Seahawks versus Giants week 13: 3 key matchups
By Lee Vowell
D.K. Metcalf versus James Bradberry
While DK Metcalf currently sits atop the leaders of receiving yards in the NFL with 1,039, he has also been a little up and down. But this may not be his fault entirely. His targets from Wilson have also been a little inconsistent. In fact, it does seem as if Seattle approaches every game with a pre-planned idea of which receiver, DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett, is going to get the most looks.
In week 5, Metcalf was targeted 11 times, week 7 five times, week 8 15 times and after four targets in week 10 and only five in week 11, Metcalf got 13 targets in last week’s defeat of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The truth is, no matter who is covering Metcalf. Russell Wilson needs to give him lots of looks. But in week 13, Metcalf will go up against the Giants’ James Bradberry and Bradberry is very good. According to Pro Football Focus, Bradberry is the 16th highest-graded cornerback in the NFL in 2020 (the best for Seattle is Ugo Amadi at 42 followed by D.J. Reed at 43). Metcalf struggled against Jalen Ramsey of the Rams in week 10 and Ramsey is the 18th highest-graded corner per PFF.
Bradberry is also a veteran of five seasons and has good size at 6-feet-one and 212 pounds so he is one of the rare cornerbacks who comes somewhat close to matching up with Metcalf physically. Bradberry is second in the NFL with 15 passes defended and eighth in interceptions with 3.
Both Metcalf and Bradberry are very good and Russell Wilson needs to target Metcalf every game. Whichever player between Bradberry and Metcalf could go a long way towards determining who wins between the Seahawks and Giants on Sunday.