I watch the National Football League closely, it’s my job. But sometimes I am even surprised like I was on Thanksgiving this year. Early in their traditional hosting of the holiday game the Dallas Cowboys fell behind the New York Giants and the announcer said, “That is the first time the Giants have led in any game since Week Five.”
What?
We are in the 13th week of play and the Giants have not led at any time in their previous six games?
I hadn’t realized that, but it was true. The last time the Giants had led an opponent, which included consecutive losses to the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was during an upset win in Seattle over the Seahawks.
Now, we had the Giants that day in Seattle, so that was good, unfortunately we also had them on Thanksgiving in Dallas and despite them leading for a short time in that game, a pick-six soon followed that gave the Cowboys a lead they never relinquished.
Surprised how bad the Giants are, they have now lost seven straight point spread decisions, they appear the right side of this week’s play when they host the New Orleans Saints getting five points on the line. But that is not the side of the fifth week matchup at Lumen Field that we are most interested in, rather it is the team that last lost to the Giants.
The Seattle Seahawks.
Last week, they were also benefactors of a pick-six that likely changed the result of their game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Seattle was down 21-7 and the Jets were deep in their territory when an ill-advised pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers was intercepted and returned 92 yards to shift a game that appeared soon-to-be 28-7 into 21-14. The Jets didn’t score again last week after that turnover, and the Seahawks added 12 points to come away with a 26-21 triumph.
The Seattle victory, coupled with the Arizona Cardinals one-point loss to the Vikings in Minnesota, gave the Seahawks a perch alone atop the competitive NFC West Division standings. This is a division where only the Seahawks have a winning record, 6-7, and the last place team, the San Francisco 49ers, are only two back. Wedged between the Seahawks and 49ers are a pair of teams with six wins in a dozen decisions, the Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.
Two weeks ago in Seattle, a pick-six played a major role in another NFL decision when the Seahawks took one back off a Kyler Murray pass that led to a 16-6 home victory that allowed the Seahawks to catch the Cardinals in their tight race. Now, two weeks later, Seattle has gone from that game to leapfrog the Cardinals to sit alone atop this division.
Not for long.
When I was a kid, I used to walk along the Wharf in San Francisco and watch the fisherman deliver their catch and the workers store the live crabs in open barrels. Even though a crab was capable of climbing out of a barrel, they didn’t, because other crabs would instinctively pull them back if they tried to escape.
That is what the NFC West is like today. If any team tries to pull too far ahead, other division squads will pull them down. Like the Cardinals will the Seahawks on Sunday.
Qoxhi Picks: Arizona Cardinals (-2½) over Seattle Seahawks