Here are some initial thoughts on the New York Giants’ 36-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
It Was Over When …
Eli Manning’s pass from the Seattle 10-yard line caromed off Victor Cruz’s hands into the arms of Brandon Browner of Seattle with less than two minutes to play and the Giants closing in on a game-winning score. Instead, Browner returned the ball 94 yards for a game-clinching Seattle touchdown.
Turning Point
The Browner interception. The Giants were poised for a third straight come-from-behind victory at that point. Cruz slipped running his route, causing Manning’s pass to be slightly in front of him. He could only get one hand on it and wound up batting the ball into the air.
Three Good Stats
1. Manning had a career-best 420 yards passing and three touchdowns.
2. The Giants caused four Seattle turnovers.
3. The Giants sacked Seattle quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst six times.
Three Bad Stats
1. The Giants turned the ball over five times. Three interceptions by Manning, though only one was really a bad throw, and two fumbled.
2. The Giants went just 1-for-12 on third-down conversions.
3. The Giants ran the ball for just 69 yards on 25 carries, 2.8 yards per play.
Three Stars
1. Manning — He had no running game to help him, and an offensive line that was getting him hit all day. Yet, he had a career day and had the Giants five yards from victory. A false start penalty and an unfortunate slip by Cruz killed the Giants’ comeback.
2. Jacquian Williams — Eight tackles for the rookie linebacker, a sixth-round pick from South Florida. At the beginning of the year he was mostly used in pass coverage, but now he is making plays against the run and the pass. He spent a lot of time Sunday in the Seattle backfield.
3. None — Lots of candidates, but no third player truly deserving. Victor Cruz had eight catches, but a also a key fumble. Jake Ballard had three catches, but his run blocking was awful and contributed to a safety. Jason Pierre-Paul had 2.5 sacks, but a mistake that led to a 47-yard run by Marshawn Lynch to set up a Seattle touchdown.
Final Thoughts
This was a game the Giants should have won, but did not deserve to win. Turnovers, bad penalties and a defense that got torched for 424 yards by one of the league’s worst offenses.