Giants Blog: Super In Seattle

By Paul Dottino
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Dominant - commanding, controlling, or prevailing over the others. That about sums up the Giants' trip to Seattle, where they came off their bye week and plowed their way to a 41-7 rout of the Seahawks.

So much for the Seahawks' 3-0 record at home, their turnover-inducing Red Zone defense and legendary loud crowd. The Giants made those factors irrelevant when they jumped out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and took a 38-0 edge into the locker room – their largest halftime shutout since 1959.

How one-sided was this one? Think of what the Indianapolis Colts did to the Giants in Week 2. Ok, so you get the idea. Only this time the road team did the damage. Let's get to our review.

RELATED: Giants make statement, overpower Seahawks 41-7

GAME BALLS

Offense – Offensive line coach Pat Flaherty. We're giving this one to the position coach because he's got his unit playing as well as it has in three years – and they played with four different combinations in this victory. Crowd noise? Nah, not a factor. Not for this bunch. The Giants compiled 487 yards, ran for 197 on 47 carries, allowed their quarterbacks to get hit only twice and ate more than 42 minutes off the clock. This included a 19-play, 76-yard march that drained 13 minutes of the fourth quarter (RB D.J. Ware carried 13 times for 66 yards on the drive).

The offense used four different line combinations (not including a jumbo package). RT Kareem McKenzie came out for a second-quarter play because he got shaken up and his cleat slipped off his foot ad LT David Diehl missed the entire second half. Here's how the line combinations fared (left to right):

Line 1 played with this combination until McKenzie lost one of his cleats and came out for one snap with 3:25 left in the first half: Andrews (a surprise starter), Diehl, Seubert, Snee, McKenzie. 37 snaps, 232 passing yards with three TDs, 16 rushes for 66 yards and two TDs -- 298 total yards -- and 35 points.

Line 2 played one snap: Andrews, Seubert, Koets, Snee, Diehl. 1 snap, one rush for minus-1 yard.

Line 3 played the final snap of the first half until Koets (knee) was removed with 12:59 left in the game: Andrews, Seubert, Koets, Snee, McKenzie. 23 snaps, 58 passing yards, 12-65 rushing -- 113 total yards -- one kneeldown and two field goals (six points).

Line 4 played the final 12:59 of the game: Andrews, Petrus, Seubert, Snee, McKenzie. 18 snaps, 0 passing yards, 18-65 rushing yards – 65 total yards – three kneel downs.

Defense –CB Terrell Thomas. He was physical and aggressive throughout the day and snuffed out Seattle's only chance to grab some early momentum with his juggling interception to start the second quarter. He draped former USC teammate Mike Williams on a slant in the end zone and returned the ball 28 yards to preserve a 21-0 lead.

Special teams – LB Jonathan Goff. We're going to stick with Goff despite a great job of directional pooch and squib kicking by PK Lawrence Tynes, who prevented Leon Washington from starting his engine. The Giants took a 14-0 lead when Washington was stripped by TE Travis Beckum on a kickoff and Goff grabbed the ball on a bounce, rumbling 22 yards to the Seattle 4 to set up the team's third score.

GASSERS

Offense – TE Kevin Boss. There were two obvious blunders on a day when the offense did virtually everything right. Hakeem Nicks dropped a crossing route on the first drive of the second half, although it was meaningless. But Boss, who caught a 6-yard TD pass on a drag route late in the first half, was stripped by DB Aaron Curry and LB David Hawthorne recovered at the Seattle 29, snuffing out the Giants' first drive. It was the team's lone turnover against three for the Seahawks.

Defense –CB Corey Webster. This pick was a bit more obvious. As well as Webster played, it appeared he might have cramped up in man coverage early in the fourth quarter and Ben Obomanu beat him for a 36-yard TD down the right sideline with a double-move. Webster (cramps) had to come out earlier in the game and it appeared he may have gotten his feet tangled up or had another cramping issue as Obomanu raced several yards past him.

Special teams –LB Philip Dillard. The kickoff coverage unit would have had a sensational day had it not allowed Washington to rip off 57 yards to the Giants 32 right after the score for a 21-0 margin. Dillard and Tynes had the best shot at the returner, but Dillard was slow to the ball and appeared to take a poor angle.