After starting the season 1-2, the Giants will go 11 days before they step on the field for their Week 4 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football.
The Giants completed their two-game road trip out west with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Thursday night. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have won back-to-back games after dropping the season opener to the Rams.
This week's game will mark the Giants' third primetime outing in the first four weeks of the season. Here are five storylines to follow on Monday Night Football.
1. 'Every game is a one-game season'
It's been a down-and-up-and-down first three weeks of the season for the New York Giants, but as head coach Brian Daboll reminded everyone, it's important to stay consistent in your approach to each and every week, regardless of the previous outcome.
"You have to live in the moment in our profession and you have to address the things that need to be addressed each week," Daboll told the media Tuesday. "Every year is different, every week is different. It's a week-to-week league so stay in the moment, focus on the things we need to improve on, all of us, and that's what we try to do every week. There's urgency every week. This is a one-game season – every game is a one-game season. You just focus on doing the best you can do each week, prepare the right way, and then ultimately go out there and perform the right way."
The Seahawks enter the Week 4 matchup on Monday Night Football with a 2-1 record after picking up consecutive wins against the Lions and Panthers. Seattle's offense scored at least 30 points in both of the wins, but the defense allowed a total of 58 points. More on that later.
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2. Injury updates; everyone 'making progress'
The Giants ruled out four players ahead of last week's game against the 49ers – running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), offensive lineman Ben Bredeson (concussion), tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring) and outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (hamstring). Additionally, cornerback Deonte Banks (arm) and defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (elbow) both left the game early with injuries. Due to the extra day of practice this week, the first injury report will not be released until Thursday.
"I'll just say everybody has been rehabbing, they're getting better," Daboll said. "I'll give you an update on Thursday, but we're making progress with everybody who has been on that report."
Barkley suffered an ankle injury late in the Week 2 win over Arizona. The offense missed the star running back in San Francisco, as the Giants rushed for just 29 yards last week. His status for Week 4 is up in the air, but the head coach did say that Barkley is now "day-to-day."
"Feels a lot better today, but we'll kind of take that all the way throughout the week and see how he improves," Daboll said Tuesday. "Let him rehab, let him get with the trainers, get a feel for where he's at. Let's talk to the trainers and see where they are at with his injury and then make the decision when it comes time to make the decision, but he's getting better. We'll see how it goes."
Bredeson is still in the concussion protocol, but barring a setback, the lineman appears to be on track to return against the Seahawks. Meanwhile, Thomas is still recovering from the hamstring injury suffered in Week 1, but told the media he's feeling a lot better this week.
3. Protecting DJ
Heading into Week 4, quarterback Daniel Jones has been pressured on 46.7 percent of his dropbacks this year, according to Pro Football Focus, which is the highest rate in the league. Of course, they have played without two starting linemen. The potential return of both players would certainly provide the O-line with a boost this week.
"When you can affect the quarterback, I think it speeds up things," said Daboll. "Again, there is always when you are game planning, shorter routes, get it out quicker, less of the protection. You want to run deep routes, you have some more protection in. So, definitely an area that we've got to improve is making sure that we give our quarterback a clean pocket and it's not just always the line. There is backs involved, there is timing in the passing the game, there is receivers getting open, so it's really a collective thing when it comes to that."
Jones has completed 71.2 percent of passes (47 of 66) for 467 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions when not pressured this season. Those numbers drop down to 16 of 31 passing (51.6 percent) for 95 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions when pressured, resulting in a difference in passer rating of 57.4 points.
The Seahawks have picked up just five sacks this season, with all of them coming in the last two games. However, PFF has them down for 43 total pressures so far. Defensive end Jarran Reed leads the way with 1.5 sacks, along with six quarterback hits, while four other players combine for the team's remaining 3.5 sacks. Uchenna Nwosu has a team-high eight pressures, according to PFF, while Mario Edwards Jr. is right behind him with seven.
4. Creating negative plays
Taking out the Cowboys' defensive and special teams touchdowns in Week 1, the Giants' defense has allowed point totals of 27, 28 and 30 through the first three games. Through three weeks, the Giants have 29 missed tackles, according to PFF, 16 of which came in last week's loss.
"You are always focusing on your fundamentals, so we do that every practice, whether that's press coverage, tackling, ball disruption, shedding blocks," Daboll said Tuesday about working on the team's tackling. "Those are things that you work on. Same thing with the offense, double teams, pass protection, games, pass protection for the backs, press releases, those are things that you constantly evaluate. Leading up to a week and getting ready for, in this case Seattle, you always adjust practice and things individual wise or maybe team wise of things that you are really putting an emphasis on."
The Giants went without a sack or turnover in their first two games before sacking 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy twice on Thursday. Their two sacks on the year are the second-fewest in the NFL, while they are one of just two teams that have yet to record a turnover. The Seahawks' one turnover on the year is tied for the fewest in the league.
"Those are points of emphasis every week of creating some negative plays or getting turnovers and we've got to continue to work them during the week and ultimately we've got to get them done (on Monday)," the head coach said.
5. Scouting the Seahawks
Seattle's offense currently ranks fourth in the league in points and 17th in yards. Following his breakout 2022 campaign that saw him lead the NFL in completion percentage and take home the Comeback Player of the Year award, quarterback Geno Smith is off to another solid start. Smith has completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 736 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, good for a passer rating of 98.2.
Seattle's leading receiver this season is DK Metcalf. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound wideout has 15 receptions for 234 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets. Right behind him is fellow veteran receiver Tyler Lockett, who has hauled in 13 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has had a limited role thus far, pulling in nine receptions for 57 yards, while tight ends Noah Fant, Colby Parkinson and Will Dissly have combined for 19 receptions for 236 yards.
The Seahawks boast a talented pair of running backs in Kenneth Walker and rookie Zach Charbonnet. Walker has registered the most attempts this year, taking 47 carries for 204 yards, an average of 4.3 yards per carry, and four touchdowns. He has also added eight receptions for 73 yards. Meanwhile, Charbonnet has begun to see his role expand. The rookie is coming off his best game yet, when he carried the ball nine times for 46 yards (5.1 yards per carry). He has 73 yards on 16 carries this season (4.6 avg.) with three receptions for 13 yards.
The Seahawks' defense heads into Week 4 ranking 29th in both points and yards allowed. Bobby Wagner returned to Seattle after an All-Pro season with the Rams, and the veteran linebacker leads the team with 33 tackles, 18 of which came in the season opener. Wagner has yet to miss a defensive snap for the Seahawks this season. Fellow linebacker Jordyn Brooks is second on the team with 32 tackles, while former Giants safety Julian Love is third with 27 (21 solo). Love has also broken up three passes, tied with rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon for the most on the team.
Witherspoon is the newest member of a young but talented Seattle secondary. He joins Riq Woolen, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie last year after finishing with a league-high six interceptions. Woolen missed the Seahawks' Week 3 win, but could be back in time for Monday's outing. Love starts at strong safety while Quandre Diggs, a Pro Bowler in each of the last three seasons, is the team's starting free safety.
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