The Seattle Seahawks beat the NY Giants 38 to 17 in a decisive victory at Century Link field on Sunday.
For the second week in a row, the Hawks relied heavily on their ground game as they steamrolled the Giants into submission. The team ran for a record 350 yards, breaking the team’s previous single-game high of 320 set in 2005. Its five rushing touchdowns tied the current team record, also set in 2005.
Marshawn Lynch and his patented Beast Mode led the charge. The star running back ran for a personal season-high 140 rushing yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Century Link employees repeatedly found themselves cleaning up a sea of Skittles candies from the end zones as Lynch managed to muscle his way into the end zone four times on Sunday, a personal career-high.
Russell Wilson also broke the triple-digit rushing mark, for a total of 107 rushing yards. He found himself scrambling out of the pocket and down the field fourteen times during the game. His efforts were rewarded with his own trip to the end zone late in the fourth quarter.
View the full slide-show of Sunday’s game here.
But he once again had a less-than-impressive air game. He threw for 172 yards on 17 attempts, earning a rating of only 53.7. His completion rate would have been even higher if the stats included two additional completions (aka interceptions) to members of the wrong team. There’s no denying that the loss of Percy Harvin is taking a toll.
The stats were far below that of Giant’s quarterback Eli Manning, who threw for 283 yards on 29 completions and 44 attempts. In fact, the Giants led Seattle going into the half, 17-14, as the two teams went tit-for-tat on scoring drives through the first half.
Luckily Seattle’s defense pulled together to tighten up in the second half where the team allowed only 100 yards, compared to 224 in the first. But the defensive play of the day came at the end of the third quarter when a Manning pass intended for leading receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was tipped into the hands of Hawk’s safety Earl Thomas by cornerback Richard Sherman. The play sparked a 58-yard Hawks drive that resulted in the third Lynch touchdown of the day. The Hawks would go on to score two more times by the end of the game as they continued to pull away from a broken Giants team.
The last time the Hawks came away with a big win was way back in week one, when the team beat Green Bay by 20. From then until yesterday, the season has been filled with unconvincing victories that left us wondering whether or not the team was awesome or just plain lucky.
After Sunday’s win, it would appear to look more awesome than lucky, but the team’s remaining schedule—one or the toughest in the league—will ultimately prove its mettle. The Hawks face off next week against the six and three Kansas City Chiefs in Missouri (note, the Chiefs are on a six-game winning streak). After that, two-thirds of the Hawk’s match-ups are against either NFC West division leader Arizona Cardinals or division rivals and third-place San Francisco 49ers.
Players rush to grab hold of a fumbled ball by Seattle running back Robert Turbin in the second quarter. New York recovered the ball at the Seattle 47.
Giants receiver Rueben Randle is downed for 3 yards by Seattle linebacker KH Wright in the second quarter.
Girls cheer on the Seahawks in the second quarter.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson fends off Giants linebacker Jacquian Williams for an 8 yard gain in the second quarter.
Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins celebrates stopping Seattle on a second and goal in the second quarter.
Russell Wilson throws a seven yard pass to receiver Doug Baldwin in the second quarter.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is downed after a scramble in the third quarter.
Russell Wilson throws a pass in the third quarter.
Skittles are cleaned off the field after a Lynch touchdown in the second quarter.
Marshawn Lynch led the Seahawks in a 38 to 17 rout of the New York Giants on Sunday.
Seattle defenders chase down Giants receiver Preston Parker in the second quarter.
A Giants fan holds up a sign in support of her team in the second quarter.
Giants receiver Odell Beckham shows his muscles to Seattle cornerback Marcus Burley after besting him to catch a 26-yard pass in the second quarter.
Hawks running back Marshawn Lynch is chased down for a 22-yard run in the third quarter.
Giants safety Quintin Demps intercepts a pass intended for Seattle’s Doug Baldwin in the third quarter.
Giants safety Quintin Demps intercepts a pass intended for Seattle’s Doug Baldwin in the third quarter.
Russell Wilson scrambles out of the pocket before popping off an incomplete pass in the third quarter.
Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka kicks a 28-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Marshawn Lynch attempts to find the end zone on a second and goal in the second quarter.
Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman tips a deep pass intended for Giants Odell Beckham to Seattle safety Earl Thomas in the third quarter.
Hawks’ safety Earl Thomas breaks away after intercepting a Manning pass in the end zone, running it back for a 47-yard run in the third quarter.
Eli Manning, quarterback for the Giants, scrambles out of a pinch in the fourth quarter.
Seattle fans cheer the team on in the fourth quarter.
Marshawn Lynch rumbles into the end zone in the fourth quarter for a touchdown.
Marshawn Lynch scores his fourth touchdown of the day in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks fans cheer as a Giants deep pass for 21 yards is reversed after a Seattle challenge.
Russell Wilson runs into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Rachel Willis, from Bozeman Montana, sits inside a Stryker vehicle from JBLM’s 2-1 2nd brigade, on display before the Seahawks game.
Seahawks fans poses with members of the 2-1 2nd Brigade based at JBLM before the Seahawks game on November 9, 2014.
A US flag is seen waving in a puddle on the street before Sunday’s Seahawks game.
NY Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning throws in warm-up practice.
Members of the Seagals perform at the Seahawks game versus the NY Giants on November 9, 2014.
A Chinook helicopter overflies Century Link Stadium before the game on Sunday.
Giants tight-tend Daniel Fells runs up the field after a short pass and a 12-yard gain in the first quarter.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning is pressured by defensive end Cliff Avril into throwing an incomplete pass in the first quarter.
Seattle punt returner Bryan Walters is tacked at the SEA 20 in the first quarter.
Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch runs upfield after catching a 23-yard pass in the first quarter.
Seattle tight end Cooper Helfet is stopped up by a Giants defender after catching a 32-yard pass in the first quarter.
Giants receiver Rueben Randle makes an incomplete catch in the first quarter.
Seattle running back Christine Michael runs upfield for a 45-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
Giants receiver Rueben Randle completes a five-yard pass in the first quarter.
Giants cornerback Zach Bowman, right, is congratulated by teammates after intercepting a Russell Wilson pass in the first quarter.
Giants receiver Odell Beckham fends off Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in the first quarter for a gain of six.
Seattle receiver Paul Richardson is chased down by Giants’ defenders on a kick off in the first quarter.
Seattle quaterback Russell Wilson scrambles for a gain in the first quarter.
Seattle quaterback Russell Wilson is stopped up by a Giant’s defender after an 8 yard run in the first quarter.
Giants tight end Larry Donnell is denied a touch-down by Seattle safety Jeron Johnson in the first quarter.
Seahawks running back Robert Turbin is tackled by Giants defensive end Robert Ayers JR for a gain of five in the first quarter.
Giants receiver Preston Parker catches a six-yard pass for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning throws a pass in the second quarter.
Seagals cheerleaders dance for the crowd inbetween the first and second quarter.
Giants running back Andre Williams is tackled for a 7-yard run in the second quarter.
