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Monday, September 25, 2006
Keys to the game: How the Seahawks fared
Compiled by ART THIEL
P-I COLUMNIST
Ratings based on one (poor) to five (outstanding) stars
1. Dictate tempo, especially on offense
Tempo can't get much better than three short-field touchdowns in the first four possessions. Thanks to two interceptions and a penalty-crippled opening possession by New York, the scoring drives all started in Giants territory. The Giants have started all their games slowly, and the Seahawks' quick pace and loud crowd virtually wiped out any chance to win after the 11-minute mark. Heavy use of the four-wideout set kept more backs in the game instead of the Giants' formidable front seven. The only offensive fault came late when the Seahawks sputtered in their "fourminute" offense, which is designed to kill time by avoiding turnovers and sidelines with rushes and short, safe passes. ****
2. Contain and exploit Giants defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora
After dominant play in last year's game, the Giants' stellar defensive ends had modest impact. Strahan had five tackles and four assists, Umenyiora just two tackles. Neither reached Matt Hasselbeck, a great relief for the Seahawks after he was hit hard in the first two games. Tackles Walter Jones and Sean Locklear did well on the individual matchups, and new guards Chris Spencer and rookie Rob Sims (replacing injured Chris Gray) applied double teams effectively. The four-wide alignment and Hasselbeck's three-step drops were helpful in thwarting the rush. *****
3. Play "big" in the secondary
Just as with the taller receivers in the Arizona game, the Giants' Plaxico Burress (6-foot-5) and Amani Toomer (6-3) made little difference when the game was still a contest. Burress, after a lost fumble and a drop, was pulled from the game in the second quarter with one catch. Toomer had three catches for 29 yards, and the longest New York pass went for 33 yards. A big factor was Eli Manning's unforced inaccuracy. The shortness of the Seattle secondary was never a factor. Safety Ken Hamlin's two interceptions while playing center field were game-breakers demonstrating a collective skill at thwarting the big play. *****
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Team Stats
· Offense
· Defense
· Rankings
· Turnovers
· First Downs
· Inside 20 (Off)
· Inside 20 (Def)
Individual Stats
· AFC Pass Leaders
· NFC Pass Leaders
· QB Records
· 300-Yard Passers
· AFC Rush Leaders
· NFC Rush Leaders
· 100-Yard Rushers
· AFC Receiving Leaders
· NFC Receiving Leaders
· 100-Yard Receivers
Miscellaneous
· Odds
· Injuries - NFC
· Injuries - AFC
· Weather
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