03 October 2023 , 16:40
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Seattle Seahawks rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon has admitted that the team's game plan was to exploit New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and his tendency to stare down his targets during their dominant 24-3 road win on Monday Night Football.
Witherspoon, 22, was responsible for one of the ten times the Seahawks sacked the Giants quarterback. He was also the player intercepting Jones before running 97 yards in the past the New York defence to complete a third-quarter pick-six to balloon their lead before the final frame.
The Giants quarterback was picked again in the fourth by three-time Pro Bowl selection Quandre Diggs. Jones also took a hit in the pocket for his troubles to cap off a night to forget.
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He is now up to six interceptions through four games, tied with Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for the most league-wide. As for sacks, only the Washington Commanders ' Sam Howell with 24 has more than his 22.
Witherspoon has also given teams the blueprint for how they had double-figure sacks on Jones. "We were just trusting in our game plan that the coach laid out for us," the rookie told NFL Network out on the field afterwards.
"We knew he liked to stare down his first target, so he had his back turned, and our guys went and won their one-on-one matchups upfront. Shoutout to our D-line. Without them, we couldn't have made the plays we made."
Jones just never got going against the Seahawks (AP)On the six-pick, Witherspoon acknowledged that they had prepared for what was coming. "Just running the coverage," he told reporters while explaining the play.
"We saw the play that we had seen on film [in that] formation. He ran a return route, so I jumped it. He threw the ball and just tried to get to the ball. That was my whole mindset." Jones described that moment as a "terrible decision and awful mistake."
Giants head coach Brian Daboll was equally unimpressed on the sidelines, reprimanding his quarterback immediately afterwards. "I think we're all frustrated," Jones said when addressing that aspect of the evening. "I know I've got to play better, and I'm going to work as hard as I possibly can to do that."
He later doubled down. "I didn't play well enough," Jones admitted. "It was unacceptable, and I let the team down, so I've got to fix it. I've got to work hard to get it right, and I'm going to do that."
For the 1-4 Giants, the schedule does not get any easier either. Up next is a road trip to the reeling Miami Dolphins fresh from the 48-20 beatdown by the Buffalo Bills.
They then travel back up the East Coast one week later to play the Bills before a two-game homestand brings an end to October. They host NFC East rivals Washington before facing the New York Jets.