OVERCOME NABERS’ ABSENCE
Star rookie receiver Malik Nabers leads the NFL with 52 targets, 35 catches and a 35.9% target share on his team’s offensive pass plays. But he’s out Sunday with a concussion, so it’s not clear how the Giants will put a competitive offense on the field. They don’t run the ball well. And while downfield threat Jalin Hyatt will get more opportunities, Brian Daboll has shown a limited willingness to trust Daniel Jones with aggressive calls. He really has no choice but to put this game plan on Jones’ arm and legs, and to live with the result.
WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE
The Giants have committed six turnovers to the Seahawks’ one in the team’s two meetings the past two years. That’s the main reason Seattle has outscored New York, 51-20, in the aggregate and won both games. Daboll’s team has very little margin for error as it is. The Giants have not scored a touchdown since the first half in Cleveland in Week 3 — a drought of six quarters. If they lose the turnover battle, they can’t win. Rookie safety Tyler Nubin is a player to watch here. He was a ball hawk in college at Minnesota but has not forced a turnover yet this season.
IMPROVE HALFTIME ADJUSTMENTS
The Giants have outscored opponents, 45-44, in the first halves of games. But they’ve scored only 15 second-half points in four weeks while allowing 40. Technically, the Giants would have had 22 second-half points if Devin Singletary hadn’t slid down to run the clock out on their Week 3 road win in Cleveland. Still, that’s not good enough. Geno Smith’s Seahawks are not Deshaun Watson’s Browns. The Giants didn’t score in the second half against the Browns and still won. They will not have the same leeway Sunday.