Q. The common perception around the league is that teams usually play better when coming off of their bye week. It didn’t seem like you played your best football today, having last week off, so would you say that this is a misconception?

A. I have no idea. I didn’t feel like we were emotionally down or anything like that. We got some guys back and I felt like we were going on the right path, but things just didn’t work out for us.

Q. We’re not used to seeing the Seahawks get beat like that? What was the attitude of the players on the sidelines?

A. They made more plays than us…we didn’t wrap up and we let them get a lot of extra yards. We’ve got to make sure that we tighten up our techniques, just go back to the basics.

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This is the unedited version of my game story that will appear in tomorrow's News Tribune:

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren better hope the team’s biorhythms were off on Sunday afternoon at Giants Stadium.
Because the alternative is perhaps too distressful to consider.
For the second time in four games, the Seahawks were thoroughly manhandled, the New York Giants thrashing them from the very start of what turned out to be a 44-6 decision played before 79,529 fans, many of whom felt compelled to depart early for additional tailgating, which was more entertaining than this laugher.
Yes, the Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions who have won eight consecutive games.
But in dropping to 1-3 for the first time since 2002, the Seahawks did not appear to be even close to the same stratosphere as the undefeated Giants (4-0).
The outcome, Seattle’s worst loss since dropping a 41-3 decision to the New York Jets in the 1997 season opener, once again raised questions about the Seahawks’ inability to function properly when they travel to the East Coast, something Holmgren derisively dismissed as “bunk” earlier in the week.
But if that was not the explanation for getting outscored 78-16 in the state of New York this season – including a 34-10 loss at Buffalo in the season opener -- then it could only mean that the Seahawks have taken a significant step back in Holmgren’s final season as a head coach because they no longer appear to be able to compete with the upper echelon of the NFL.
“We have to really honestly, players and coaches, look at what we’re doing and how we’re doing everything,” Holmgren said. “Give the Giants credit, but from our standpoint today was unacceptable. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

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LB Lofa Tatupu

Q. What can you take away from this game?

We’ll see what areas we can improve on. You name it, run, pass…we didn’t do a very good job at stopping either one.

Q. How tough was it going against Brandon Jacobs?

A. He’s a load, but I mean it’s just as tough going against Derrick Ward or Ahmad Bradshaw. I mean you’ve got to give him credit, but I think you guys have to start looking at what that offensive line is doing, rather than just giving him all the praise. He’s a very good running back in terms of his size and his speed, but they are opening some pretty big holes for him. Look at Bradshaw, he broke like eight tackles on that one play.

Q. Last year, the Giants had a pretty rough start to their season but they ended up as Super Bowl Champs. What can you take from their experience last season to help you with your current situation? It must feel good to know that it can be done.

A. Absolutely, that’s our attitude, but it’s going to have to be a team effort. When they made the commitment to turn it around, you could really tell the difference in their style of play and the way they executed. It can’t be just like an every other week thing, they made it happen week after week and that’s why they were able to be so successful. It’s a choice that everyone has, each one of these guys in this locker room has to step it up and correct all of the little mistakes.

Q. How are you?

A. I think I’m alright, I think I’m ok. I dodged a bullet, I think, so I’m not overly concerned with that.

Q. At first it looked worse than it was. Coach said it was just a tweak.

A. I hyperextended my knee. As I was hyperextending, I was able to twist with it. And so I don’t know exactly what’s wrong. The doctors didn’t seem too concerned. I think were going to do the normal scans. But I’m not too concerned about it.

Q. Did the guy hit you late?

A. No, it was a bang bang play. I think it was that I let the ball go kind of early and it’s just a football thing. Stuff like that happens. I feel kind of fortunate that I was able to walk off the field and play a little bit after that.

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Opening Statement: Well, that was what we call a good old-fashioned you-know-what. I believe we’re a better football team than that, but give the Giants credit. They really took it to us today. I think there’s only one thing we can do now and that’s lick our wounds a little bit and realize that it doesn’t get any easier. Green Bay, we have them next week, so we’re going to go home and make every attempt to fix things that went wrong in the game today and then get this one behind us. This was a bad one. They got us pretty good. They’re a talented team, and they got rolling and we couldn’t stop them.

Question: What do you tell the team after a game like this?

Response: Essentially that. I believe we’re better than we’ve played. We’re a good team that hasn’t played up to its potential yet. When you go up against a good team, they can make you look bad, and that’s what the Giants did today. Having said that, let’s do our best. Everyone has to fix it, coaches and players. There are any number of statistical analyses of teams that have started this bad and still done okay, but those don’t mean much unless you improve the product, and what you’re doing on the field. So that’s our goal and then we’ll get this one behind us rather quickly, I trust, and get on with Green Bay. You don’t have any choice because you have a really good football team coming in next week.

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First, Matt Hasselbeck said he hyperextended his knee but should be fine. He looked to be in a lot of pain to me, limping out of the locker room. I'm sure that thing is going to swell of overnight and get sore. He said he was able to twist with the knee when he got hit, which saved him from being injured more severely. He said he didn't think it was a late hit -- I did -- but that it was just playing football.

