10/6/2208 New York Giants offense sidebar for the Seattle Times

Giants make offensive display

By Denis Gorman

Special to The Seattle Times

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When defensive coordinator John Marshall's players watch film later today, it is understandable if they view it with hands over their eyes.

But not even Hollywood could make a movie as horrifying as the Seahawks' 44-6 loss Sunday in the Meadowlands.

The league's 12th-ranked defense allowed the NFL's fifth-ranked offense to roll up 523 yards of total offense.

New York had 12 plays of 15 yards or more — nine in the first half.

The Giants (4-0) did not have to run a third-down play until the first play of the second quarter and did not have to punt until 8:59 remained in the third.

The Giants pounded out 254 yards on the ground, highlighted by Brandon Jacobs' 136 yards on 15 carries for an average 9.1 yards per carry. He scored twice.

It was an exhibition of offensive football at its apex. And it started early.

On the Giants' first possession, quarterback Eli Manning hit second-year wideout Domenik Hixon with a 32-yard touchdown. Cornerback Kelly Jennings bit on an in-and-out move and watched from the 5-yard line as Hixon scored the game's first touchdown.

"I ran a double move and Eli put it where only I could catch it," said Hixon, who left the game in the third quarter with a concussion, but not before recording his first 100-yard receiving game.

Manning was merely marvelous, completing 19 of 25 for 267 yards and two touchdowns in three quarters.

One of the major questions in the week leading up to the game was how Manning would react to playing without suspended wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

Eight players caught Manning passes, including Sinorice Moss, who scored his first two NFL touchdowns.

"Me, [David] Carr and Eli have a lot of good chemistry in practice. To see it come out in a game was great," Moss said. "It's a great feeling to show the world that hard work pays off."

Manning praised the receiving corps. According to Moss, the Giants knew that they were going vertical because of the Seahawks' penchant for sitting on short routes.

"It's fun for guys to step up and they know their name's going to be called," Manning said. "We don't have favorites. We don't force it to one guy. It just all depends on the coverage, and I'm working on that, through my progression. For the most part, guys who are my first read are getting open."

Three years ago, former Giants (and current Jets) kicker Jay Feely missed three field goals in a 24-21 Seahawks victory in overtime at Qwest Field. In 2006, New York fell behind by 39 points after three quarters in what turned out to be a 42-30 loss, also at Qwest Field. After that loss, former Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey said Tom Coughlin was out-coached.

"We weren't trying to pay anybody back, but we certainly remembered it," center Shaun O'Hara said. "We were never thinking, 'Hey, let's run the score up on them,' or 'Let's get [them] back for that last game.' But we were aware of it, and we were determined not to let that happen in our house."

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