Nobody's Talking About How Close The Giants Were To Being Our Week 1 Foe, and That's the Real Problem

Okay, listen up, 12s, because I just dug something up that's gonna make you do a double-take. We're all locked into what’s next for our Seahawks under Coach Macdonald, but get this, the New York Giants were *nearly* our Week 1 opponent. Yeah, you read that right. The NFC East squad led by new Head Coach John Harbaugh, with all their offseason drama, was almost our opening act. And frankly, we need to talk about what that would have meant.

Nabers' Rehab Is 'A Slog' For Giants, And It Changes How We Could Have Looked At Them

Think about it, Seattle. The Giants are seriously going through some stuff right now, and it affects how we should even *think* about them as a potential opponent. Their star wide receiver, Malik Nabers, is reportedly "in the slog" of rehab from a difficult knee injury. Can you imagine the headache of facing a top-tier talent like that, potentially sidelined or limited, in our very first game? That's a whole different game plan for Coach Macdonald's defense! On their offensive line, Andrew Thomas and Sisi Mauigoa are supposedly holding the keys to the whole operation, which is a ton of pressure for any O-line trying to gel. Plus, they just started their first OTAs with the new Head Coach John Harbaugh. New coach, new systems, everyone trying to figure things out. They're even reportedly linked to former Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith. All this newness, all this uncertainty, for a team we almost opened against. What a difference a scheduling decision makes!

What Would Our Week 1 Have Looked Like Against That Giants Squad?

Okay, so let's play the "what if" game. We're here in the Emerald City, buzzing about Sam Darnold at QB, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp ready to light up Lumen Field. Brian Fleury’s offense has so much potential. If the Giants *had* been our Week 1 foe, what kind of challenge would they have presented? Their running back, Cam Skattebo, is saying, "Week 1, I'll be ready to go," despite his injury. That's a guy with fire, coming at our defense. Think how our D-line would prepare for that new Harbaugh system, or our secondary for a potentially limited Nabers or a rookie like Malachi Fields. The Giants are even planning a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins before their Week 3 preseason game, showing they're trying to build chemistry. It makes you really think about how different our early season storyline could have been, facing a team in such an early stage of figuring things out. It's wild to think about the path not taken, right? This little bombshell about the Giants almost being our Week 1 foe just highlights how every single matchup is critical, and how a team's early form, overall health, and new leadership can totally swing things. Our Seahawks are on their own journey, with Coach Macdonald building his vision, and we know our guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp are going to bring that unyielding Seattle fire every single Sunday. It just makes you appreciate who we *are* playing, and how every game matters as we move forward this season. Get ready, Seattle, because the 12s will be loud, proud, and ready, no matter who's lining up across from us. This season is ours for the taking!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.