Eli Manning Looking To Avoid Any More Late-Game Heroics Against Seahawks

The New York Giants return home tomorrow to play the Seattle Seahawks in a game that is loaded with all the signs which suggest overlooking the opposition.  The Giants (3-1) are coming off two thrilling come-from-behind victories on the road and a three game win streak but the Seahawks (3-1) have a rousing fourth quarter rally, in their most recent loss to the Atlanta Falcons, under their belt as well.

The Giants claim they are not overconfident playing the offensively-deficient Seahawks, but after being down by 20 points in the third quarter last week against the Falcons, the Seahawks switched to a hurry-up offense and reeled off 21 points in the final 25 minutes only to fall short, 30-28, in the loss.

We all know how the Giants handle the hurry-up and don't think the referees won't be looking for some more Giants' players flopping on the field to slow it down.  Hear that Deon Grant?

The Giants return to MetLife Stadium for a three game home stand after playing three of their first four games on the road.  It could be the easiest stretch of their schedule and  make-it-or-break-it time for the G-men.  Last week's two score comeback over the Arizona Cardinals has to make the homecoming even sweeter.

Over the next month, the Giants play the still-suspect Buffalo Bills and the Andrew-Luck Lottery front runners Miami Dolphins before the team heads into a sadistic nine-game stretch against top-tier teams and division rivals.

Oh yeah, there's a bye week thrown in there after the Buffalo game.  So for the next month, the Giants can get used to familiar surroundings and an accommodating schedule-maker.

The game at hand brings in a Seahawks team juiced up with a little momentum and Pete Carroll's hurry-up to frustrate the Giants D.  I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the giddy-up offense going at a depleted Giants defense that will be without DE Justin Tuck for the second straight week.

The Seahawks don't match up well against the Giants as their last two losses to New York will attest.  The Giants pummeled the 'Hawks 41-7 last season and 44-6 in 2008, so that overconfidence buzz could be in the back of Giants player's minds.

But these birds don't like to leave the nest either.  Seattle has lost its last six road games and the last nine games played in the Eastern Time Zone.

As for the Giants offense, the loss of Brandon Jacobs (knee) means the running game will be in the sole hands of Ahmad Bradshaw and the concussed head of Mario Manningham has turned Victor Cruz into a starting receiver.  Manningham still has to overcome last week's perceived miscommunication with QB Eli Manning and get back into the swing of things.

Manning will go to his receivers early and often.  It sounds like he doesn't want to toy with any more late-game deficits. 

"You always want to get off to a fast start, but you also don't want to get frustrated if you don't.  And if you don't get off to a fast start, you still can't afford to make mistakes or turn the ball over," said Manning.  "We are doing a better job of [limiting turnovers], and  that's keeping us in games."

The NFC's second-ranked QB is slowly making the league forget about the other Manning, Peyton, and is brimming with confidence.  The new and improved Giants QB has not thrown an interception in 90 straight attempts.  He looks almost Tom Bradyish.

The Giants now attempt to shoot down the third bird-named team in-a-row and feather their own nest.

If Manning comes out firing-- because of the Giants depleted running game -- and the Seahawks give the hurry-up a little go-see, this game could turn into a shoot-out.

The Giants hope it turns into a turkey shoot-- or a Seahawk one.