New York Giants v Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, 27 November, 1615 EST / 2115 GMT
Qwest Field
TV: FOX (US) / Sky Sports Xtra (UK)
Why it matters
This could be a preview of January's National Football Conference championship game, the Super Bowl semi-final, so there are plenty of psychological points to be scored . The NFC playoff picture is far from clear, with several of the leading teams apt to trip up, but the Seahawks have the best record in the conference, which would gain them home field advantage for the post-season, so they must be viewed as a strong candidate. And if these two sides finish with equal records after 16 weeks, the result of this match would decide who hosts any playoff game between them.
Seattle can clinch the NFC West division, and a guaranteed playoff spot with five games remaining, if they beat the Giants while rivals St Louis lose to Houston. After Dallas's defeat on Thursday, New York have the chance to move atop the NFC East with victory here.
Team talking points
The road to the Super Bowl could go through Seattle this year, goes the joke, if the rest of the NFL can find it. Hidden in the top corner of the Pacific north west, the profile of Seattle as a city has only grown since the success of Frazier Crane and Microsoft, whose co-founder Paul Allen is the Seahawks' owner. Former in 1976 and one of just seven teams not to have appeared in the Super Bowl – they haven't even won a playoff game since 1984 - the Seahawks generally sneak under the radar of most NFL fans, in part because they struggle for consistency. This year they appear to have it, after a six-game winning streak. The top-ranked offense in the league features the league's most successful running back, Shaun Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has performed despite injuries to his best receivers. All they have to do now is deliver, which historically has been a bit of a problem.
Every week, all eyes in New York City – that's about 16 million eyes – are on the performance of Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The team rated him so highly that they traded their first selection in the 2004 college draft, and the rights to their first selection in 2005, to the San Diego Chargers to get him. The pressure on Manning is increased by his pedigree as the son of former New Orleans Saint Archie and brother of Indianapolis star Peyton. The youngest of the Manning clan has already shown flashes of brilliance in his first full season as starting QB and is at the helm of the only NFC team to score more than Seattle this season, averaging 28.1 points per game. But he endured a slump over the last few weeks. The Giants hope the low point came when he threw four interceptions in an upset defeat to Minnesota a fortnight ago. Last weekend he was back to form with three touchdowns in a victory over Philadelphia. Manning's play will continue to be scrutinised week-in, week-out as he is viewed as the long-term future of this team.
Star players
Shaun Alexander #37, RB, Seahawks
Alexander has been the engine of the Seahawks' offense since his second season in 2001, but this could be his last year at Qwest Field and he is making sure he enters a buyers' market at season's end. Alexander was unable to agree a new long-term contract last year, but at 28 – and with a profile similar to that of his team - there was no other side willing to pay out either. Instead he signed a one-year deal with Seattle worth $6.3 million (£3.7m), and the Hawks have had their money's worth. With 19, he has already passed his best season touchdown tally. Once the team secure a playoff place his workload is likely to be eased but he is currently on course for 1,966 rushing yards - just 139 less than the all-time record, set by Eric Dickerson of the LA Rams 21 years ago. This week will give Alexander a great test, against the NFL's sixth-ranked rush defense.
Tiki Barber #21, RB, Giants
Barber has been around since 1997 but it is only in the last two years that he has joined the top achelon of NFL rushers. Small for an every-down running back at 200lbs, he has passed the 1,000 yard - the mark of a good season - in four of the last five years, but gained a reputation as a player who would fumble at crucial times. In 2002 and '03 he coughed up the ball n 17 occasions, the Giants losing possession as a result - and undoing a lot of hard work - 12 times. However, new head coach Tom Coughlin kept faith in the 30-year-old, teaching him a safer way to hold the ball. This week he will look to combat the league's 11th-ranked defense with a combination of speed to the outside, moves to avoid contact and great pass-catching ability.
What to look for
Whoever makes the most mistakes will lose this clash, and despite their talent the Giants seem the most prone. The fitness of New York tight end Jeremy Shockey could make a difference – if a chest problem means he is unable to play, Manning will be without a reliable target in short range if the Seattle defense puts the pressure on.
Tip
Manning throws a crucial interception to tip the balance and the Seahawks come out with a 31-24 decision.
(Season so far 3-2)
Interesting trivia
Tiki Barber needs 33 more for his fifth career 1,000-yard season, which would tie Rodney Hampton for the Giants record.
The Giants have never played at Qwest Field, the 67,000-seat home of the Seahawks since 2002. Their last visit to Seattle was in 1995, when they won 30-28 indoors at the Kingdome.
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Qwest Field
TV: FOX (US) / Sky Sports Xtra (UK)
Why it matters
This could be a preview of January's National Football Conference championship game, the Super Bowl semi-final, so there are plenty of psychological points to be scored . The NFC playoff picture is far from clear, with several of the leading teams apt to trip up, but the Seahawks have the best record in the conference, which would gain them home field advantage for the post-season, so they must be viewed as a strong candidate. And if these two sides finish with equal records after 16 weeks, the result of this match would decide who hosts any playoff game between them.
