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Giants vs. Seahawks: 5 players to watch in Week 13

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The Giants will look to pick up their fourth consecutive win on Sunday when they travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks at Lumen Field.

After defeating two straight NFC East opponents prior to the Week 11 bye, the Giants went on the road last week and defeated the Bengals, 19-17. The defense had its best performance of the season, limiting the Joe Burrow-less Bengals to 155 total yards while forcing three turnovers. However, Daniel Jones suffered a hamstring injury in the win, putting his status for Week 13 in doubt.

The Seahawks are coming off a short week as they flew east to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles on Monday night. Seattle allowed a total of just 28 yards on the ground to Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Corey Clement, while DK Metcalf caught 10 receptions for 177 yards in the 23-17 win over Philly.

This Week 13 matchup will begin a four-game stretch in which the Giants face off against opponents who each have a winning record.

Here are five players to keep an eye on Sunday:

QB Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy may make his first start with the Giants on Sunday in place of Daniel Jones (hamstring). The veteran quarterback made his Giants debut last week after Jones got hurt, completing six of 10 passes for 31 yards in the second half. The 34-year-old added seven yards on five carries in what was his first start since Week 5 of the 2019 season.

"I felt like I was a little rusty last week, to be honest," McCoy told reporters earlier this week. "A couple plays I wish I could have back. But we'll see what happens this week. I know DJ [Daniel Jones] is extremely tough. He's the leader of this football team. He's going to do everything he can to be out there. But I'm sure I'll get some reps in practice this week. I have to take advantage of those I do get."

McCoy's last start came 14 months ago with Washington. McCoy received most of the first-team reps at practice throughout this past week, but it's unlikely the Giants will significantly change their plan of attack.

"The expectations are always the same, to be able to go in there and execute whatever we ask you to," head coach Joe Judge said. "Listen, not everyone is going to have every snap throughout the week with practice. That's just the reality of the NFL. Colt has to take advantage of every rep that he does get, and he gets a significant amount working against our defense. We try to keep everything as tied in offensively with what maybe we're working with the opponent and what our own offensive techniques are, so that all of our guys come to work and progress with what we're doing."

This week's matchup sets up nicely for McCoy, as Seattle enters Week 13 with the league's lowest-rated passing defense. The unit is allowing 328.8 passing yards per game, 37 yards more than any other team, while its 68.4 completion percentage allowed is the sixth-highest in the league. On Monday night, Carson Wentz completed 25 of 45 passes for 215 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, adding 42 yards on five rushes.

RB Wayne Gallman

All aboard! The Wayne Train has officially left the station, and it does not appear to be slowing down. Since Devonta Freeman left the Week 7 loss in Philadelphia with a foot injury, Wayne Gallman has run for a touchdown in five consecutive games, tying Washington's Antonio Gibson for the longest active streak in the league. Gallman has scored six touchdowns over the last five games, topping his career touchdown production prior to the start of this run.

"Wayne and the other backs have done a really good job kind of providing that same kind of the physicalness that you're looking for in your team," offensive coordinator Jason Garrett said Thursday. "It starts up front, but it's really everywhere. Tight ends, receivers, fullback and certainly the guy who is running with the football. One of the things about Wayne that's so impressive is he's a really good athlete, quickness, speed, elusiveness. He's also demonstrating that physicalness that you're talking about. His ability to finish runs has really been apparent to us. Certainly helped us a great deal as an offense and as a team."

In last week's win over the Bengals, Gallman registered career highs in rushes (24) and yards (94), adding a touchdown and three receptions. Since Week 7, Gallman has totaled 293 yards and six touchdowns on the ground to go with 11 receptions for 51 yards. He has recorded double-digit carries in every game during that span.

