Winless in Seattle

Another week, another gut-wrenching defeat for the New York Giants. In a shortened week of preparation for last Sunday's opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, it was imperative for the banged up Giants squad to step up their level of play. New York gave their all in the first three quarters, but lost control of Seattle's running game in the fourth, as the defending champs crushed Big Blue 38-17. 

Here's the breakdown of the Giants' fourth straight loss. 


A Change in Heart Doesn't Change the Talent

Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

New York entered Sunday's game with twelve men on the injured reserve list. On the list, six consisted of starters on both offense and defense. After losing Prince Amukamara, Trumaine McBride, Jon Beason and Walter Thurmond III to season-ending injuries, the weight was placed on the shoulders of defense. Last week's headline discussed Jason Pierre-Paul questioning the absence of heart in the locker room, which lead to captain Safety Antrel Rolle backing up the performance and attitude of his teammates. Whether or not the mind set was in focus, the Giants successfully battled Seattle for forty-five minutes. However, the final fifteen minutes brought shame to the Giants' style of play and performance. Twenty-one unanswered points were scored by the Seahawks in the fourth quarter, and as the final whistle blew, the Giants were aware of their lack of talent and effort. For a team plagued with injuries, it is difficult to find replacements who match the talent of the starters, and the loss of leadership and talent is definitely an arguable reason to explain the Giants' recent failures. 

Record Days on Defense (Not in a good way)

A final score of 38-17 looks impressive on paper, as one may assume the pass and run game dominated the lackluster defense. However, the passing game was almost non-existent Sunday, as Russel Wilson struggled in finding open receivers down field. The conditions of the game were sloppy and raw, but when the pass game isn't working, the running game must step up to the plate. Seattle totaled 510 yards of offense, but 350 of those yards were credited to the run game. 350 yards! Marshawn Lynch contributed with four touchdowns of his own, and Wilson ran one in for six. Sometimes, a team can still sneak a win after the opposing Quarterback tosses 350 yards, but 350 yards on the ground? That's unheard of. It's so rare to the Giants defensive scheme, that the last time New York gave up more than 350 yards in a game was in 1978 against Buffalo (366 total rushing yards). The 70s were the dark ages for Giants football, but this never occurred under the reign of Bill Parcells, and we would have never expected the same out of a Tom Coughlin team. 350 total rushing yards is embarrassing, and the Giants defense does not have an excuse in the world that will begin to explain their secondary and pass-rushing woes. New York is now dead last in the league in total yards per game to their opponents, allowing on average 404.9 yards. With a questionable new offensive scheme, the defense has been relied upon to step up in crucial situations, but how can this abysmal defense keep the offense in games? They simply cannot. The job security that defensive-coordinator Perry Fewel thought that he once had may be in jeopardy this offseason. 

                                                                                                                    You Down With ODB?

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Of course we are! Odell Beckham Jr. has become the next rookie sensation at the Wide Receiver position. There are a handful of rookies across the league that show promise at the position, such as Kelvin Benjamin and Mike Evans, but Beckham stands out as lightning in a bottle. He flourished at LSU, so maybe it's fair to call him the next "Louisiana Lightning" of New York sports. For a kid that missed training camp, preseason games and the first few games of the season due to injuries, it's truly remarkable what Beckham has amounted to in his first four games. He has three touchdowns in twenty-five receptions, averaging nearly fifteen yards a catch. The competitive edge that Beckham holds should put a smile on the faces of fans, and if healthy, Beckam may be the next brand name receiver in the NFL. Win or lose, it's important for the rook to get some reps against the league's best defenders. 

W2W4

Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The Giants now stand at 3-6 on the year, tied with Washington for last place in the NFC East. It is safe to say that the hopes of postseason football in New York are slim to none, but with seven games remaining, there is still time for the Giants to gain ground and improve their situation. New York hosts the San Francisco 49ers Sunday afternoon at 1pm, and with Frisco coming off a much needed victory over New Orleans last week, it will be an exciting test to see if the Giants offense can tear up the Niners depleted secondary. The defense's performance will be the x-factor for Big Blue, but with a West coast team playing early on Sunday, expect an even match up and a potential Giants win. 

Prediction: SF 26-23 (NYG +4)