With the Seahawks in New Jersey to face the New York Giants this weekend, we reached out to giants.com senior writer/editor Michael Eisen to learn more about Seattle's Week 7 opponent. You can read Eisen's work at Giants.com, and find him on Twitter at @giantseisen.
Q: What changed for the Giants last week that allowed them to go from an 0-5 start to victorious on the road against a good opponent, especially considering the players lost to injury the week before?
Eisen: Because we had so many receivers injured we went to a ground-based attack and ran the ball very well (148 yards). Our defense held the broncos to just 46 yards rushing. And unlike the previous three weeks, when we had a fourth-quarter lead we made the plays we needed to make down the stretch to preserve it.
Q: Along those lines, how big is ending that losing streak for team morale? Was the Giants' success in Denver something they can build on going forward?
Eisen: The win was certainly huge for morale. This would have been an unpleasant week if we were 0-6. And they believe they can build on the victory this week. The defense played as it did for much of the 2016 season, when we were 11-5. The goal is to win Sunday, enjoy the bye, and try to make a run starting in November.
Q: Was the emphasis on the run the result of a change in play caller, or a response to losing two top receivers? And was that formula for success something that looks sustainable?
Eisen: It really had more to do with the loss of our four top receivers. McAdoo is very much involved in putting together the game plan, and we would have run the ball a lot if he was still calling the plays. They had Orleans Darkwa could run the ball, and he proved them correct (117 yards).
Q: The Giants have used five different starting line combinations in six weeks. How big of a concern has line play been this season, and are there signs of things becoming more stable?
Eisen: It was a concern early in the season, when we had trouble gaining any yardage on the ground. But moving Justin Pugh to right tackle and inserting D.J. Fluker at right guard seems to have stabilized the line, even with the loss of center Weston Richburg, who has been sidelined with a concussion. Brett Jones has played well in Richburg's place. The current group is playing well and the Giants expect that to continue.
Q: With Jason Pierre-Paul doing what he did Sunday and the defense producing three turnovers, including a pick-6, how dangerous can the Giants defense be going forward?
Eisen: As Landon Collins said this week when asked if the defense is back, "We got to showcase it again. Once we showcase it again, then we can possibly say that, but not yet. We got to just put it on film one more time." The defenders are confident they can string together several good games. But no Sunday they have to prove it."
Take a look at the New York Giants players you can expect to see when the Seattle Seahawks take the field in Week 7 at MetLife Stadium.
New York Giants linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) watches from the sideline during a NFL football game against the New York Jets on Saturday August 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New York Giants running back Paul Perkins (28) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Tampa. The Buccaneers won the game 25-23. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New York Giants guard Justin Pugh (67) watches from the sideline during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday October 1, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Bobby Hart (68) watches from the sideline during a week 7 NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on October 23, 2016 in London, U.K. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants center Weston Richburg (70) during a NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Friday August 11, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants running back Orleans Darkwa (26) carries the ball in an NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Roger Lewis (82) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Cleveland. The Giants won 27-13. (AP Photo/David Richard)
New York Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison (98) watches practice during NFL football training camp on August 1, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants free safety Darian Thompson (27) watches from the sideline during a NFL football game against the New England Patriots Saturday August 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Devon Kennard (59) looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Cleveland. The Browns won 10-6. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle Ereck Flowers looks on from the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles during a NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 27-24. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New York Giants offensive tackle D.J. Fluker (76) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Tampa. The Buccaneers won the game 25-23. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New York Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas (2) lines up a field goal attempt in action against the New England Patriots Thursday Aug. 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (41) leaves the field after an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 11, 2016. The Giants defeated the Cowboys 20-19. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New York Giants running back Shane Vereen (34) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Tampa. The Buccaneers won the game 25-23. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Eli Apple (24) looks up from the field with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Tampa. The Buccaneers won the game 25-23. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New York Giants defensive back Janoris Jenkins (20) before a week 1 NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 11, 2016 in Arlington, TX. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New York Giants guard John Jerry (77) looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Cleveland. The Browns won 10-6. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New York Giants punter Brad Wing watches from the sideline during a NFL football game against the New York Jets on Saturday August 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas (52) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Tampa. The Buccaneers won the game 25-23. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New York Giants strong safety Landon Collins (21) prior to an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Giants, 19-3. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Giants rookie defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL Thursday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, December 22, 2016 in Philadelphia. The Eagles won the game 24-19. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New York Giants tight end Rhett Ellison looks on from the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles during a NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Philadelphia. The Eagles won 27-24. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New York Giants defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (94) is shown on the sidelines during the game against the New York Jets Saturday Aug. 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87) scores on a 77 yard touchdown catch during a NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday September 24, 2017 in Philadelphia. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants wide receiver Tavarres King (15) watches play against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football NFC wildcard playoff game Jan. 8, 2017 in Green Bay, Wis. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie (51) looks on on the sideline during the NFL regular season game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Patriots won, 27-26. (Ric Tapia via AP)
