Mon, Jul 06, 2009
 New York's No. 1 receiver, Plaxico Burress, left, was suspended for this week's game for missing a team activity. He will be replaced by first-time starter Domenik Hixon.
MCT 2008
Jorgensen Brooks Group Counselor Sales and Marketing Everready Glass Sales Reps Mechanical Komatsu Equipment Co Resident Field Mechanic Trades/Construction RANCHO RESORT MAINTANANCE POSITION Finance and Accounting Charles E. Gillman Company Accounting Specialist Administrative & Professional Tucson Urban League CEO/President FootballWeek 5 GAme of the day: SEAHAWKS (1-2) AT GIANTS (3-0)
Odd struggles highlight odd rivalryThe Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.05.2008
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The NFL should have considered moving the New York Giants' game against the Seattle Seahawks to the Bermuda Triangle today.
It would have been a far more appropriate spot for two of the league's oddities to converge in their post-bye week.
The Giants (3-0) are one of the league's worst teams after a week off. How can one explain the 4-15 record, that includes a 1-3 mark under current coach Tom Coughlin?
The Seahawks (1-2) don't handle travel well, especially when the destination is the East Coast. Mike Holmgren's group is 1-5 in its last six trips and 3-7 in its last 10 games away from home. The one cross-country trip this season resulted in a 34-10 loss at Buffalo.
"If I were a fan this one would be hard to pick," Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield said, noting that both streaks are inexplicable.
Holmgren seemed to have fun when questioned about his team's travel woes.
"I'm not frustrated. What do you mean?" he said playfully banging his fist on a table. "It's something we know we have to do. You coach in Seattle, we're on the West Coast, you know you're going to travel. That's the deal. It is a frustration that we have not played as well as I think we're capable of playing at times on the road. That's the frustration."
The oddities aside, this is a game that might be decided by the receivers — the addition of two for Seattle and the absence of one for the Super Bowl champs.
Leading receiver Plaxico Burress has been suspended by the Giants for missing a team activity on Sept. 22, the day after they beat Cincinnati in overtime. Burress, who blamed his absence on a family issue, is the team's deep threat and the top receiver in scoring position. He led the team with a career-high 12 touchdown catches last season. Third-year pro Domenik Hixon will make his first NFL start to replace Burress.
"I am not worried about it," Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said. "If anybody has been watching whenever those guys get their number called — Steve Smith, Hixon, Mario Manningham if he is playing — all those guys are capable of putting up big numbers."
The play of the youngsters and veteran Amani Toomer will be important because Seattle has had success stopping the run. It is ranked No. 4 in the league with an average yield of 88 yards.
The Giants average 157 yards rushing, which has allowed Eli Manning to pick and choose when to throw.
"They are putting eight guys up in the box sometimes where they are making you throw," Manning said. "That is what we are going to have to do. We are going to try to establish the run and hopefully we will get that going. But if they are putting too many guys up there, then we will have to throw it, and we have to find completions and make some plays."
The Seahawks, who struggled to run the ball last year, have been running the ball better than the Giants. Behind Julius Jones' two straight 100-yard games, they have averaged 166.3 yards on the ground.
Matt Hasselbeck and the passing game have produced only roughly 170 on average, but this week the offense should feature veteran receivers Bobby Engram and Deion Branch for the first time this season. Both are probable to play, as listed on the NFL injury report.
Branch, who had 49 receptions and four touchdowns in 11 games last season, is coming back from knee surgery. Engram, who had 94 catches for 1,147 yards and six touchdowns, is returning from a shoulder injury.
"They have had some issues there at wide receiver since the beginning of the season," Coughlin said. "And so those two are back. So they will be at pretty much full strength."
While the Giants and Seahawks have downplayed their problems with the bye and travel, a lot of New York players will be looking for payback. The Seahawks ripped the Giants 42-30 two years ago in a game in Seattle. Hasselbeck had a career-high five touchdown passes, helping his team to a 35-3 halftime lead.
Center Shaun O'Hara said it will be fun not hearing the Seattle fans' noise.
"My only request is that our fans return the favor and bring their noisemakers and do their part to get them to have 15 false starts," he said.
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