Seattle Seahawks' Third-Down Issues Remain Despite Blowout Win Over New York Giants
The Seattle Seahawks put a big emphasis on converting third downs in the build-up to Monday night's game against the New York Giants, and despite the 24-3 win at MetLife Stadium, they again struggled.
With the game littered with penalties in a messy first half, the Seahawks offense was 0-3 on third down when Geno Smith left the game temporarily with a knee injury in the second quarter.
This thrust backup Drew Lock into the game, and somewhat surprisingly, he picked up Seattle's first third down of the night with under two minutes to go in the half.
Facing a 3rd-and-10, Lock rolled out and hit Noah Fant, who then turned upfield and hit the gas as he shrugged off two Giants defenders and was finally brought down by a third at the one-yard line.
Fant's 51-yard gain then set up running back Kenneth Walker to punch it in to give the Seahawks a 14-3 lead at the half.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
If fans thought Seattle's third-down troubles would rectify themselves in the second half, well, they didn't.
After going 2 of 6 in the first half, the Seahawks managed to convert just more third down for the entire game, ending up converting just 3 of 12 attempts.
Despite the third-down troubles, the Seahawks have continued to put up points and win games. Now sitting at 3-1 with the only blemish coming in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle's season is starting to come together.
But despite winning three consecutive games, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and the coaching staff must fix the third-down issues. Against better teams, that won't cut it.
For now, though, the Seahawks aren't being made to pay for their failures as they sit hot on the heels of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West race.
