New York Giants - Seattle Seahawks Matchups to Watch
The New York Giants will face the Seattle Seahawks in their fourth game of the 2023 season, hoping to even out their win-loss record at 2-2.
The two adversaries have several talented players matched against one another, making for some great entertainment. Still, these two particular matchups are among the key ones that can influence Monday night's outcome.
When the Giants Have the Ball
With running back Saquon Barkley unlikely to play as he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain against the Arizona Cardinals, the run game probably won't be New York's biggest emphasis against the Seahawks six-time All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and company.
Instead, the game's fate will likely be in the hands of the receivers to quickly get open against one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
Quarterback Daniel Jones and the Giants' pass attack have been subpar after their first three games and will need to show major improvement when Seattle comes to MetLife Stadium.
One Giants pass-catcher who needs to step up on Monday night is wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins, as he'll likely be face-to-face with Seahawks Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen.
Hodgins spent most of his first two seasons on the Bills practice squad after Buffalo selected him with the 207th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The 24-year-old only played three games in Buffalo before being released on November 1, 2022.
The Giants claimed the underused receiver off waivers on November 4, hoping to add more targets for Jones. In his first eight active regular season games as a Giant (Weeks 10-17), Hodgins made an immediate impact: 33 receptions for 351 yards and four touchdowns while playing nearly 80 percent of the snaps.
Hodgins, who turns 25 years old on October 21, had expectations to rise as one of New York's best playmakers in 2023. However, he has just five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown through three weeks.
As Hodgins strives for last year's success, a great Week 4 by him might be all he needs to return to that form. Nevertheless, beating a premier cornerback like Woolen will only boost his confidence for weeks to come.
However, it won't be easy, as Woolen led the league in interceptions (6) and logged the fourth-most pass breakups (16) as a rookie in 2022. Should Woolen continue to shutdown receivers like Hodgins, the Giants may not have any answers due to Barkley's injury and Seattle's probable defensive emphasis on tight end Darren Waller.
When the Seahawks Have the Ball
Giants rookie cornerback Deonte Banks has stood out in New York's defensive backs room throughout OTA's, training camp, and the preseason. The 24th overall pick is having a very solid rookie campaign thus far, as he's broken up three passes (tied for 14th-most in the NFL) and allowed seven receptions on 13 targets.
On Monday night, the 22-year-old will be challenged by Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf, one of the league's most athletic playmakers.
While at the University of Maryland, Banks showcased a lot of tools needed to become an immediate lockdown threat to any receiver in the NFL. His long, athletic frame and ability to stick with the receiver in man or zone could even ride him to a realistic Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign. Banks also excels at keeping the receiver by the sideline and rarely allows inside leverage, something many cornerbacks struggle with at every level.
Nevertheless, Metcalf's jaw-dropping speed and route-running ability for his massive 6-foot-4, 235-pound size is truly something to marvel at. He's an automatic mismatch for most starting cornerbacks in this league, but Banks is only a couple of inches shorter at 6-foot-2.
Metcalf's Pro Bowl-caliber status would make most rookie cornerbacks lose sleep the night before, but Banks has already seen his fair share of superstars this season and has plenty more to go. He's had some of these receivers slip by him a few times, but he's also kept opposing quarterbacks' eyes away.
If Banks keeps Metcalf towards the sideline and away from the middle of the field, the Seahawks offense could be in for a rough day. However, if Banks lets his inexperience get in the way of the freak athlete that is Metcalf, it could be bad news for New York.
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