Key to victory: Getting off to a good start against the Giants

[travisduncan]

ICON Sports Media Oct 5, 2008; East Rutherford, NJ, USA

By Travis Duncan

The Seahawks have scored three points in the first quarter this season. A 30-yard field goal by Steven Hauschka with 2:28 left in the first quarter against the Cardinals September 25th.

Last Sunday, the Seahwaks had the ball for just 3:10 against the Falcons in the first quarter, resulting in seven plays for 35 yards and two punts.

This Sunday the Seahawks will be traveling east for the second time in three weeks, for a 10 a.m. Pacific time start at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Besides the incongruity with the circadian rhythms, the Seahawks will face a Giants team which has won two straight games on the road, a big win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 and a 31-27 over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.

The challenge this Sunday is not insurmountable, but on the road against a physical experienced football team will require that the Seahawks offense put together drives in the first quarter or first half. If the offense can put drives together early it gives the defense a chance to catch its breath.

Pete Carroll said this week he traditionally never believes in the idea of getting a good start as the be all and end all of winning a football game. Logically, a touchdown in the first quarter is worth six points, just as it is worth six points in the third quarter.

But with this particular Seahawks team, the first half has not been kind. As the team settles in, fear subsides and the offense and defense begin to play their best-but it is taking at least a quarter and a half if not the entire first half.

How can the Seahawks force a "good start"? Doesn't it just either happen or not, is it something the team can control?

"We're going to give additional information, [from] what we learned this week," said Carroll. "Try to take advantage of up-tempo like we want to."

-The Giants are not a perfect team by any stretch of the imagination. Defensively against the run they rank 21st worst in the NFL allowing 116.5 yards per game. The Giants have surrendered 333 yards combined in the last two weeks. Against the pass they are 18th allowing 244.2 yards per game.

-The Seahawks have placed linebacker Matt McCoy on injured reserve ending his season. McCoy had a knee sprain serious enough to warrant moving him to IR to make an active roster spot available which will be occupied by linebacker Jameson Konz.

-The oddsmakers are favoring the Giants plus 10 points

-The New York Giants could be without first-round draft pick cornerback Prince Amukamara until the end of the month, according to ESPNNewyork.com. He won't play this Sunday against the Seahawks.

Statistically Speaking

-Tarvaris Jackson has won 2 of 3 career starts agains the Giants

-Marshawn Lynch rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown 12/23/07 wile with Buffalo against the Giants.

-Leon Washington played 4 seasons (2006-09) with NYJ. Has 7 career KR-TDs, 2nd most in NFL history.

-Rookie WR Doug Baldwin is 2nd among NFC rookies with 194 rec. yards & ties for 2nd among NFC rookies with 12 catches. Averaging 16.2 yards per catch, highest by NFC rookie with 10+ receptions

-Seattle's defense ranks 4th in the NFC allowing 341.5 yards per game, and 13th overall in the NFL.