SEATTLE — This week, the New York Giants added Isaiah Simmons to their field goal block team, and the decision paid off handsomely. On Sunday, his blocked kick led to a game-winning touchdown, sealing the Giants’ 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
A Game-Changing Moment
With just 55 seconds left, Bryce Ford-Wheaton picked up the blocked kick and raced 60 yards for a touchdown. This score clinched the win for the Giants. As Seattle prepared for a potential tying score, Simmons leaped over the gap between the guard and long snapper, swatting the kick directly into Ford-Wheaton’s hands.
” I’m normally not on field goal block. This was my first time blocking kicks today,” Simmons said. He said either today he is going to block a punt or a field goal.
A Solid Game Plan
The blocked kick wrapped up a great day for the Giants. Despite missing two key offensive players, New York (2-3) executed a brilliant game plan. They built a 23-13 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Then, the Giants made a crucial special teams play when Seattle seemed ready to tie the game.
Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial had set up the block earlier in the week. New York’s Dexter Lawrence II pushed down Seattle’s Laken Tomlinson, creating a clear lane for Simmons to jump through and make the block. Ford-Wheaton quickly corralled the loose ball and sprinted into the end zone.
“It happened exactly how we planned. We knew Simmons is a freak athlete. Ford-Wheaton said that he has the ability to do things like that and they also believe in him.
Seattle’s Near Comeback
Interestingly, the conclusion of the NFL game was quite surprising. Seattle seemed poised for a comeback when Geno Smith threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, narrowing the score to 20-23 with just 2:09 remaining. The Giants failed to secure a first down and punted back to Seattle. On the very first play of their next drive, Smith dashed 32 yards into field goal range.
However, that drive stalled, and Simmons came through with the critical block that turned the tide.
“We discussed who could jump, and Isaiah was the perfect choice. He executed it flawlessly,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said.
Daniel Jones Directs the Offense
Meanwhile, Daniel Jones directed the offense with a strong performance. Despite playing without rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Devin Singletary, the Giants relied on short passes and effective runs to control the game. Jones completed 23 of 34 passes, throwing touchdowns to Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton.
Rookie Tyrone Tracy stepped up in Singletary’s absence, rushing for 129 yards. Additionally, Slayton contributed significantly with eight catches for 122 yards.
“Since training camp, we have expressed how much we value our skilled players and how deep we believe those positions are. Today, many guys stepped up and made plays,” Jones remarked.
Seahawks Struggle Throughout
The Giants could have made the win even more comfortable if not for a goal-line fumble from Eric Gray, which Rayshawn Jenkins returned 102 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. This fumble marked the only highlight for the Seahawks on an otherwise frustrating day.
Smith went 28 of 40 for 284 yards and added 72 rushing yards. However, Seattle’s running game struggled, and Smith faced seven sacks, with three of those from Lawrence.
After a loss to Detroit, the Seahawks seemed outcoached and looked a step slow. They struggled with sloppy penalties, poor tackling, and inadequate protection for Smith. With a Thursday night game against San Francisco looming, they have little time to regroup.
“We played poorly. That’s the reality,” Smith admitted. “We didn’t execute well and started slowly. We talked about starting fast, but that’s not how we want to begin.”
Injury Updates
Lastly, Seattle’s outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu hurt his thigh during the first half and was declared out for the rest of the game. This game marked his season debut after missing the first four weeks due to a knee sprain. He also spent most of last season recovering from a torn pectoral muscle.
Additionally, cornerback Riq Woolen dealt with an ankle injury and was in and out of the lineup. Derick Hall also sustained a foot injury in the fourth quarter, adding to Seattle’s challenges.
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