I watched the first drive of the first quarter, saw defeat in the eyes of Seattle, victory in the eyes of New York, and figured this is as close to a mercy rule the NFL will ever have. Reflecting on this loss, the words of Tim O'Brien sprung to mind, about happening-truth and story-truth. The happening-truth is Seattle entered Sunday's contest a mediocre team with a hard loss and a bad loss and a lot left to be decided about how good or bad they are. That team left Sunday's contest in the bottom tier of the NFL, suffering a secondary collapse few anticipated, and staring down the hardest part of their schedule. The story-truth is that Seattle was embarrassed, battered and tossed around by a clearly better opponent. That good teams don't lose like that. That I felt embarrassed rooting for Josh Wilson. Embarrassed I've championed Lofa Tatupu as a future Hall of Fame inductee. Embarrassed thinking this team could compete. And that I'm scared to make the same mistake.
I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth. -Tim O'Brien
Fans gravitate towards story-truth, because it better explains how it felt to lose. As an analyst, I understand both, but must attempt to stay grounded in happening-truth. Right now, this team is very bad, but its talent is not. Until that changes, I'm not abandoning hope for this season.
Why Brandon Jacobs was the least important part of 41 yards per carry: The rushing totals stick with Jacobs, but few backs in the NFL squander clear shots into the third level. Jacobs bruised for some good gains and first downs and certainly had something to do with his 44 and 38 yard rushes, but I would argue he was one of the lesser components.
Fourth play of New York's first drive of the quarter, 2nd and 10 from the Giants 32. Giants break 3WR, TE, Rb. Seattle in a base 4-3 with its rotation tackles in. At the snap, Shaun O'Hare easily single blocks Howard Green, Chris Snee pulls clean and engages Tatupu, Leroy Hill runs into the pile, and Jacobs breaks free into the third level. Brian Russell squares, circles around and then tackles Jacobs from behind. It's been true since 2005, Seattle needs a right defensive tackle that can occupy two blockers. Green is a one gap tackle. However raw, Red Bryant has proven he demands blockers. It's time, free Red Bryant.
A play later New York scored and the game was effectively over. The blown coverage, a little Russell and a little Deon Grant, was ugly and inexplicable and perfectly in accordance with Sunday's story.
Tomorrow we'll begin previewing Green Bay.