ressure on the quarterback, and their secondary to mix up co

SEATTLE - Michael Bennett was asked to analyze where the Seattle Seahawks stand, halfway through defence of their first title and already having to play from behind in the NFC West.Bennett wasnt interested in playing along. But he does believe the Seahawks are getting closer to the form that made them champions a season ago.Im not a (general manager) so I dont assess the team in that kind of way, Bennett said. I just go out there and do my job. But I would say were on the up and up.The Seahawks (5-3) get another chance to show theyre rounding into contention on Sunday, hosting the struggling New York Giants (3-5). Because of a brutal upcoming schedule, facing the Giants is essentially a must-win game for the Seahawks. They still have two games remaining against both Arizona and San Francisco, but already trail the Cardinals by two games in the division.You can never run a race looking at someone else and watching them run their race, trying to do what they do, Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said. Were going to run our race, and at the end of the day, people are going to have to come in here and deal with us regardless, so it doesnt matter what they do_if we control what we can control, well be where we want to be.In a similar regard, the Giants cant afford dropping any further behind Philadelphia and Dallas in the NFC East if they have aspirations of contenting. The Giants have the added challenge of flying across the country to play Seattle after a Monday night home game against the Colts.A win can do a lot of things for you and put you back on track, Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. Certainly the challenge is there for us this week, but nevertheless we look forward to it.Here are other things to watch as the teams meet for the fourth time in five seasons:GIANT INFIRMARY: Injuries have left New Yorks secondary signing nearly anyone with a pulse.Prince Amukamara was the latest defensive back to land on injured reserve with a torn biceps suffered against Indianapolis. His replacement Zack Bowman was taken to a hospital on Thursday to be examined for abdominal pain. Even before Amukamaras injury, the Giants are without Walter Thurmond III and Trumaine McBride at cornerback, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been playing through injuries.Were trying to put together a bunch of no-name guys so there isnt any way anybody can prepare for them, Coughlin joked.WAYWARD WILSON: Russell Wilson was far from his best last week against Oakland. For the first time this season, Wilson completed less than 50 per cent of his passes and for a change lacked answers for why he was so off-target against the Raiders.It was just an off day, Wilson said. You get back to the basics and the fundamentals of the game of football and keep growing ... and keep doing whatever it takes to win.Seattles passing offence has been in transition since the trade of Percy Harvin. Wilson has not topped 200 yards in the air in three of Seattles past four games.PICK PARTY: Manning has not thrown an interception in the last four games, a streak of 145 pass attempts. Its the longest string of Mannings career. But in his last two games against Seattle, Manning has thrown eight interceptions. Manning threw five picks last year in Seattles shutout victory, and three in a 2011 loss to the Seahawks.They dont have to blitz a lot to get a good pass rush and they rely on their front four to get pressure on the quarterback, and their secondary to mix up coverages, Manning said. They are a talented defence and they have a lot of good players, and they play well.BECKHAM vs. SHERMAN: Rookie Odell Beckham Jr. is coming off the best game of his rookie season with eight catches for 154 yards against the Colts. While it wont be a constant matchup, hell now be facing off against Sherman after the two-time All-Pro grabbed his first interception of the season last week.These are the games you live to play for, the moments you live to play for, to go against the best of the best, Beckham said.HEALTHY CHOICE: Seattle is about to get a first wave of players back from injuries. Center Max Unger, left tackle Russell Okung, strong safety Kam Chancellor, defensive tackle Jordan Hill and safety Jeron Johnson are expected to return Sunday. Seattle is hopeful of cornerback Byron Maxwell, linebackers Bobby Wagner and Malcolm Smith, and tight end Zach Miller returning in the coming weeks.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Brandon Roy Blazers Jersey . -- All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract. Clyde Drexler Jersey . Moors, from Cambridge Ont., landed a double-twisting, double somersault in the layout position, en route to a score of 14.600 points in the womens floor exercise, more than a full point ahead of runner-up Pia Tolle of Germany. http://www.blazersteamofficial.com/Anfer...azers-Jersey/.Y. - The New York Rangers have reached a one-year contract extension with goalie Cam Talbot, keeping Henrik Lundqvists backup away from unrestricted free agency. Gary Trent Jr. Blazers Jersey . The CFL will help tackle womens cancers by playing four special "CFL PINK" games this weekend. Damian Lillard Blazers Jersey . The Redblacks host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-9) Friday night in their last home game of the year and as of Thursday afternoon, the team was anticipating a ninth consecutive sellout. You can watch all the action on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, and TSN5 beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt.England players will be given greater confidence on the pitch under Sam Allardyce, says his former assistant manager Neil McDonald. Allardyces appointment was finally confirmed just before 4pm on Friday after a compensation deal was agreed with Sunderland.McDonald worked alongside Allardyce as first-team coach at Bolton and was his assistant manager at Blackburn and West Ham and he backs his former colleague to get England playing well as a team. Hell bring the confidence out of the players, he told Sky Sports News HQ.Theyll certainly have a role and responsibility, theyll have an idea on what distances, what fitness stats, how many passes theyre going to make and when theyre going to make it.But at the same time [hell get the players] to express themselves because theyre good players and thats why they play for England. McDonald (L) has worked with Allardyce at Bolton, Blackburn and West Ham McDonald, who was last assistant to Allardyce from 2011 to 2015 at West Ham, says he would love the opportunity to be re-united with the 61-year-old at the national level.He added: Yes it would be great [to work with Allardyce again]. Working with him is a pleasure, he lets you get on with your job. He delegates to his staff very well but everyone knows who the manager is.Hes a leader and inspires everybody to do the job as well as they possibly can. Over the last few years theyve had that success and it would be great to work with him again.Michael Ricketts believes Allardyce has all the attributes needed to be a success as England manager - and insists his reputation for using long-ball tactics is unfair. Allardyces appointment was announced on Friday afternoon once compensation had been agreed with Sunderland Striker Ricketts spent three years playing under Allardyce at Bolton between 2000 and 2003, with the one-cap England international scoring 46 goals in his two-and-a-half years at the club.ddddddddddddAllardyce moves into the national role with his tactics at times perceived by some as a negative but Ricketts is adamant he is more versatile than he is credited for.The 37-year-old said: Everyone talks about his style of football but football is all about winning and England want a winning team.When he was at Bolton he had (Youri) Djorkaeff, a World Cup winner. He had Jay-Jay Okocha, an absolute flair player. Michael Ricketts says theres more to Allardyce than a long-ball game Hes been at other clubs and had flair players there too so its not just about the long ball. I think the long ball tag has been with him such a long time hes never going to get away from it.But I just dont think that applies in football nowadays anyway. Obviously they talk about man-management and I think the main thing about Sam is he is a very good man-manager.Tactically, he is very aware. He knows how to set up and put out a team and knows how to combat teams who are offensively against him. Also See: Allardyce announcement close Dykes parting letter to FA Heaton: Allardyce a good match What they say about Sam ' ' '