Notebook | QB Matt Hasselbeck shakes off injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Matt Hasselbeck's season took a painful twist during Seattle's first possession against the Giants. Hasselbeck's right knee was injured after he got caught between Justin Tuck and Fred Robbins after releasing a pass.

"He just got his leg rolled up [between] all the bodies," Robbins said.

Hasselbeck said his knee flexed in the wrong direction.

"As it was hyperextending, I think I was able to twist with it," Hasselbeck said. "I don't know exactly what is wrong, but the doctors didn't seem too concerned."

Hasselbeck stayed down for a minute or two after the play, which was an incompletion on third down. Hasselbeck said the pain began to subside as he walked off the field.

The NFL calls for a penalty when a player goes low to hit the opposing quarterback, but officials told coach Mike Holmgren that Tuck was blocked into the ground at Hasselbeck's feet. Robbins hit Hasselbeck after the ball was released.

"It was a bang-bang play," Hasselbeck said. "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."

Tuck offered this assessment of Hasselbeck's importance to Seattle's offense.

"If you cut the head off, you get rid of the snake," Tuck said. "He's the key."

Running into trouble

Linebacker Antonio Pierce said the Giants took as a challenge Julius Jones' assertion about toughness.

Pierce said the Giants' response was evident in Sunday's game.

"I wanted to make a point today," he said. "The point is made, right?"

Jones said during the week leading up to the game that the Seahawks were not intimidated by the matchup, and that a physical approach was important in playing a team that has accomplished what the Giants have.

Jones rushed for 61 yards on 17 carries.

"I was surprised he bounced the ball out a lot," Pierce said. "Here's a guy who earlier in the week ... called us out. He challenged [our] manhood."

Picked off

Hasselbeck ran out of the pocket and ran out of patience in the third quarter when he threw a pass intended for Bobby Engram.

"Just a really stupid play," Hasselbeck said.

It was third down, Seattle needed 5 yards for a first down, and the Seahawks had yet to convert that opportunity in the game. Hasselbeck didn't find anyone open on his first reads, and he eventually scrambled to his right, throwing across his body. Cornerback Kevin Dockery was waiting for Hasselbeck to throw it. He wasn't the one covering Engram, but he saw that's where Seattle's quarterback was looking, intercepted the ball and returned it 44 yards before he was tackled by Leonard Weaver.

"Just very frustrated," Hasselbeck said. "I tried to do something, and it was really stupid."

Engram shoulders burden fine

Engram played for the first time since suffering a broken bone in his shoulder in the team's first exhibition game. Engram led the team with 94 receptions in 2007, and he caught eight passes in his first game back.

"The shoulder held up fine," Engram said. "It felt good, personally, to get back in the mix."

Road woe-rriors

Seattle has lost four consecutive road games going back to last season. The Seahawks have given up more than 30 points in each of the past three road games.

Giants problem

Giants Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Seahawks. Following Sunday's loss, the Seahawks are 1-11 at the stadium and have lost 10 in a row here.

The Seahawks' lone win is a 17-12 triumph over the Giants in 1983. Five of those 10 losses were to the Jets, who began playing at Giants Stadium in 1984.

McKenzie OK

New York offensive lineman Kareem McKenzie and receiver Domenik Hixon each suffered concussions, which sidelined them in the second half.

Giants center Shaun O'Hara said he talked to McKenzie after the injury occurred.

"I don't think he remembered. He called me Rich," O'Hara said. "I called him Uncle Phil because he looks like Phil Banks from 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air.' He gave me [an obscene gesture], so I knew he was OK."

Notes

• Maurice Morris, whose participation in practice was limited this week, was not active.

• Jones started his third consecutive game for the Seahawks.

Freelancer Denis Gorman

contributed to this story.