For Pete's Sake: 5 critical observations from Seattle Seahawks Week 4 victory
Seattle Seahawks got off to a slow start in the first quarter
The Giants mounted an impressive drive to start the game. I have to admit, I was worried. You were too, admit it, 12s. After receiving the opening kickoff, New York quarterback Daniel Jones mixed short runs and passes to bring the ball to the Seattle 29-yard line. The Seahawks defense came up big on fourth down, though, and stuffed Jones for no gain. The defensive line yielded nothing, and Bobby Wagner came over the top to stop Jones in his tracks.
Oh, I forgot; Bobby is done. New York moved the ball 48 yards, ate up over six minutes of clock, and zero points to show for it. That defensive stand is what is known as foreshadowing, both in writing and in the Seattle playbook, apparently.
One ridiculously awful note on that drive: Jamal Adams was injured tackling Jones on an eight-yard run He dropped down to make the tackle and took a knee to the helmet. He was clearly staggered, and wen to the tent for the league's concussion protocol team to examine him. Adams was ruled out for the rest of the game, and was clearly infuriated by the decision. I'm no doctor - I mean, I can barely handle being a patient - but it would appear that he'll be fine to return for Seattle's next game, especially with the bye week coming up next.
The Hawks took over at their own 27, and Kenneth Walker immediately served notice to the Giants with a spectacular 73-yard run. Or, he did for a minute. The score was called back, as when he was spun to the ground on a tackle, he thought he never touched the ground. Unfortunately, the officials were right for once, and he was down by contact for a two-yard loss. A short dump pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for no yardage and a sack by Kayvon Thibodeax forced the first Hawks punt of the night. More foreshadowing for you lit fans out there. By that, I mean literature, not the other thing.
The Giants muffed the punt but were able to recover the ball. Jones took off for a 16-yard scamper in first down but would be sacked two plays later by a streaking Devon Witherspoon. If you saw the game or even one highlight, you know Spoon will come up again. And again. Witherspoon came in from the slot position and crushed Jones, untouched on the play. The Gigantes punted the ball away, and the Hawks took over at their own 20-yard line.
Geno Smith connected with Noah Fant for 12 yards on first down. Then the Hawks committed four straight penalties on their second drive of the first half. That is the very definition of sloppy football. At least the first penalty was offset by one for the Giants. But still - I mean, come on, guys. DK Metcalf appeared to have the first down, but he had stepped out of bounds just before the catch, so the Hawks were forced to punt again. With just 1:37 left in the first quarter, we still had a scoreless game. Thanks to the defense, that was about to change.
On the Giants third drive of the first quarter, Mario Edwards came up big with a strip sack of Jones. Jordyn Brooks scooped the ball up and Seattle was in business at the New York nine-yard line. Two plays later, Geno Smith scrambled out of trouble and hit a diving DK Metcalf in the end zone. With that score, the first quarter was mercifully over. At that point we'd seen four penalties, two punts and two critical injuries for Seattle. Guard Phil Haynes was injured on the Seahawks second drive and would be out for the rest of the game. Somehow, we got to Seahawks 7, Giants 0.