Manning near perfect in Giants' 44-6 victory over Seahawks

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants are this year's New England Patriots — so far.

In a nearly flawless performance, Eli Manning threw two touchdowns, Brandon Jacobs ran for two more and the unbeaten Giants scored on their first five possessions in a 44-6 victory that embarrassed the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The win was the eighth straight for the Giants (4-0) dating to last year's playoffs, and it gave the Super Bowl champions their best start since 1990, when they posted a 13-3 record and also won the NFL title. The Giants rolled up 523 yards in total offense, their most since collecting 524 yards against Green Bay in 2002.

Not only did the Giants win, but they did so with leading receiver Plaxico Burress suspended for a game for missing a team activity on Sept. 22.

They even did it after a bye week. New York had been 4-15 in post-bye week games.

For the Seahawks, this was another dreadful trip east. They are now 1-6 in their last seven cross-country flights and are 3-8 in their last eight road games overall.

Making matters worse for the four-time defending NFC West champions, they are now 1-3, their worst start since 2002. They were limited to 187 total yards despite getting receivers Bobby Engram and Deion Branch back in the lineup for the first time this season. Branch left in the second half with a foot injury.

The only break Seattle seemingly got was that quarterback Matt Hasselbeck didn't seem to hurt his right knee seriously after being hit on the fourth play from scrimmage. He limped to the sidelines and finished 11-of-21 for 105 yards and an interception before being relieved late in the third quarter with New York ahead 37-6.

The Giants had nine plays of 15 yards or more in the first half in building a 27-6 lead, and they added two more long ones on the opening drive of the second half in turning the game into a laugher.

Manning, who was 19-of-25 for 267 yards, threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon — Burress' replacement — on a four-play, 91-yard opening drive. He added a 23-yarder in the third quarter to Sinorice Moss, who stepped in when Hixon went down with a concussion in the first half.

Moss also caught a 5-yard touchdown from David Carr in garbage time.

Jacobs carried 15 times for 136 yards, including touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards. The big bruising halfback set the tone for the game on the opening series, going 44 yards around left end to set up Hixon's score.

Manning hit Hixon for 15 yards and then found Amani Toomer for gains of 22 and 29 yards to set up Jacobs' 3-yard run that gave New York a 14-3 lead.

After Hixon's 41-yard catch set up the first of three John Carney field goals, Jacobs pushed the lead to 24-3 with his short touchdown run, a tally he set up with a 38-yard run.

Carney, who has been perfect on all 12 of his field goal attempts this season filling in for the injured Lawrence Tynes, added a 33-yard field goal late in the first half.

Olindo Mare had field goals of 30 and 29 yards for Seattle in the first half.

A 44-yard interception return by Kevin Dockery set up Carney's last field goal.