The rout started early.
The rout was on by halftime.
The rout continued late.
Cementing themselves as the NFL’s best team through the first quarter of the season, the New York Giants showed that they are bigger than just one star player. It was destruction so complete, the Seahawks, and even the Giants could not believe it.
Giants 44, Seahawks 6
No Plaxico Burress? No problem.
It was one of those games where everything worked to perfection. Coaches and players found themselves in “the zone”, and they could do no wrong. Every offensive play produced positive results. Every defensive call produced minimal yardage for the Seattle offense. If it wasn’t for two facemask penalties called on the Giants defense, the Seahawks likely would have been shutout.
Starting at their own nine-yard line on the team’s first possession, it took the Giants only four plays to march 91 yards for the game’s opening touchdown. After Brandon Jacobs gained 15 yards on the first two plays of the drive (9-yard reception, 6-yard run), he rumbled 44 yards down to the Seattle 32. On the next play, seeing the Seahawks were committing eight defenders in the box, Eli Manning crossed up their defense by going deep and connecting with Burress’ replacement Domenik Hixon for a 32-yard touchdown pass.
After the Seahawks got a field goal to make it 7-3, the Giants went back to work. Hixon gained 15 yards on a reverse, and Manning found Amani Toomer for receptions of 22 and 29 yards to move the ball down to the Seahawks three-yard line. Jacobs carried the ball the final three yards to open up a 14-3 lead.
Matt Hasslebeck and the Seattle offense were looking for anything to work. Running lanes were clogged up. Passing lanes were flooded with Giants defenders. There was nowhere to run and no place to hide. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brought the pressure and the Seahawks were powerless to stop it.
On the Giants third possession, they eschewed their big play dynamic for a more cerebral approach. This time, they marched 73 yards in 11 plays, capped off by Jacobs’ second touchdown to extend the lead to 21-3. By halftime, the Giants led 27-6.
The first half saw utter obliteration as the Giants out gained the Seahawks 342 to 115 and scored on its first five possessions without having to punt. Manning was blistering, going 15 for 18 for 224 yards.
What you could see in the first half is the diversification of the New York offense. They possess so many weapons that despite not having their big play receiver, numerous players are able to step in when called upon and can produce on the field. Whether it is Hixon (four catches for 102 yards before leaving with a concussion), Toomer (four catches – 64 yards), or Steve Smith, the Giants can come at you in waves.
That is all while the offensive line continues to punish defenders at the point of attack and beyond, leaving gaping holes for Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, otherwise known as “Earth, Wind and Fire”.
Looking to stomp the Seahawks into submission, the Giants took their opening drive of the third quarter, it took only six plays to find the end zone again. Jacobs once again rumbled on another big gain of 38 yards. Two plays later, the offense unleashed another one of is many weapons when Manning found Sinorice Moss for a 23 yard touchdown strike.
At 34-6, the rout was on. It was on so much that Manning was able to take the entire fourth quarter off as switched helmet for a visor and headset and watch backup David Carr came in to finish the game. Even he got into the fun marching the team downfield and throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to Moss (4 catches – 45 yards, 2 touchdowns) to finish the scoring at 44-6.
It was the Giants largest regular season margin of victory in 36 years. Every statistic was dominated by the boys in blue. The Giants finished the game with 523 total yards compared to the Seahawks 187 – running for 254 yards on 36 rushes. Big Blue’s defense held Hasslebeck (who would leave due to injury and margin of score) and their offense to one for 11 on third down.
They stand on the perch as the only undefeated team in the NFC at 4-0. Next Monday brings the Giants back on the road to take on the 1-3 Cleveland Browns. If both team trends hold, the Giants will leave Cleveland 5-0.
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