Seattle Seahawks at New York Giants
MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey
Sunday, December 15, 2013, 1:00 pm Eastern, TV: Fox, NFL Sunday Ticket
Opening Line: Seattle -6 1/2
Current Line: Seattle -7 1/2
Opening Total: 41 1/2
Current Total: 41 1/2
Opening Money Line: Seahawks -300 / Giants +250
Current Money Line: Seahawks -300 / Giants +250
The 11-2 Seattle Seahawks had a chance to wrap up the NFC West and also clinch a first round bye in the playoffs last week as they traveled to the arch rival San Francisco 49ers. The Seahawks lost that game 19-17 on a last second field goal to snap an 8 game winning streak. Seattle still leads the division by two games and barring a monumental collapse will likely be the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Seattle can clinch the division with a win Sunday at the 5-8 New York Giants and a San Francisco loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Giants were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs last week with their 37-14 loss at the San Diego Chargers last week.
Since 2001, the Giants lead the series 4-3 against the Seahawks. Seattle won the last meeting in New Jersey in 2011 36-25. The last four games in this series have been decided by double digits.
Seattle is coached by Pete Carroll. The Seahawks have losses at the Indianapolis Colts 34-28 and last week at San Francisco. Seattle has home wins over the 49ers 29-3, Jacksonville Jaguars 45-17, Tennessee Titans 20-13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 in overtime, Minnesota Vikings 41-20 and New Orleans Saints 34-7. The Seahawks have road wins over the Carolina Panthers 12-7, Houston Texans 23-20 in overtime, Arizona Cardinals 34-22, St. Louis Rams 14-9, and Atlanta Falcons 33-10. Seattle is 9-4 ATS and the total is 6-7 this season. The Seahawks were 2.5 point underdogs at the 49ers and the total was 41.
The 49ers kicked two first quarter field goals to take a 6-0 lead against the Seahawks. In the second quarter, the Seahawks would take a 14-9 lead with 3:47 left in the half. San Francisco drove down the field and scored a touchdown with 6 seconds left to take a 16-14 lead into halftime. Neither team scored in the third quarter, but the 49ers did throw an interception in the red zone. The Seahawks kicked the go ahead field goal with 6:20 left in the fourth to make it 17-16. San Francisco would keep the ball for almost the rest of the game and kicked a 22 yard field goal to take a 19-17 lead with 26 seconds left. Seattle would have one more chance to get into field goal range with no timeouts from their own 16. That drive ended with a deep interception from quarterback Russell Wilson at the 49er 20 yard line. San Francisco took a knee to secure the much needed win, and keep their slim division title hopes alive. The 49ers had 318 total yards including 163 rushing yards. The Seahawks had 264 total yards including 178 rushing yards. Each team had one turnover and the teams combined for 16 penalties for 155 yards.
Seattle is outscoring teams 28-16 this season. The Seahawks are #4 in scoring and #2 in points allowed. Seattle is averaging 356.6 yards per game on offense, including 215.1 passing and 141.5 rushing yards. The Seahawks are #21 in passing, #3 in rushing and #12 in total offense. On defense, Seattle is allowing 287.1 total yards including 175.6 passing and 111.5 rushing yards. The Seahawks lead the league in passing and total defense. Seattle is +12 in turnovers. The Seahawks are 72/175 on third and fourth down conversions, and opponents are 71/187. Seattle has forced 36 sacks and allowed 32 this season. The Seahawks have 3 defensive touchdowns and allowed 3 special teams/defensive touchdowns. Seattle averages 74 penalty yards per game and opponents average 54.
Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson has completed 64.5% of his passes for 2,871 yards with 23 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, along with 81 carries for 458 yards and a touchdown. He has been sacked 32 times this season. Back-up Tavaris Jackson has thrown a touchdown pass and rushed for one as well in limited action.
Running back Marshawn Lynch has 244 carries for 1,042 yards with 10 touchdowns, along with 27 catches for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns. Robert Turbin has 61 catches for 217 yards, along with 7 catches for 59 yards. Christine Michael will also get a few carries.
