Hawks' defensive default is key in 44-6 loss to Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Seahawks logged more than 5,500 miles over the past three days, traveling three time zones east to play a football game their coach billed as a fresh start to the season.

They returned with the most lopsided loss in Mike Holmgren's decade with this franchise, a 44-6 loss to the New York Giants that matches the third-worst margin of defeat in Seahawks history.

"This is too far to come to play like this," said quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who played through a knee injury he suffered on Seattle's fourth play from scrimmage.

They traveled all the way across the country only to learn just how far they have to go if they are going to salvage a season that now stands at 1-3. The possibilities for Holmgren's final season as Seahawks coach have dimmed sufficiently; it's fair to wonder whether the shades are being drawn on the brightest era in this franchise history.

"I believe we're better than we've played," Holmgren said.

That's a matter of faith at this point. The Seahawks' only victory this season is over one of the worst teams in the league, and the defending Super Bowl-champion Giants put an unambiguous whupping on Seattle.

"A good old-fashioned you-know-what," Holmgren called it.

The Giants gained 523 yards, the most allowed by the Seahawks since a victory over Kansas City in November 2002. Seattle allowed more than 30 points for the third time in four games this season, and the 38-point margin of defeat was the biggest for the franchise since the Jets beat Seattle 41-3 in the 1997 season opener.

The Giants needed only four plays to drive 91 yards for their first touchdown of the game. They needed six to score their second touchdown. Their first six possessions of the game resulted in points if you don't count the kickoff New York received on the final play of the first half.

Quarterback Eli Manning completed all seven passes he threw in the first quarter, and Giants running back Brandon Jacobs got the ball on the Giants' first three plays, which went for gains of 9, 6 and then 44. It set a big-play pattern as Jacobs finished with 136 yards and an average gain of 9.1 yards per carry that may induce dry heaves among the Seahawks defensive players when they watch the film today.

"Obviously, we didn't play our ball today," Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill said. "It happens like that sometimes in sports. The Giants came out, they put it on us."

The Giants led 17-3 a minute into the second quarter, and they were ahead 34-6 early in the second half. The Seahawks were buried before they heard the avalanche coming.

"It happens fast," Hill said. "It happens real fast."

Jacobs had two runs of more than 30 yards. Manning completed five passes for more than 20, two going for touchdowns.

"They didn't do a lot of tricky stuff or the perfect call for this coverage," said Deon Grant, one of Seattle's defensive captains. "They didn't do that. As individuals, we didn't do what we were supposed to do today. It was just that simple."

The game was so lopsided that Hasselbeck wasn't quite certain exactly when it got out of control.

"Usually, I'm doing the math in my head like, 'OK, if we get a touchdown here,' " Hasselbeck said. "There were some pretty big numbers. It was bad."

Seattle's offense was boosted by Bobby Engram, who caught eight passes. Problem was that was two more than the rest of the team combined, and Deion Branch didn't even make it through halftime in his first game back since knee surgery.

Branch caught three passes in the first half, but injured his right heel while trying to make a reception in the end zone. He did not return to the field for the second half. Holmgren said the injury may affect Branch's availability this week, but he's hopeful Branch won't be out too long.

Julius Jones had rushed for more than 100 yards in two consecutive games, but those were against the 49ers and Rams -- two teams in the bottom third of the NFL in rush defense. The Giants have one of the best defenses in the league, and Jones carried 17 times for 61 yards, but the Seahawks trailed by so much so early that it affected the game plan. There was too much ground to make up for Holmgren to take a pedestrian approach to his play-calling.

"Even if you run it well, there's not enough time," Holmgren said.

Trouble is, Seattle didn't do anything else particularly well on Sunday. Certainly not passing. Hasselbeck finished with 105 yards passing, his lowest total in a game since 2005. Definitely not the defense, which allowed 342 yards in the first half alone.

And when it was over, Holmgren couldn't do anything more than grimace over the way his team played the worst loss he ever suffered with the Seahawks.

"I don't think much good happened ever," he said.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com