SEATTLE (AP) — Two consecutive sloppy, slow starts. Two straight losses.

Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks are already tiring after a few bad starts and failing to complete comeback attempts in the fourth quarter.

“When the game is on the line, it seems like we find ways to get things done, right? But that has to be the mentality throughout the game,” Smith said. “We can’t wait until the end of the game to try to save it. We have to go out and execute for 60 minutes, or however long the game is. Today we didn’t succeed.”

Smith and the Seahawks lost their second straight Sunday, 29-20, to the New York Giants in a game filled with concerning moments for a team that less than a week ago was undefeated and in the driver’s seat in the NFC West.

Seattle (3-2) started poorly for the second straight week, and the run game was mostly a suggestion. Seattle’s defense was broken at times, unable to get off the field for most of the first half as the Giants controlled possession.

And there was one big special teams breakdown in the final seconds when Jason Myers’ 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked after Isaiah Simmons jumped cleanly over the offensive line and Bryce Ford-Wheaton returned the blocked kick 60 yards for a clinching touchdown.

“Talk about not doing things in all three phases to win a football game,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said. “I have to give the Giants credit. They outplayed us today.”

The special teams blunder will get a lot of attention because of the magnitude of the moment it happened. Guard Laken Tomlinson was pushed down by defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, creating a lane for Simmons to jump through and cleanly make the block.

It was a legal play and a highlight moment. It wasn’t the reason Seattle lost.

Daniel Jones threw for two touchdowns and although he was sacked three times, Seattle’s pressure on the QB was inconsistent. Rookie backup running back Tyrone Tracy rushed for 129 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry.

The Giants racked up 420 total yards and had more than 37 minutes of possession.

“It is fundamental football and we are falling short. That’s what’s disappointing right now,” Macdonald said.

Seattle’s offense also needs to find some more balance after two straight weeks of heavy ball tilting toward the pass. Smith threw 40 times on Sunday after completing 56 passes in Monday’s loss to Detroit. The Seahawks have combined for 30 rushing attempts over the last two games, including nine by Smith.

“All credit to them, they did a great job keeping the ball and keeping us off the field. We couldn’t get into a good rhythm,” Tomlinson said.

And there is little time to make the corrections. Instead of having full control of the NFC West, the back-to-back losses have increased the importance of Thursday’s divisional matchup against San Francisco.

“We have to spend extra time as a group, whether you get there early or stay late, just to correct it and be fairly accountable,” Seattle safety officer Julian Love said. “Each of us must look within and figure out what he or she can do better. That applies to the entire defense (and) I’m sure the offense and special teams apply as well. Commitment is needed now.”

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AP N.F.L.: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl