What we learned about the crime

The Giants played without their top wide receiver and running back on Sunday. Malik Nabers, the sensational rookie who led the NFL in catches and ranked second in receiving yards through the first four weeks, was sidelined by a concussion he suffered in Thursday’s game against Dallas. He did not travel with the team to Seattle.

Devin Singletary, on the other hand, was listed as questionable with a groin injury in the week’s final report. The veteran running back had 293 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his first four games as a Giant.

Second-year running back Eric Gray, a former fifth-round pick, had just 86 yards from scrimmage in his first 17 games in the NFL. In his 18th^Thhe had 52 on the first drive alone, including three catches for 50 yards. But then disaster struck when Gray lost a fumble trying to reach the goal line and Seahawks strong safety Rayshawn Jenkins returned the ball 101 yards the other way for a touchdown.

Daniel Jones got off to another good start, completing 12 of his first 13 passes for 123 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown to wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Overall, Jones finished 23 of 34 for 257 yards and two touchdowns with a passer rating of 109.6. He also added 39 yards on 10 rushing attempts.

Jones and Darius Slayton hit a beautiful 41-yard throw down the right sideline in the third quarter. Three plays later, Jones got back to it and scored a 30-yard touchdown to retake the lead (then 17-10).

Slayton finished the game with 122 yards, the third-highest total of his career, while also recording his sixth 100-yard game and first since the 2023 season finale.

Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr., another fifth-round running back, led the way on the ground with 129 yards on 18 carries and a rush of 27 yards. Entering Week 5, he had just 29 rushing yards.

The Giants emphasized the running game during the extended break after a 24-carry, 26-yard output against the Cowboys. They responded with 176 yards on 33 carries in Seattle.

The Giants’ tight ends entered Sunday with just five catches for a total of 57 yards on the season. That changed in Seattle, where rookie fourth-rounder Theo Johnson caught five passes for 48 yards, including one long of 22 yards.

The Giants again dominated time of possession, 37:22 to 22:38.

WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT DEFENSE

The Seahawks lost in Detroit in Week 4 despite posting season-highs in points (29), total yards (516), passing yards (383) and first downs (38). In fact, their 38 first downs were the most by a losing team since at least 1950. On Sunday, the Giants held them to just five first downs in the first half and 17 total.

The Seahawks were moving the ball early in the second half, but then cornerback Deonte Banks and linebacker Bobby Okereke came at wide receiver DK Metcalf, with the former ripping the ball away. Rookie safety Tyler Nubin recovered the fumble for the first time in his young NFL career. The Giants scored the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing possession.

Banks tied his career high with three passes defensed after having two in the first four weeks.

The Seahawks ran just 10 times for 94 yards, 64 of which came from quarterback Geno Smith. The veteran quarterback broke off a 32-yard run to put Seattle within field goal range with less than two minutes to play.

With three in Seattle, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence increased his season sack total to six in five games. His career high is 7.5 in 2022.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns came through with a clutch sack on fourth-and-1 at the Seattle 35 early in the fourth quarter. On Seattle’s next series, Burns tipped a pass that defensive lineman DJ Davidson nearly intercepted. On the following play, Kayvon Thibodeaux recorded the Giants’ fifth sack of the day.

Davidson finished the game with two sacks, while the Giants had seven total sacks.

Adoree’ Jackson and rookie Dru Phillips returned to action after both cornerbacks were sidelined last week with calf injuries.

WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

Greg Joseph, who scored all 15 of the Giants’ points on five field goals in Week 4, made all three of his attempts in Seattle from 38, 31 and 24 yards.

All three phases complemented each other on Sunday. With the Giants trying to preserve their 10-point lead with less than six minutes to play, Jamie Gillan fired a 59-yard punt that Dane Belton deflected at the five-yard line.

Isaiah Simmons sealed the victory when he jumped over the line of scrimmage and blocked a potential game-winning field goal that Bryce Ford-Wheaton returned for a touchdown with 55 minutes to play.

SEA: LB Uchenna Nwosu (hamstring)

NYG: WR Malik Nabers (concussion), S Anthony Johnson, RB Devin Singletary (groin), CB Tre Hawkins III, OLB Boogie Basham, G Jake Kubas, QB Tommy DeVito (3rd)

SEA: C Olu Oluwatimi, T Sataoa Laumea, T Michael Jerrell, OLB Boye Mafe (knee), DT Byron Murphy II (hamstring)

On Saturday, the Giants activated linebacker Matthew Adams (quad) from injured reserve as part of a series of roster moves. The team also waived linebacker Benton Whitley and designated wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and running back Dante Miller from the practice squad.