Receiver Golden Tate has 52 catches for 710 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 29 rushing yards. Doug Baldwin has 43 catches for 699 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Tight end Zach Miller has 28 catches for 347 yards and four touchdowns. Jermaine Kearse has 17 catches for 287 yards and 4 touchdowns. Luke Wilson has 16 catches for 242 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Sidney Rice is out for the season with a knee injury. He had 15 catches for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns. Receiver Percy Harvin has only made one catch since returning from hip surgery a few weeks ago against the Vikings. He hasn’t played since and is questionable Sunday. Seven defensive players are listed as questionable or Out Sunday against the Giants, including 3 cornerbacks. Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond are both suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
New York is coached by Tom Coughlin. The Giants opened the season 0-6, but have gone 5-2 since then. It was too little too late though as the Giants are just playing out the string. The Giants have home wins over the Minnesota Vikings 23-7, Oakland Raiders 24-20, and Green Bay Packers 27-13, along with road wins over the Philadelphia Eagles 15-7, and Washington Redskins 24-17. New York has road losses at the Dallas Cowboys 36-31, Carolina Panthers 38-0, Kansas City Chiefs 31-7, Chicago Bears 27-21, and at San Diego last week along with home losses to the Denver Broncos 41-23, Philadelphia Eagles 36-21, and Cowboys 24-21. The Giants are 5-8 ATS and the total is 7-6 this season. New York was a 4 point underdog at the Chargers last week and the total was 47.
San Diego took a 24-0 halftime lead against the NY Giants. The Gaints would score a touchdown to open the third quarter and make it 24-7. San Diego would lead 31-17 at the end of the third. The Giants would pull within 31-14 early in the fourth, but the Chargers would add two more field goals to make the final 37-14. The Giants had 333 total yards including 241 passing yards. San Diego had 388 total yards including 244 passing yards. New York had 7 penalties for 72 yards and 3 turnovers. The Chargers had 6 penalties for 30 yards and a touchdown.
New York is being outscored 26-19 this season. The Giants are #22 in points allowed and #28 in scoring. New York is averaging 321.7 yards per game including 233.7 passing and 88 rushing yards. The Giants are #26 in total offense and #27 in rushing. On defense, New York is allowing 337.2 yards per game including 231.8 passing and 105.4 rushing yards. The Giants are 15th or better in all three categories. New York is -13 in turnovers. The Giants are 64/181 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 80/194. New York has forced 25 sacks and allowed 33 this season. The Giants have 2 defensive/special teams touchdowns, but have allowed 10 this season.
Quarterback Eli Manning has completed 58.6% of his passes for 3,254 yards with 16 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, along with 38 rushing yards. He has been sacked 33 times this season. Back-up Curtis Painter has thrown an interception but has only taken 4 snaps.
Running back Andre Brown has 99 carries for 424 yards and 3 touchdowns, along with 14 catches for 80 yards. Brandon Jacobs had 58 carries for 238 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 2 catches. He is out for the season with a knee injury. Peyton Hillis has 53 carries for 183 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 10 catches for 66 yards. David Wilson has 44 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown, along with 2 catches. Running back Da’Rel Scott (hamstring) and fullback Henry Hynoski (shoulder) are both out for the season. Scott only had 73 rushing yards, but did have 11 catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Receiver Victor Cruz has 71 catches 973 yards and 4 touchdowns. Hakeem Nicks has 49 catches for 789 yards. Rueben Randle has 37 catches for 571 yards and 6 touchdowns. Brandon Myers has 38 catches, 323 yards and 4 touchdowns. Four defensive players and three offensive linemen are questionable or out Sunday.
Seattle is 6-1 ATS in December, 9-2 in road games, 8-2 after a cover, 23-8 on fieldturf, 20-7 overall, 25-9 in NFC games, and 7-3 after a straight up loss. The last four games in this series have gone over the total.
New York is 5-1 ATS in NFC games, 2-5 on fieldturf, 1-4 after allowing 30 points or more, and 1-6 in week 15.
Had Seattle not lost last week, I would have picked the Giants to pull off the upset at home, with Seattle having to travel across country for an early kickoff. However, I don’t see the Seahawks losing two straight games as they don’t want to lose home field advantage in the playoffs. The Giants offense has struggled all season, mainly thanks to all the turnovers. I like Seattle to win a close low scoring game on the road.
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