Giants vs. Seahawks: Preview, prediction, what to watch for

An inside look at Sunday’s Giants-Seahawks NFL Week 5 matchup at Lumen Field in Seattle:

Marquee matchup

Seahawks WR DK Metcalf vs. Giants CB Deonte Banks 

Another game, another extreme challenge for the top cornerback.

Metcalf is ridiculously big (6-foot-4, 235 pounds), strong and fast, and it often is a lethal combination for whoever is unfortunate enough to draw this assignment.

Metcalf is fourth in the league (behind Nico Collins, Chris Goodwin and Malik Nabers) in receiving yards with 366, and he is a big play waiting to happen. 

Banks is a good-sized (6-2, 200) defender, and that will help, as far as not being physically dominated.

The key will be if Banks can avoid getting boxed out or out-muscled for the ball.

And if Banks can get Metcalf to the ground after the catch. 

Paul’s pick

When the Seahawks get cranked up, there is no more dizzying and noisy and annoying place to play for the road team than Seattle.

There is much to deal with here for the Giants, who must not allow hard-running Kenneth Walker to get going, in addition to all the other weapons at Geno Smith’s disposal.

Not having Malik Nabers is no way to go into a game that might necessitate a shootout to win. 

Seahawks 27, Giants 13

Four downs

Stay at the Hyatt

Sometimes the opportunity opens up because of someone else’s misfortune.

That is the case here for Jalin Hyatt, who is actually needed on the field now, with Malik Nabers out of action.

Hyatt has been a non-factor in his second season — with just 51 snaps on offense, three targets and no receptions in four games.

Perhaps this forces the Giants to spread things around, with Hyatt joining Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton in the mix as part of the receiver trio.

When Nabers in Week 4 had 12 catches and Robinson had 11 against the Cowboys, it was the first time in franchise history that the Giants had two players with 11-plus receptions in the same game. 

No run zone

Even with their top running back, the Giants were stuck in the mud in their previous outing, completely shut down by the Cowboys.

Their longest rushing attempt in that game was Devin Singletary’s 5-yarder — their shortest longest run in a game in more than 25 years (Sept. 12, 1999, to be exact).

And now Singletary is expected to miss his first game with an injury for the first time since his rookie year in 2019 with the Bills.

If there ever was a time for rookie Tyrone Tracy to introduce himself and make his first big impact on an NFL stage, it is now. 

Pressure package

Geno Smith as a rookie with the Jets in 2013 was sacked 43 times.

In 2022, his first year as a full-time starter for the Seahawks, he was sacked 46 times.

He is no sitting duck in the pocket, but he can be dropped.

Can the Giants get to him?

They have 15 sacks in four games, but seven of them have come from players other than the front four. 

“We’ve been productive for the most part trying to affect the quarterback,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. “I don’t think the production ultimately shows the effectiveness of them up to this point. I’m sure they’d all love to have multiple sacks. Hopefully they come, but at the same time, I think they’re doing a good job for us.” 

Reinforcements at the ready

This is quite the opportune time for the Giants to be as healthy as they have been this season in their secondary.

The expected returns of rookie slot corner Dru Phillips and veteran cover man Adoree’ Jackson — they both missed the Week 4 game with calf issues — will be a welcome sight for a defense that faces an extreme challenge from DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett.

With Banks, Cor’Dale Flott and Nick McCloud all available, there will be mix-and-match options.