The Seattle Seahawks and the New York Giants concluded Week 4 of the regular season. The Seahawks continued to show their dominance in Metlife Stadium as the defense dismantled the Giants on Monday Night Football with a 24-3 score. Seattle got its third consecutive win of the season as there were major takeaways in all portions of the game. Regardless of how bad the Giants played, this was a huge win for the Seahawks on prime time.
Biggest Takeaways from the Seahawks’ Win over the Giants
Devon Witherspoon Quickly Becoming A Star For Seattle
The Seahawks’ fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft made his debut in Week 2. On Monday, Devon Witherspoon had his third start of the season, and it was his best performance yet. With the absence of Coby Bryant and Artie Burns, Witherspoon started at the slot cornerback. He was the most dynamic and electrifying playmaker when on the field. Witherspoon continually reacted fast to the Giants’ run plays or short passing plays, chased to the ball carrier constantly, read passing plays thrown his way and even, exploded off blitzes to sack or pressure Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.
Witherspoon finished the game with seven total tackles, six solo tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and an interception that was returned for a 97-yard touchdown. He finished with an overall grade of 90.9, according to PFF. This game is going to be a huge confidence booster for Witherspoon as he has shown his value as a top-five pick moving forward.
Devon Witherspoon, video is not sped up pic.twitter.com/ex2P69idmG
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 4, 2023
The Front Seven Shows Signs of Progress
Last season, the Seahawks’ ability to stop the run was the biggest reason for losses during the regular season and postseason. After significant changes to the defensive line, the Seahawks are looking stout at stopping the interior run game. In the game against the Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones exposed the Seahawks’ defense on the outside with scrambles and designed runs. Many of Jones’ 66 yards came on the outside where the Seahawks loaded up in the box, close to the line of scrimmage. There were certain plays where linebackers like Jordyn Brooks and Boye Mafe crashed inside, leaving the defense vulnerable to Jones’ running.
The Seahawks allowed only 114 yards on the ground from the Giants offense on 29 carries. There is room for improvement for Seattle’s defense, but Dre’Mont Jones, Jarran Reed and Mario Edwards Jr. proved why they were valuable signings during the off-season.
Bye Week Comes Right on Time
Through the first four weeks of the 2023 NFL season, the Seahawks have been decimated by countless injuries on both sides of the ball. The injuries have been brutal to the offensive line as Seattle entered the game on Monday with three of their starting linemen, including both offensive tackles. Later in the game, guard Phil Haynes was out with a calf injury.
On the defensive side of the ball, Seattle went into the game against the Giants without cornerbacks Bryant and Burns. These injuries forced Witherspoon to start at slot cornerback.
One of the most depressing injuries was safety Jamal Adams, who played in his first games since suffering a torn Achilles in Week 1 of last season. Nine plays into the game on defense, Adams took a knee to the head on a tackle on Jones. He was out of the game with a concussion.
Reed needed to be carted off with a leg injury, leaving a hole in the middle of their defense.
Quarterback Geno Smith was hit late out of bounds by Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons late in the second quarter. During the process, he suffered a knee injury and was slow to get up. Drew Lock needed to play the rest of the quarter. Smith was able to play throughout the second half, but he was greatly limited. Smith finished the game by completing 13 of his 20 passes for 110 yards, one touchdown, and a QBR of 31.1.
All of these injuries have been brutal to the Seahawks on both sides of the ball and certainly affected their play. Fortunately, this bye week comes at a perfect time for these players to heal up and potentially get back to 100%.
Main Photo: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports
