Giants grades vs. Seattle Seahawks in Week 5: High marks all around
Giants head coach Brian Daboll looks at a play sheet during the second half of an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Seattle. Credit: AP/Lindsey Wasson
OFFENSE: B+
One of the best performances in years — even with that costly fumble by Eric Gray into the end zone in the first quarter and a conspicuous three-and-out in the fourth quarter that cost them an A. Rookie RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. stepped in for the injured Devin Singletary and had 129 rushing yards on 18 carries. Daniel Jones looked to be in complete control the entire game (23-34, 257 yards, 2 TDs). Without Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton became his go-to guy with 8 catches on 11 targets for 122 yards and a touchdown. Jones hit Slayton for passes of 41 and 30 on the same scoring drive. They even got the tight end involved; Theo Johnson had 5 catches for 48. The Giants had three drives that lasted over 10 plays and controlled the ball for a whopping 37:13.
DEFENSE: B
The defense allowed just one TD drive late in the fourth and two other scoring drives, both for field goals. Two big plays in the second half kept the Seahawks from getting too close: The fumble forced by Deonte Banks against DK Metcalf early in the third quarter and the fourth-and-1 stop early in the fourth when Brian Burns sacked Geno Smith. Forcing the Seahawks to attempt the tying field goal was critical. The secondary that had been beaten up and called out by their own coaches responded and held the vibrant Seattle passing game to 241 yards (95 on a late fourth-quarter drive inflated that number a bit).
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
Isaiah Simmons saved the day blocking a 47-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the score with about a minute to play. Bryce Ford-Wheaton returned it 60 yards for a touchdown. After a slow start to his Giants tenure Greg Joseph has become steady and his field goals of 38, 32 and 24 yards were critical to the team’s success. Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s punt returns are adventures; he had two for 6 yards but one of those was for a loss and the one he gained yardage on he briefly muffed. The Giants punted just four times; two were fair catches and the third was a gem downed at the 5 late in the fourth quarter. The Giants returned three kickoffs and none made it past the 25.
COACHING: A
Keeping the Giants positive and focused after the nearly calamitous start that saw the 102-yard fumble return for a touchdown against them was just as significant as any part of the game plan. And those play calls weren’t too shabby either. Brian Daboll kept pressing the right buttons for the offense mixing in quick short plays with the deep threats you know he’s been itching to connect on all season. The defense got back to some blitzing, which is how they have been most effective this season, and the result was pressure up the middle and sacks from the D-linemen (Dexter Lawrence had a hand in four of them and D.J. Davidson had two).
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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