EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The game was played near the backyard of Seahawks defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, who is from Brooklyn.

It was a play in the Giants' backfield, though, where Hargrove made a mark. Specifically, it was a divot, as Hargrove came through unblocked on a third-quarter run and tackled New York running back D.J. Ware for a safety.

"I just kind of took my shot," Hargrove said. "I didn't know it was going to be a safety until I got up and saw he was in the end zone."

The play gave Seattle a 16-14 lead. It was the first safety for the Seahawks defense since safety Jordan Babineaux scored one in Chicago last October.

Hargrove was signed two days before the Seahawks' regular-season opener. His brother, two nephews and a couple of cousins attended Sunday's game.

Seahawks in a hurry

The Giants weren't surprised the Seahawks used a no-huddle offense extensively in the first half of Sunday's game, but Seattle still managed to get New York on its heels.

"We knew exactly what they were going to do," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "They said what they were going to do. They publicized it."

Said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll: "There's no questions what we've found, and that tempo we like."

Turn over a new leaf

The Seahawks forced three more turnovers against the Giants than they did in their first four games combined, so what was responsible for the turnaround?

"It all starts with the quarterback," defensive end Chris Clemons said. "If you can get pressure on a quarterback and make him start making bad decisions, that's one of the main keys to getting turnovers, because they can't step up and they just throw the ball up sometimes."

Clemons had two sacks Sunday — raising his season total to a team-high four — and he also forced a fumble recovered by Seattle in the first half. And each of Seattle's starting safeties intercepted a pass.

Notes

• Receiver Doug Baldwin is on pace to catch 64 passes. The franchise rookie record is 67, set by Joey Galloway.

The Seahawks had seven plays gain 20 or more yards Sunday, and Baldwin was on the receiving end of four of them.

"He's got great quickness," quarterback Charlie Whitehurst said of Baldwin. "He has great understanding of the game and where to get open in zone coverage. It's like he was a quarterback at one time."

• Tight end Zach Miller was on the receiving end of a first-quarter hit from Giants safety Kenny Phillips that drew a 15-yard penalty. He returned later in the first half, but did not play in the second half. Afterward, Carroll indicated Miller was held out because of concerns over a concussion.

Hits like the one made by Phillips have been a point of emphasis in the league's officiating, and replays showed that not only did Phillips hit Miller high, but he launched himself at Miller.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com