Rapid Reactions: Seahawks Comeback Falls Short In Week 5 Loss ...
Despite all that had gone wrong for the Seahawks on Sunday, it looked like they might just have an improbable comeback up their sleeves.
With the Seahawks trailing by 10 points, Geno Smith and the offense marched 95 yard for a touchdown to make it a one-score game, and after the defense did its job forcing a three-and-out, the Seahawks had a chance to tie the game or take the lead, getting the ball back with 1:40 left on the clock.
A 32-yard scramble by Smith on the first play of that drive meant the Seahawks were in business, but when the drive stalled out and Jason Myers came out for the potential tying field goal, Giants linebacker Isaiah Simmons made a game-saving play, leaping over the line to block the field goal. Receiver Bryace Ford-Wheaton then scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, putting the finishing touch on a 29-20 Giants win.
Here are five rapid reactions to the loss, which drops Seattle's record to 3-2:
The Seahawks put up huge offensive numbers in Monday night's loss, but could not carry the momentum from that showing into Sunday's game. Seattle had limited opportunities in the first half thanks to some long, clock-eating drives by the Giants, and when the Seahawks did have the ball, they punted on each of their first three possessions before getting a field goal in the final seconds of the half after Geno Smith completions to Kenneth Walker III and Tyler Lockett.
The Seahawks then looked like they might be getting on track on their first drive of the second half, moving well, but that drive ended in Giants territory when, for the second time in as many games, DK Metcalf lost a fumble while fighting for extra yardage. And as was the case in Monday's game in Detroit, that turnover led to a touchdown for Seattle's opponent.
The Seahawks did respond with a field goal after the turnover, but their following drive ended with a quick turnover on downs in their own territory, leading to a Giants field goal that made it a two-score game.
The Seahawks drove 95-yards for a touchdown, then got the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead, but after Jaxon Smith-Njigba couldn't hold onto a third-down pass, Jason Myers' game-tying field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown, ending the comeback hopes.
As Seattle's 95-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive showed, the Seahawks have plenty of firepower to do some great things on offense, but they'll need to find ways to move the ball more consistently in the coming games.
Seattle's defense came up with a huge play early in the game, a Jerome Baker forced fumble that Rayshawn Jenkins returned 102 yards for a score, and that unit also made some big stops late to keep the comeback hopes alive, limiting the Giants to a field goal on a short field, then forcing two punts in the fourth quarter.
But in between those positives, the Giants were able to do too much damage both through the air and on the ground. After turning the ball over at the end of a 79-yard drive to start the game, the Giants punted, then had an 81-yard touchdown drive and a 58-yard drive that ended with a field goal. The Giants added another long touchdown drive and field goal in the third quarter before Seattle's defense started slowing them down, but by then the damage had been done.
In all, the Giants were able to total 420 yards and 24 first downs despite the absence of their top receiver, rookie Malik Nabers, and starting running back Devin Singletary.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said during the week that he was hoping to see his defense end its takeaway drought after Seattle failed to force a turnover in three straight games following a three-takeaway performance. And the Seahawks ended that streak in a big way on Sunday, with Jerome Baker forcing a fumble on a fourth-and-goal run just before Giants running back Eric Gray crossed the goal line, and Rayshawn Jenkins scooping up the loose ball before returning it the length of the field for a 102-yard Seahawks touchdown.
Somewhere around midfield Jenkins, realizing no one was close in pursuit, slowed to a jog, then he skipped the final 10 or so yards for a 102-yard touchdown that was the longest defensive touchdown in franchise history, surpassing Bobby Wagner's 98-yard pick six against the 49ers in 2018. The touchdown was also the second longest score of any type in franchise history, second only to Tyler Lockett's 105-yard kick return as a rookie in 2015.
After missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury, linebacker Jerome Baker was back on the field, and he wasted little time making plays for Seattle's defense. Baker, who finished with a team-leading 14 tackles, had a productive return to the lineup, including a pair of massive plays at the goal line on consecutive plays.
First, Baker was there to meet running back Eric Gray at the goal-line on a third-and-goal run, stopping him for no gain. The Giants went back to Gray on fourth-and-goal, and Baker was there again, this time forcing a fumble that Rayshawn Jenkins recovered and returned 102-yards for a score.
Baker also added a third-down pass breakup in the red zone in the fourth quarter, forcing the Giants to settle for a field goal.
Rookie Nehemiah Pritchett saw the most playing time of his young career on Sunday, filling in for Riq Woolen, who left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. And the fifth-round pick out of Auburn came through with some strong play late in the game. Not long after replacing Woolen for the second time—Woolen was able to return to the game at one point before leaving for good—the Giants went after the rookie on a third-down pass in the red zone, but Pritchett had good coverage on Darius Slayton, who had a game-high 122 yards, leading to an incomplete pass.
Late in the game with the Seahawks looking to get the ball back down three points, Pritchett batted away a pass to Slayton, forcing the Giants to punt.
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Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) and Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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≈Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) and Seahawks cornerback Dee Williams (33) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks linebacker Trevis Gipson (50) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) and Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
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Seahawks players at the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants at Lumen Field on Sunday, October 6, 2024.
