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Keys to Victory: How to enter bye on high note

KEYS-TO-VICTORY

The Giants, Jets, and Bills are a combined 16-4 in 2022, which is currently the highest combined win percentage (.800) by the New York teams in the Super Bowl era. The full-season record (.667) was set in 1990, when the Giants defeated the Bills in Super Bowl XXV.

Meanwhile, the NFC East has also experienced a resurgence. The Giants, Eagles, Cowboys, and Commanders have a combined win percentage of .741 (20-7), the highest by a single division through Week 7 since the division realignment in 2002. There have only been two other seasons since realignment where a division had a win pct above .700: 2013 AFC West and 2020 NFC West.

What does that all mean for Sunday's matchup between the Giants and Seahawks on the other side of the country? Well, nothing.

"I get in my car and drive home and drive here," coach Brian Daboll said this week when asked about the atmosphere around town. "I don't really do anything else."

The Giants, winners of their last four games and off to the franchise's best start since 2008, have put the blinders on heading into their final test before the bye week.

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

Here are three ways the Giants can end the unofficial first half of the season on a high note against the Seahawks:

Win the ground game

Sunday will be a showcase of two former Big Ten running backs. Saquon Barkley leads the NFL with 906 scrimmage yards and already has more rushing yards than he did in 2020 and '21 combined. Meanwhile, Seattle's rookie running back Kenneth Walker III has 353 rush yards and four touchdowns on the ground since Week 5, both most in NFL. Whichever team does better on the ground may prove to be the difference as both defenses rank in the bottom five against the run.

Lock up the deep pass

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith leads the NFL with a career-high 73.5 comp pct in 2022 and is one of five quarterbacks with a 100+ passer rating. Smith has also thrown a league-high eight deep pass touchdowns (20+ air yards) this season. The wide receiver frequently on the other end of them is Tyler Lockett, who leads the NFL with 830 deep receiving yards since 2021.

"I never get surprised by players," Daboll said. "I think every player is in their own unique situation. I think [Smith is] playing really good football. He's playing top level football at the quarterback position. Watch him play all these games; he's making great decisions. He's accurate with the football. He's leading the team down to score a bunch of points. He's really done a fantastic job."

Smith may have a tougher road ahead. Not only does the Giants' defense rank sixth in scoring, but Lockett has been limited with a hamstring injury while DK Metcalf has not practiced this week due to a knee injury.

Take care of the ball

The Giants have found a winning formula, and one of the main variables is taking care of the ball. Only three teams (Eagles, Raiders, Cardinals) have turned the ball over less frequently than the Giants, who have done so only six times this season (three fumbles and three interceptions).

Stat of the week

The Giants are the first team in NFL history to start 6-1 or better and have each of their first seven games decided by one possession. They also lead the league with six comeback wins. Below is a look at the scoring differential by quarter for both teams.

Giants

  • 1Q: -11
  • 2Q: -11
  • 3Q: +6
  • 4Q: +36 (2nd-best in NFL)

Seahawks

  • 1Q: +30 (2nd-best in NFL)
  • 2Q: -16
  • 3Q: -8
  • 4Q: -9
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