Mike Holmgren said Deion Branch was the only serious injury. He did not specify how long he would be out but said it was a heel injury. Now, this is speculation that we will never know, but you do have to wonder if this injury has anything to do with coming back too early. I know it is not the same leg or the same injury, but in the same way that Marcus Tubbs was injured last year, I believe your body compensates in other parts when one part of you is weak. Perhaps this is completely separate and not related, but it does raise the question.

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Marcus Trufant got called for pass interference, then got burned for a TD by Sinorice Moss, the Seahawks falling behind by 44-6.

It appears that Mike Holmgren is cashing in this game and saving Matt Hasselbeck for later. The Giants just kicked a field goal for 37-6 and Seneca Wallace I think is going in at QB.

Wahle is on the training table with his pant leg rolled up. It doesn't look to be serious but he has been there for a bit. We'll see if he goes in on the next offensive series.

They have not specified what the injury is, but it goes back to that play in the first half when the Giants were called for defensive holding. Branch came off the field after that and then got his right ankle/foot retaped. He is not returning.

On the punter's first attempt in the second half, he boomed a 63-yarder. Of course, it was a touchback, so it was net 43, but it's a start.

The Giants took the opening kickoff of the second half and kept on keeping on, scoring a TD on a 23-yard TD pass to Sinorice Moss for a 34-6 lead.

There's not much to say; this is an old-fashioned whupping. John Carney's field goal with less than a minute to go gave New York a 27-3 lead. An Olindo Mare field goal with three seconds left that pulled the Seahawks to 27-6 did little to dull the pain.

The defense is getting shredded, Patrick Kerney's sack of Eli Manning the only hint of pressure the Seahawks have gotten all day. Manning is finding receivers at will, mostly Domenik Hixon, and Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward are knifing through the defense for 5 yard a carry with some 20- or 30-yarders sprinkled in.

Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are nice for Matt Hasselbeck to have, but he is not getting much time to find them. Julius Jones is irrelevant now that they are so far behind. Seattle is playing for moral victories at this point, but they don't look like they are even close to the same class as the Giants. That East Coast thing is rearing its ugly head again.

One last thought: Punter Jon Ryan has been very poor since they signed him. He has gotten off only good punt that I can remember. I have to think it's only a matter of time before they lose patience with that.

The Giants just drove down the field to score again on a one-yard TD by Jacobs. Eli Manning can get an open receiver whenever he wants one right now and Brandon Jacobs is getting 4-7 yards a clip. The Giants hold a 24-3 lead.

The Giants have taken a 17-3 lead after John Carney kicked a 29-yard field goal. The big play on the drive was a 41-yard pass from Eli Manning to Domenik Hixon, who just blew past Josh Wilson to get open.

I was wrong about Jennings' neck. They were moving his head back and forth but he has a concussion. His return is questionable.

New York is just picking apart the Seahawks' defense. The Giants just marched down 75 yards in six plays and scored again, Brandon Jacobs going in from 3 yards out for a 14-3 yard.

The Seahawks' cornerback is on the bench right now and trainers are working on his neck, moving his head back and forth.

Let me amend that so far so good comment about Deion Branch.

He came to the sideline after the field and has a huge thing of ice taped to his left knee (not the knee that had surgery). He also was getting his right ankle retaped. Something happened to the ankle on that play in the end zone when they called a holding penalty on the Giants. HE came off the field after that and was doing something with his shoe or ankle. I'll keep an eye on it.

The Seahawks put together a nice drive that stalled at the Giants' 12, resulting in Olindo Mare's 8th FG of the season. Hasselbeck got drilled again by Justin Tuck on the third down pass and came up limping; it's already been a long day for him.

Julius Jones looks pretty good, and so far so good for Deion Branch.

After a 44-yard run by Brandon Jacobs took the ball to Seattle's 32, Eli Manning hit Domenik Hixon for a touchdown on a stop-and-go pattern that abused Kelly Jennings. New York leads, 7-0.

He was on the training table for a bit and the doctor was looking at the lower part of his right knee. He got up and limped to the bench, but it appears he is going to play again. Seneca is not warming up and Hass is looking at pictures of the first series.

Matt was hit high after he released the ball and got bent over Justin Tuck. He just limped off the field. I'll keep an eye on it on the sideline.

Seattle

Charlie Frye
Brandon Coutu
Koren Robinson
Maurice Morris
Mansfield Wrotto
Red Bryant
Courtney Taylor
Baraka Atkins

Deion Branch will start in place of Keary Colbert

New York

Lawrence Tynes
Taye Biddle
Terrell Thomas
Danny Ware
Sam Madison
Jonathan Goff
Adam Koets
Jerome McDougle

Good morning, everybody, an overcast, humid day here in northern New Jersey. We are at the top of the stadium, in a press box that has a view of an even bigger stadium going up right next door.

Here are today's officals:

Referee Al Riverton
Umpire Tony Michalek
Head linesman Ed Camp
Line judge Ron Phares
Field judge Steve Zimmer
Side judge Joe Larrew
Back judge Lee Dyer
Replay Bob McGrath
Video Clayton Judge