New York Giants' Run Defense Grounded

When your defense surrenders 350 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, there is enough blame to go around for the entire unit. Such was the case in the New York Giants‘ 38-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday when they were unable to cling on to a three-point lead at halftime. The game was actually tied at 17 at the end of the third quarter, but the Seahawks pulled away in the final stanza in what amounted to a laugher.

One of the players not trying to point the blame elsewhere was starting middle linebacker Jameel McClain, who put some of it square on his shoulders.

“We just didn’t play sound football,” he said via giants.com. “People weren’t where they were supposed to be, myself included. I always look at myself first. There was a time or two where I wasn’t in the position that I was supposed to be in to help the defense.

“As a starting or as any linebacker, it is anybody on the defense, even someone who was watching the game, no one likes that feeling.”

Marshawn Lynch gained 140 yards and scored four of the five touchdowns, and while it is no surprise that the powerful back excelled, it was his first 100-yard game since the season opener. Besides that, Lynch came into the contest with only four rushing touchdowns, so he certainly was able to take advantage of a weak Giants defense.

If you hold Russell Wilson to 172 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions on 10-for-17 passing, one would figure that would result in a win. But the Seattle quarterback did more damage with his legs than his right arm with 14 rushes for 107 yards and a score.

Being last in the NFL by surrendering an average of 144.7 rushing yards per game is a humbling stat for an organization that has historically prided itself on the strength of its defense. The Giants’ opponents have fared nearly just as well throwing the football, with the team ranked 25^th (260.2 passing yards per game).

It doesn’t get any easier this week when the San Francisco 49ers with Colin Kaepernick and Frank Gore come into MetLife Stadium.