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Fact or Fiction: Debating latest Week 4 topics

FACT-OR-FICTION-DANIEL-JONES

The Giants.com crew is presented with four statements and must decide whether they are Fact or Fiction.

Wide receiver DK Metcalf is the toughest individual matchup for the Giants this week

John Schmeelk: Fact – You could easily go with Kenneth Walker III here, but as good as he is, few players are the freak of an athlete as is DK Metcalf. Stopping Walker is also more of a team responsibility, while Metcalf will garner more true 1-on-1 opportunities over the course of the game against young, inexperienced cornerbacks. At 6'4 and 235 pounds, Metcalf runs a 4.4, can win over the top, make contested catches with his excellent body control, and run through tackles. Whether he gets Tre Hawkins III or Deonte Banks in coverage, it will be a unique experience for both given Metcalf's unique characteristics. One mistake could lead to a game-changing play.

Dan Salomone: Fiction – The Giants have already faced three of the top five rushers in the NFL this season. It's a chicken-or-the-egg scenario for the Giants, who have contributed more to those numbers than they would have preferred. This week's test is Kenneth Walker III, who is coming off a career-high 167 yards from scrimmage against the Rams, including his fifth career game with two rushing touchdowns (second-most in NFL since 2022).

Lance Medow: Fiction – What stands out about the Seahawks is not only the versatility of their skill position players but the power and physicality they bring to the table. DK Metcalf applies to both of those labels yet the same can be said for their two running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, who are very difficult to wrap up and tackle as evident last week against the Panthers. You can't go wrong with Metcalf because of his speed and length but the two-headed monster in the backfield stands out a bit more given the Giants' early tackling issues.

Matt Citak: Fact – It's not often you find a wide receiver who comes in at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds of pure muscle, but that's what the Seahawks have in DK Metcalf. In two career games against the Giants, Metcalf has caught 11 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown, including six receptions for 55 yards and a score in the Week 8 matchup last season. The Giants are better prepared to match up against the big receiver this year due to the presence of physical rookie cornerback Deonte Banks, assuming he plays. But Metcalf is a tough matchup for any defense, as he has recorded either six receptions for 75+ yards or a touchdown in each of his three games this season.

The team that wins the turnover battle will win Monday Night Football

John Schmeelk: Fact – Just play the odds here because this is how the NFL works. Most teams that win the turnover battle win the game. The Giants' defense has yet to take away the ball. The Seahawks have not fumbled the football yet this season and Geno Smith has just one interception, though Pro Football Focus has tracked him with four turnover-worthy plays. He is not afraid to put the ball into coverage down the field, which should give the Giants' secondary opportunities to get their hands on it. The Seahawks' offensive line is also dealing with injuries, which could lead to strip-sack opportunities.

Dan Salomone: Fact – And don't forget about the turnover differential on special teams. In last year's meeting, the Giants lost two fumbles on punt returns that led to points, including a touchdown that pushed the Seahawks' lead to two possessions with 5:22 left in the game.

Lance Medow: Fiction – The Giants have yet to win the turnover battle this season because they haven't recorded a takeaway, so it certainly wouldn't hurt to accomplish that feat; but the team that comes out on top in that department is not a lock to win. What happens if there's only one turnover combined? It would likely still give either team an opportunity to overcome that setback. It's going to come down to play in the trenches and the volume of explosive plays more so than turnovers.

Matt Citak: Fact – The Giants have lost the turnover battle in each of their three games and have five turnovers overall. However, the numbers don't tell the whole story. Three of the five were interceptions that ricocheted off of the hands of a Giant and into a defender's arms. Although they count in the box score as interceptions thrown by Daniel Jones, those turnovers were hardly Jones' fault. The Giants' defense has been unable to force a turnover thus far, while Seattle has three. Both defenses have struggled a bit to start the season, but if one of the units could help their offense out by forcing a turnover or two Monday, that team will have a strong chance to emerge victorious.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field ahead of the Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Giants vs. Seahawks will be a high-scoring game

John Schmeelk: Fact – The Giants and Seahawks have struggled on defense this season, with the Giants ranking next to last in defensive DVOA and Seattle ranking 10th from the bottom. The Seahawks have had their top three cornerbacks miss games due to injury and are tied for the league lead in 20+ yard passes allowed. The Seahawks are fourth in the NFL in EPA per pass play. The weather should be nice on Monday night, both quarterbacks will have the opportunity to have big days. One would think each team tops 24 points in a shootout. Whichever team has the ball last might just win the game.

Dan Salomone: Fact – Both teams are allowing right around 30 points per game, with the Giants a few points above and the Seahawks slightly below. They will also be rested with the extra day and looking to put on a show on the national stage.

Lance Medow: Fiction – Each of the last two Seahawks games have followed that formula as Seattle and Detroit combined for 68 points and Seattle and Carolina 67, though a Panthers late touchdown made the score a bit closer than it appeared in the second half. The Seahawks are averaging nearly 30 points a game whereas the Giants are just more than 14 and have surpassed 20 just once. Until that trend changes, not sure we'll be seeing an offensive clinic.

Matt Citak: Fact – As mentioned above, neither defense has gotten off to a hot start. The Giants have allowed opposing offenses to score 27, 28 and 30 points in their three games (Dallas scored a defensive and special teams TD in Week 1), while the Seahawks have surrendered point totals of 30, 31 and 27. Seattle also enters this game with the league's worst red zone defense, having allowed a touchdown on all seven trips inside their 20. This game has the potential to be a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair in front of a national audience, especially if the Giants can get some of their injured offensive starters back in time.

Quarterback Daniel Jones will have at least six rushing attempts vs. Seattle

John Schmeelk: Fact – Seattle has not faced a running quarterback yet this season, with games against Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and Andy Dalton. In last year's game against the Seahawks, Jones ran six times for 20 yards. Seattle plays zone defense 78% of the time, which might limit Jones's scrambling opportunities, though if Saquon Barkley is back he might be involved in the designed run game. Seattle has been one of the best rushing defenses to start the season allowing only 2.94 yards per carry, which ranks third in the league. This will be a passing game for Jones, and with an expected 30+ attempts he will have enough scrambles to get past six rushes.

Dan Salomone: Fact – The Giants are 16-9-1 when Jones hits that number. It's a good formula even when Saquon Barkley is healthy.

Lance Medow: Fiction – In each of the first two games of the season, Daniel Jones had more than six rushing attempts, but that number dipped to just two against the Niners despite Saquon Barkley not playing. Barkley's status isn't the only factor influencing that number, but teams may focus more on Jones' running ability when they don't have to worry about the halfback. Jones had six rushes when Barkley played in last season's meeting in Seattle. If you remove Barkley from the equation, it shifts the defense's mindset. Seattle has also been very effective in defending the run, ranking sixth in the NFL.

Matt Citak: Fact – Jones has easily cleared this number in two of three games this year, as he ran the ball 13 times and nine times, respectively, in the first two outings. He is averaging eight rushing attempts a game, and that's after last week's game that saw him run the ball just twice. Especially with Saquon Barkley's status up in the air, the Giants will have to lean on Jones to use his legs, regardless of the running back's status. The Seahawks have allowed opposing quarterbacks to run just five times for 24 yards this year, but none of those passers are known for their rushing abilities (Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Andy Dalton). Jones is the first true dual-threat QB Seattle will go up against this year and he had six rushing attempts in last season's matchup.

View rare photos of the all-time history between the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.

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