Seattle can clinch the NFC West division, and a guaranteed playoff spot with five games remaining, if they beat the Giants while rivals St Louis lose to Houston. After Dallas's defeat on Thursday, New York have the chance to move atop the NFC East with victory here.
Team talking points
The road to the Super Bowl could go through Seattle this year, goes the joke, if the rest of the NFL can find it. Hidden in the top corner of the Pacific north west, the profile of Seattle as a city has only grown since the success of Frazier Crane and Microsoft, whose co-founder Paul Allen is the Seahawks' owner. Former in 1976 and one of just seven teams not to have appeared in the Super Bowl – they haven't even won a playoff game since 1984 - the Seahawks generally sneak under the radar of most NFL fans, in part because they struggle for consistency. This year they appear to have it, after a six-game winning streak. The top-ranked offense in the league features the league's most successful running back, Shaun Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has performed despite injuries to his best receivers. All they have to do now is deliver, which historically has been a bit of a problem.
Every week, all eyes in New York City – that's about 16 million eyes – are on the performance of Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The team rated him so highly that they traded their first selection in the 2004 college draft, and the rights to their first selection in 2005, to the San Diego Chargers to get him. The pressure on Manning is increased by his pedigree as the son of former New Orleans Saint Archie and brother of Indianapolis star Peyton. The youngest of the Manning clan has already shown flashes of brilliance in his first full season as starting QB and is at the helm of the only NFC team to score more than Seattle this season, averaging 28.1 points per game. But he endured a slump over the last few weeks. The Giants hope the low point came when he threw four interceptions in an upset defeat to Minnesota a fortnight ago. Last weekend he was back to form with three touchdowns in a victory over Philadelphia. Manning's play will continue to be scrutinised week-in, week-out as he is viewed as the long-term future of this team.
Star players
Shaun Alexander #37, RB, Seahawks
Alexander has been the engine of the Seahawks' offense since his second season in 2001, but this could be his last year at Qwest Field and he is making sure he enters a buyers' market at season's end. Alexander was unable to agree a new long-term contract last year, but at 28 – and with a profile similar to that of his team - there was no other side willing to pay out either. Instead he signed a one-year deal with Seattle worth $6.3 million (£3.7m), and the Hawks have had their money's worth. With 19, he has already passed his best season touchdown tally. Once the team secure a playoff place his workload is likely to be eased but he is currently on course for 1,966 rushing yards - just 139 less than the all-time record, set by Eric Dickerson of the LA Rams 21 years ago. This week will give Alexander a great test, against the NFL's sixth-ranked rush defense.
Tiki Barber #21, RB, Giants
Barber has been around since 1997 but it is only in the last two years that he has joined the top achelon of NFL rushers. Small for an every-down running back at 200lbs, he has passed the 1,000 yard - the mark of a good season - in four of the last five years, but gained a reputation as a player who would fumble at crucial times. In 2002 and '03 he coughed up the ball n 17 occasions, the Giants losing possession as a result - and undoing a lot of hard work - 12 times. However, new head coach Tom Coughlin kept faith in the 30-year-old, teaching him a safer way to hold the ball. This week he will look to combat the league's 11th-ranked defense with a combination of speed to the outside, moves to avoid contact and great pass-catching ability.
What to look for
Whoever makes the most mistakes will lose this clash, and despite their talent the Giants seem the most prone. The fitness of New York tight end Jeremy Shockey could make a difference – if a chest problem means he is unable to play, Manning will be without a reliable target in short range if the Seattle defense puts the pressure on.
Tip
Manning throws a crucial interception to tip the balance and the Seahawks come out with a 31-24 decision.
(Season so far 3-2)
Interesting trivia
Tiki Barber needs 33 more for his fifth career 1,000-yard season, which would tie Rodney Hampton for the Giants record.
The Giants have never played at Qwest Field, the 67,000-seat home of the Seahawks since 2002. Their last visit to Seattle was in 1995, when they won 30-28 indoors at the Kingdome.
NFLBriefing.com | Email to a friend
posted by MG at
5:13 PM
1 Comments:
Seattle 24-24 NY Giants (OT)
It is a long flight back from Seattle to New York, and Jay Feely is unlikely to have had much company after missing three field goals that could have clinched the Giants a deserved win.
New York established the run better through Tiki Barber, the first back to run for more than 100 yards (and in regulation play too) against the Seahawks this year. Eli Manning was a little wild, but still connected in high-pressure situations.
The visiting defense came out tops in defending against the pass, too, putting massive pressure on Matt Hasselbeck.
The difference proved to be Feely's misses, and Josh Brown's 36-yarder deep into overtime, but the performance of the Seattle crowd also played a massive part. The Giants were hit with 11 false start penalties, marched back more than half the length of the field in total, in the main because the offensive line couldn't hear Eli Manning's snap count. If the NFC Championship Game is a replay of this one, number 12 on the Seahawks (the number is retired in the crowd's honour) is likely to play with even more passion.
And, as a side note, overtime games are not good for video planning, especially if you are trying to record back-to-back games on a Sunday and the six-hour tape is already full.
By
MG, at 9:56 PM
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