SEATTLE — The Giants did not beat the Seahawks on Sunday so much as they battered and embarrassed them. They gained nearly four times as many yards, held the ball for more than twice as long, committed fewer penalties, converted third downs more efficiently, forced more turnovers, and on and on it went.
In fact, after the Giants’ nearly flawless 41-7 triumph at Qwest Field, Coach Tom Coughlin felt compelled to point out his team’s lone significant mistake, a fumble by tight end Kevin Boss on their first offensive possession.
Like someone who points out the one pimple on a model or the small scratch on a fancy car, Coughlin said, “I’m disappointed in the turnover, which gave them a little bit of momentum.”
With that, Coughlin’s critique ended. His team played that well.
By the end of the first quarter, the Giants led the Seahawks by three touchdowns. By the end of the second quarter, they had compiled their largest halftime lead since 1959. By the end of the third quarter, the locals had fled for the exits as if coffee sales awaited them outside.
The fourth quarter felt more like an exhibition game, pitting backups against backups, as the Giants added much insult to the Seahawks’ long list of injuries. The Giants’ final drive — a long series of runs that bled almost the entire fourth quarter — was perhaps their most impressive, even though it yielded no points, only because the Giants elected to kneel down rather than punch in another score.
With their fifth consecutive victory, the Giants improved to 6-2. They kept pace with the Atlanta Falcons for the best record in the N.F.C. and remained one game ahead of their closest division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Full story: Giants Use Seahawks as Extras in Their Highlight Show – NYTimes.com