Quick hits: Seahawks upset Giants 36-25
Oct 9, 2011, 4:46 PM | Updated: 6:46 pm
By Brady Henderson
A few notes and quotes from the Seahawks’ 36-25 win over the Giants on Sunday.
Player of the game
Doug Baldwin came into Seahawks training camp as undrafted rookie hoping to crack the roster in a crowded group of wide receivers. Five weeks into the season, he’s the team’s leading receiver and proving to be an invaluable member of an offense that appears to be hitting its stride.
 Doug Baldwin had eight catches for 136 yards and scored a go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter. (AP) |
Baldwin had a team-high eight catches for 136 yards on Sunday, and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 27-yard pass from Charlie Whitehurst.
The Giants had jumped offsides before the snap, giving the Seahawks a free play. Sidney Rice’s 52-yard touchdown against the Falcons last week came on a similar play, with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson recognizing an offsides penalty and taking a shot deep.
“We know that that’s going to happen occasionally,” Baldwin told Jen Mueller after the game. “When we have an opportunity to go deep and it be a free play, we want to take advantage of it. So I saw the defensive end cross the line of scrimmage, I knew Charlie was going to throw it up. … And thankfully we were able to make a play on it.”
Five of Baldwin’s catches went for at least 20 yards. It was the third time this season he has led the team in receiving. His touchdown was his second of the season, tying him with Ben Obomanu for the team lead.
Play of the game
Normally, a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown would stand out undeniably as the play of the game. There were a number of key plays in Sunday’s game, but none bigger than Brandon Browner’s game-sealing pick-6.
With the Giants threatening to take a lead with just over a minute left, Eli Manning’s pass bounced off the outstretched left hand of Victor Cruz and was tipped by Kam Chancellor before falling in Browner’s lap. He raced untouched down the right sideline for a touchdown.
Anthony Hargrove’s tackle of D.J. Ware in the end zone for a safety gave the Seahawks a 16-14 lead in the third quarter. That play, among other, deserves an honorable mention.
Lynch, Seahawks’ ground game get going
Marshawn Lynch ran for a season-high 98 yards on just 12 carries, good for an 8.2 yards-per-carry average. His 47-yard run in the first quarter got the Seahawks to the 1-yard line, and he found the end zone the next play for his second touchdown in as many weeks.
Lynch said the fast-paced offense the Seahawks started the game with helped Seattle’s offensive line.
“I think it’s good for those guys. They look real comfortable with it,” he said. “I think it’s just something that gives them an edge and gives them a jump on the defensive linemen. I think it kinda worked out for them.”
Lynch’s previous high rushing total this season came in Week 4 when he ran 19 times for 73 yards. Seattle’s 145 rushing yards on Sunday marked a season-high as well.
Lynch was responsible for one of Seattle’s two lost fumbles. Michael Robinson had the other.
“I don’t know how that happens to us because we are so disciplined, determined to take care of it,” Pete Carroll said.
Turning point
After the Giants took a 22-19 lead in the fourth quarter, Walter Thurmond stripped the ball from Cruz’s hands on New York’s next possession. Chancellor recovered the fumble, and the Seahawks kicked a tying field goal four plays later.
Key stats
The second-half surge Seattle’s defense showed last week was primarily a product of their ability to get off the field on third down, something they couldn’t do in the first half of that game.
On Sunday, they held New York to just 1 of 12 on third down.
“When we get [in] third-and-2 we’re not as dominant,” safety Earl Thomas said. “But when we get third-and-7, third-and-6, that’s when we’re going to bring that pressure and get after the quarterback. We play great when we get in them [sic] situations.”
Takeaways — or lack thereof — became a topic of discussion last week as the Seahawks had none against Atlanta. They had five on Sunday — three coming on interceptions and two on fumbles.
For the record
The Seahawks got their first win over the Giants in New York since Dec. 11, 1983.
