Seattle Seahawks Week 5 scouting report versus the New York Giants

What to expect when the Seahawks play the Giants in Week 5

The Giants will try to run, especially if the Hawks are without many of their front seven starters. Even so, there is nothing in the Giants’ running attack that should trouble the Hawks too much. The one huge danger is that Nabers makes big plays on the outside. He is fully capable of that, but fortunately, Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen are ideally suited to keep him in check. The Giants simply don’t have enough other playmakers to scare a quality defense. Daniel Jones can and will run, but even that should not bother Seattle too much.

On offense, most of the battle will be neutralizing Dexter Lawrence in the middle. He can wreck any game plan. Connor Williams is well aware of what Lawrence can do from his time in Dallas, and this may be one of the last chances Anthony Bradford has to show why the coaching staff wants him at guard.

There is always the possibility that edge rushers Burns and Thibodeaux step up against the Hawks’ tackles, but if the line can keep Lawrence at bay, Geno Smith should have room to work his magic. If he has time, the Hawks’ dynamic receiving threats should have a good day.

Ryan Grubb will almost certainly look to get Kenneth Walker going early, but that can be difficult against Lawarence, Okereke, and McFadden. This may prove to be another game – not unlike what happened against the Lions last week – in which the pass sets up the run rather than the other way around.

Even with the spate of recent injuries, the Hawks have a significantly better roster than the Giants. If Seattle comes out flat, the Giants have the grit to play hard and keep things close, and even have enough playmakers to pull off an upset. But if Mike Macdonald has his team ready – and I expect that returning home after their first loss, that will be the case – this should prove to be a comfortable win for Seattle in advance of their big early season showdown with San Fran in week 6.

You know what? Forget I even said that last part. That’s a classic case of looking ahead. They’ll have plenty of time to do that after taking care of business against the Giants.

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