The Seattle Seahawks’ sole possession of first place in the NFC West lasted for all of one week, as they suffered a crushing 17-12 defeat in Week 13 at the hands of the Daniel Jones-less New York Giants (5-7). Seattle led 5-0 at halftime, but fell apart in the second half, allowing the Giants to score 17 straight points. There were few bright spots for the Seahawks on Sunday, but two defensive players, in particular, stood out in a positive way.
THE GOOD
Ryan Neal: Safety Ryan Neal has been a revelation for the Seahawks since he was promoted from the practice squad in Week 3 against the Cowboys. In Sunday’s contest, he forced an interception after a massive hit to New York tight end Evan Engram, which caused the football to pop out of Engram’s grasp and into the waiting hands of Seattle’s Quandre Diggs. Neal also blocked Riley Dixon’s punt from the New York 11-yard line with just 28 seconds to go in the first half, which led to the ball bouncing out the back of the end zone for two points. Once a fringe player that bounced back and forth from the waiver wire and the active roster, Ryan Neal’s 2020 campaign makes it apparent that he should be here to stay.
Jamal Adams: Seattle’s star safety was a matchup nightmare for the Giants for most of the game, although he did allow a key first down to Evan Engram that prolonged their last drive. Adams has racked up linebacker-worthy stats all year, adding 11 tackles and a sack to his incredible season. Just one more sack from Adams in the Seahawks’ four remaining games will surpass the NFL’s single-season record for defensive back sacks, which was set in 2005 by Adrian Wilson.