"Wayne Train, I'm so proud of him. He's playing amazing," Saquon Barkley said Thursday. "Not only him, but Alfred [Morris], EP [Eli Penny], the offensive line, they're playing amazing… Honestly, I wish I was able to be a part of it. But I'm still part of it to be completely honest. That's my mindset. I'm still part of it in a way. But to see those guys open up those holes and seeing the running backs run in a way that Wayne is running is honestly amazing. It's really helped the team."

Seattle has been quite stingy against the run this season. The unit has surrendered just 89.3 yards per game, the third-lowest mark in the NFL. However, the Seahawks have struggled to keep opposing backs out of the end zone. The 15 rushing touchdowns allowed by Seattle's defense is tied for the fifth-most in the league.

S Logan Ryan

Logan Ryan had a dominant performance in the Week 12 win in Cincinnati, recording six tackles (two solo), two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His play earned him a 91.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest on the team and his best grade of the season, and a spot on PFF's Team of the Week.

"I told these guys before the game that winning is a mentality, you have to wake up like a winner, move like a winner, practice like a winner," Ryan said following the win. "We're starting to move like winners, play like winners, starting to believe that we can win each and every game. I think that takes time; it has to be developed. I think we're developing it for sure, I'm proud of the group and I'm proud of the win today."

Ryan has been all over the field for the Giants this season. Through 11 games, the veteran defensive back has registered 65 tackles (49 solo), a sack, one tackle for loss, four quarterback hits, an interception, eight passes defensed, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He has played well in all facets, earning a 69.0 PFF grade in both run defense and coverage.

The Giants will need Ryan to do a little bit of everything against Seattle, which comes into this game with one of the league's most potent offenses. The unit ranks third in points (31.0) and fifth in yards (391.0) per game.

CB James Bradberry

James Bradberry has already matched his career-high marks in interceptions (three), passes defensed (15) and forced fumbles (one) with five games remaining. The veteran corner's 15 forced incompletions are the most in the NFL, while his 85.2 single coverage grade from PFF is the highest among cornerbacks. He has also missed just two defensive snaps all season

"I just prefer trying to get the football," Bradberry told reporters Thursday. "This game is all about interceptions and turnovers. However I can do that, I take pride in that. I also take pride in guarding the opposing team's number one receiver. If that becomes the case on Sunday, then I'm going to take pride in that as well."

This matchup against DK Metcalf and the Seahawks will present Bradberry with one of his tougher challenges of 2020. Metcalf is a physical specimen coming in at 6-foot-3 and 228-pounds, and recorded a 4.33 40-yard dash at last year's NFL Combine. The second-year receiver leads the NFL with 1,039 receiving yards to go with 58 receptions and nine touchdowns. Last week against Darius Slay and the Eagles, Metcalf caught 10 passes for 177 yards.

"This guy is a rare guy," Judge said of Metcalf. "You try to simulate his size and speed and playmaking down the field. You don't have a lot of guys walking the earth like him. The reality is, you have to do everything you can to give your players the right looks from tape, the right looks in practice, the scout teams. We have to work to prepare each other the best possible. But look, we all understand this guy is a tremendous player. He's an elite player in the league."

"I think what we have to do, we have to make it tough for him," assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Patrick Graham added. "We have to make it tough on him. Whether it's playing off coverage, press coverage. When he goes to block, get our hands on him. He's a unique talent. He's going to find a way to get open. That's the nature of it."

K Graham Gano

Graham Gano's current streak of 24 consecutive successful field goal attempts is the second-longest in franchise history.

After testing positive for COVID after the team's Week 10 win, Gano was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list right before last week's game in Cincinnati. Gano connected on all four field goal tries in the win, making kicks of 49, 40, 39 and 32 yards, in addition to his one PAT.

On the season, Gano is an impressive 25 of 26 on field goal tries, while making all 17 of his extra point attempts. He is second behind Atlanta's Younghoe Koo in total field goals made this year and among the leaders in field goal percentage. His only miss came on a 57-yard attempt back in Week 2.

View rare photos of the all-time history between the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks.

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