Sun Nov 27, 4:15 pm (FOX) - Giants at Seattle
Seattle.
Seattle has won six straight games with the last loss coming to the Redskins in an overtime game back on Oct. 2. The only one before that was on opening day to Jacksonville. At 8-2 the Seahawks
hold the best record in the NFC and are undefeated at home (5-0, and 7-0 going back to last season). Meanwhile, the Giants
have won just one game playing away from Giants Stadium, and that was against San Francisco, using their fourth-string quarterback. Seattle has a 4 game lead on 2nd-place St. Louis, and would
wrap up the NFC West with a win against the Giants and a loss by the Rams, visiting Houston earlier on Sunday.
Last Meeting.
Giants 9 - Seattle 6 at the Meadowlands in game 3 of 2002. Matt Bryant, cut by Jim Fassel in preseason, but re-signed three days before the start of the season when Owen Pochman was placed
on injured reserve, was responsible for all the scoring for the Giants. He converted field goals of 33, 21, and 47 yards, to put him 9 for 9 on the season. The defense limited Seattle to 145
yards, and held Shaun Alexander to 37 yards rushing. In that game, Seattle's Jeff Feagles averaged 47.8 yards on six punts.
Giants defense.
The Giants are ranked sixth in the league against the run, allowing 90.4 yards a game, however, they shouldn't forget what it's like to face a top running back. LaDainian Tomlinson came away
with 192 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns against them in the game 3 loss to San Diego. They also let down against Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell, who combined for 180 yards against them in Game
7, a close 24-23 win over Denver.
If the Giants focus on Shaun Alexander, remember that Seattle is the first ranked offense with Matt Hasselbeck as the NFC's third-highest rated passer.
His offensive line has given up just 16 sacks this season. Hasselbeck targets Bobby Engram, 42 receptions for 507 yards, and former Giant Joe Jurevicius,
who is second on the team with 36 receptions, 421 yards, and 5 touchdowns.
Seattle defense.
Seattle leads the league with 34 sacks and has not allowed an individual 100-yard rusher this season. The Giants had to sub some offensive linemen because of injuries in last week's tough
game against the Eagles. This could be one of those games where Jeremy Shockey has to stay in for extra blocking, and that cuts down on their ability to free up Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.
As usual, Tiki Barber is key here to keep the Seahawks defensive off balance, running and catching short passes. Tiki Barber ranks fourth in the league in rushing with 967 yards and could
have more, but his use is sometimes an afterthought for some of the Giants games under Tom Coughlin.
Ernie Accorsi.
Ernie Accorsi shines this year, most likely his next to last before retiring from the Giants, his crowning achievements to date being the acquisition of Eli Manning last year and some real
solid free agent signings this year. However, he'd probably be happy if no one talks too much about one past move that comes back to haunt him this weekend. You'll find both Tiki Barber and
Shaun Alexander on the field, but not at the same time, and they could have been teammates playing for the Giants. How hard would that have been, for Ernie Accorsi compared to the manipulations
he went through to secure Eli Manning? All he would have had to do was have them announce. "The NY Giants select Shaun Alexander".
They actually liked Alexander, and fully recognized his talent, pegging him to be 'too much like Tiki Barber'. What poor scouting to instead choose 'power running back' Ron Dayne who acknowledged
from the onset that smashing into the line wasn't what he really does best. Even if Dayne, selected 11th overall in the 2000 draft, ever turns out to be an above average running back, it was
a huge mistake to pass on Shaun Alexander. Ernie Accorsi will have to own up to a few poor decisions as he heads towards the pearly gates of GM retirement from the Giants, and this was by
far his biggest one.
Ron Dayne.
On Thanksgiving Day, Ron Dayne did something nice for the Giants. Ron Dayne scored one touchdown and set up the game-winning field goal with a 55-yard run in overtime as his team, the Denver
Broncos, beat the Dallas Cowboys, 24-21, That put the Giants in sole possession of the NFC East lead, and now the Giants will have to stop Seattle running back Shaun Alexander to stay there.
Shaun Alexander.
Aside from leading the NFL with 1,229 rushing yards, the two-time Pro Bowler also averages almost two touchdowns a game (19 in 10 games). With six games
left, Alexander is on track to break Priest Holmes 2003 season record of 27 touchdowns. He also has a shot to become one
of the few running backs to have ever gone over the 2000 yard mark. There have been only five in NFL history; Eric Dickerson - LA Rams, 2,105 yards in 1984,
Jamal Lewis - Baltimore, 2,066 yards in 2003, Barry Sanders - Detroit, 2,053 yards in 1997, Terrell Davis - Denver, 2,008 yards in 1998, and O.J. Simpson - Buffalo, 2,003 yards in 1973 (14-game
season). The only good news the Giants have in facing Shaun Alexander is that it is unlikely that either record will be broken against them during this
game on Sunday.
Brother against brother?
The Giants handled San Francisco three weeks ago, wiping away some of the memories of losing a wildcard game that would have sent them on to Tampa Bay, where Tiki Barber would have been playing
against his brother Ronde. There has been talk (by very optimistic fans) of the possibility of Eli Manning being matched against his brother Peyton in a Giants - Colts Super Bowl. The closest
sure thing will be this Sunday's game which will show Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck and his brother, Giants backup quarterback Tim Hasselbeck both active and on record for this game.
Notes.
Seahawks Matt Hasselbeck has won 17 of his past 20 starts at home, throwing 29 TD passes and 13 INTs.
Seahawks in 1999 were also 8-2 and finished out 1-5 in their first season under coach Mike Holmgren.
They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Seahawks 6 game winning streak is its longest since an 8 game streak in 1984, the last time the franchise won a playoff game.
Seahawks Shaun Alexander has had only one 100-yard rushing effort in 12 career games against NFC East opponents.
Giants have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in four consecutive weeks.
Giants are the only NFC team to score more than Seattle this season - 28.1 per game.
Giants are playing at Seattle for the first time since 1995, and are 7-3 all-time against them..
Giants Tiki Barber needs 33 yards for his 5th career 1,000-yard season, which would tie Rodney Hampton for the franchise record.
Giants punter Jeff Feagles will play in his 283rd consecutive game, breaking the NFL record set by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall from 1960-79.
Next Game.
Dec 4, Cowboys at Giants 1:00 PM - FOX.
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