:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1328115/GYI0062089556.jpg)
I have to be honest. This week's opponent for our New York Giants, the NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks (4-3) is one of those teams I generally don't pay a whole lot of attention to. Figuring that there are a lot of you out there like me who really don't know the Seahawks very well, I thought we would try to take a closer look.
The Seahawks are 4-3, leading the weak, wacky, NFC West. That's a division where the 2-6 San Francisco 49ers might still be the favorite. For our purposes, though, that is irrelevant.
The Seahawks are coached by former USC coach Pete Carroll, and are coming off an awful 33-3 loss to a suddenly dangerous Oakland Raider team that is 4-4. Prior to that, the Seahawks had beaten Chicago and Arizona in successive weeks.
This game, as we know, is in Seattle and every time the Giants go there I can't help but think about the Jay Feely game, lost by the Giants after Feely missed a trio of field goals. Let's take a closer look at the Seahawks, and let's hope we don't wind up with the same type of experience this time around.
Offense
The Seahawks are still led by Matt Hasselbeck, the 35-year-old quarterback who is in his 12th year in the league. Hasselbeck was sacked eight times by the Raiders and suffered a mild concussion, but is expected to play. The Seattle offensive line has been awful thus far, surrendering 22 sacks. They might be bolstered this week by the return of rookie left tackle Russell Okung from a sprained knee.
The Seahawks have struggled offensively, avering just 17.6 points per game. Seattle's leading rusher is fourth-year player Justin Forsett, who has 334 yards and is averaging 4.5 yards per carry. The team's leading receiver is Mike Williams, with 33 catches. Williams is the former USC player who has bounced around to several teams, and he is back in the league this season for the first time since 2007.
Defense
Seattle is 10th in the league against the rush (100.6 yards per game), but 29th against the pass (167.7 yards per game). Defensive end Chris Clemons has 5.5 sacks for the Seahawks. Rookie safety Earl Thomas, who I know many of you targeted for the Giants before the Antrel Rolle signing, leads the team with four interceptions and is second in tackles with 35.
Special teams
Considering the Giants ongoing issues with covering kicks, this is an area to be concerned about. Former New york Jet Leon Washington is Seattle's primary kickoff return man, and he leads the NFL with an average of 33.7 yards on 19 returns. He has two touchdowns, including one of 101 yards. The Seahawks are not shabby on punt returns, either. Rookie Golden Tate averages 11.5 yards per return on 14 chances, and Washington has returned three punts for a 27-yard average.