GMEN HQ: An Interview with the Seahawks’ 12th Man Rising

SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 07: Fans of the New York Giants hold signs during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on November 7, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Giants defeated the Seahawks 41-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 07: Fans of the New York Giants hold signs during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on November 7, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Giants defeated the Seahawks 41-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 09: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks avoids the rush of defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka #94 and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn #78 of the New York Giants during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on November 9, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 09: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks avoids the rush of defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka #94 and defensive tackle Markus Kuhn #78 of the New York Giants during the fourth quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on November 9, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

GMEN HQ: What are the key matchups for this game on both sides of the ball?

12th Man Rising:

The key matchups to me in the Seahawks versus Giants are both run offenses against run defenses. The Giants are good defensively and as great as Russell Wilson can be, he must have help from the run game.

One reason the Seahawks struggled in four games in the middle of the season is they had no healthy, good running backs. When Carlos Hyde returned a couple of weeks ago, it made a big difference but Seattle’s best running back by far is Chris Carson and Carson simply makes the offense better. If Seattle can pick up yards on the ground against the Giants, great. If not, the offense can struggle.

The same goes for the Seahawks on defense. Seattle has been really good at stopping the run this year and the one obvious way the Giants can score enough points to win in Week 13 is to have New York run the ball effectively. If Seattle can continue to stop the run with interior linemen Jarran Reed, Snacks Harrison, and Poona Ford, then Seattle should win. Otherwise, this game could flip towards the Giants.