to be held to a score in the low twenties. Unfortunately, with McCoy at the helm of an already meager New York offense, that’s what it will take to pull off the upset.
– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.
-
Ep 172: Author Michael MacCambridge Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on September 30, 2023 at 2:46 am
Award winning author Michael MacCambridge joins Clark and Ira to discuss […]
-
Ep 171: Discussing The Career Of George Kunz With Son Mattby Full Press Coverage on September 23, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Matt Kunz, son of former Colts lineman George […]
-
Ep 170: The 1986 Giants With Gary Myersby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 9:44 pm
HOF voter and author Gary Myers joins Clark and Ira to discuss his new […]
-
Ep 169: Discussing Art Powell and the AFL With Historian Todd Tobiasby Full Press Coverage on September 3, 2023 at 3:04 pm
AFL historian Todd Tobias joins Clark and Ira to talk Art Powell and the […]
-
Recapping Week 4 NFL Inside the Film Roomby LandryFootball.com on October 2, 2023 at 1:25 pm
We give you a Film Room Review on all the NFL games from Sunday, breaking […]
-
Week 5 Initial Film Room Review--Who are real contenders for CFPby LandryFootball.com on October 1, 2023 at 3:20 pm
We take you inside the Landry Football Lab to give you initial Film Room […]
-
Ep 307: FAAB Talk and Taylor Swiftby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 1:55 am
-
Ep 306: Week 2 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 3:06 am
-
Ep 305: TE Target Totals from Week 1by Full Press Coverage on September 12, 2023 at 2:28 am
-
Ep 304: The NFL Season Is Hereby Full Press Coverage on September 7, 2023 at 3:13 am
-
Ep 187: Week 5 Preview @ Las Vegasby Full Press Coverage on October 3, 2023 at 1:18 am
In this episode, co-hosts Kyle Senra and Jesse Hall are joined by Terrance […]
-
Ep 186: Week 4 Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on September 29, 2023 at 5:34 pm
The Green Bay Packers lost 34-20 to their division rivals, the Detroit […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 799by Charlie Saunier on October 3, 2023 at 12:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Ep 799 The Renegades Of Puck Talk Preds Preseason, […]
-
Full Press Islanders - 10-02 - Preseason Win Over the Rangersby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 3:00 pm
We discuss the game Saturday against the Rangers plus some expectations […]
-
Full Press Wild - 10-2 - Recapping the Wild’s preseason win over Chicago.by Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Preseason, Stars, Chicago, injury, Savoie, signing Learn more about your […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 10-2 - Blackhawks’ Weekend Preseason Recapby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Recapping the Chicago Blackhawks’s preseason games against the Minnesota […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 10-01 - Hurricanes preseason split-squad games in Florida.by Full Press Coverage on October 1, 2023 at 6:40 pm
The Hurricanes dropped both games in a split-squad, Florida double-header […]
-
Full Press Wild - 9-29 - Recapping the Wild’s preseason home win over the Avalanche.by Full Press Coverage on September 29, 2023 at 6:55 pm
Preseason, Stars, Avalanche Learn more about your ad choices. Visit […]
-
10/2 - Jrue Holiday Traded, Chiefs Survive Jets, Week 4 Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Ian and John react to the Jrue Holiday trade to the Celtics, the Chiefs […]
-
9/29 - October, Lions Handle Packers, Week 4 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 29, 2023 at 2:22 pm
Ian and John talk movie twists, Lions on Thursday Night Football, and they […]
-
9/28 - Dame Traded, Zach Wilson And The Jets, Packers/Lions Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 2:07 pm
Ian and John discuss the Damian Lillard trade, the Jets predicament with […]
-
9/26 - Eagles/Bengals Win On MNF, Mac Jones, and Much Moreby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Ian and John discuss the Eagles and Bengals wins on Monday Night Football, […]
-
9/25 - Week 3 Reactions, Dolphins Hang 70, Biggest Disappointmentsby Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Ian and John react to a fascinating Week 3 in the NFL and talk about some […]
-
9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Ep 187: Week 5 Preview @ Las Vegasby Full Press Coverage on October 3, 2023 at 1:18 am
-
CFB Daily: Week 5 Recap; CFB Playoff Newsby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 9:35 pm
-
The Best Defence is A Good Offence - Oct. 2, 2023by Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 7:00 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 10-2 - Aljamain calls out Sean O’Malleyby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 3:15 pm
-
Utah Jazz Previewby Broken Controller Media on October 2, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Ep 138: Chiefs Survive Jets On Sunday Night Footballby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 2:18 pm
-
10/2 - Jrue Holiday Traded, Chiefs Survive Jets, Week 4 Reactionsby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 2:17 pm
-
Jrue Holiday Traded To The Celticsby Full Press Coverage on October 2, 2023 at 2:13 pm
-
Ep 137: Lions Dominate Packers, NFL in London, Week 4 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on October 1, 2023 at 2:51 pm
-
Lions Dominate Packersby Full Press Coverage on October 1, 2023 at 5:28 am
-
Boot 2 The Face "No Mercy:Wrestledream"by Boot 2 The Face on September 29, 2023 at 7:31 pm
Your boys are back with previews for NXT No Mercy and AEW Wrestledream. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "The Rock Says..."by Boot 2 The Face on September 24, 2023 at 3:12 pm
On this episode of B2TF we talk AEW, WWE, NXT, Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, Raw, […]
-
World of Pro Wrestling Remains Strong Heading Into WrestleDreamby Full Press Coverage on October 1, 2023 at 12:14 am
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by C.C. Hawkley to discuss his […]
-
Shock Waves in Pro Wrestling: A McMahon No Longer Owns WWEby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he discusses the history made as Vince […]
-
Ep 184: Savio Vegaby Full Press Coverage on September 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm
This week we're looking at the career of Savio Vega. From his start in […]