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Giants host Seahawks without Burress

Sep 30, 2008 - 11:14 PM SEATTLE (1-2) at NY GIANTS (3-0), 1:00pm, EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Through the first three weeks of the season, the New York Giants avoided any off-the-field distractions. That changed last week when wide receiver Plaxico Burress was suspended one game for skipping a practice and not informing the team.

The defending Super Bowl champions, the only unbeaten team remaining in the NFC, hope to overcome Burress' absence Sunday when they host the Seattle Seahawks.

"Obviously, the coach (Tom Coughlin) and the upper management had to make a decision and the players move on." New York quarterback Eli Manning said. "We have to prepare for Seattle. We have guys who can play receiver, we have playmakers who have shown their ability."

"We are saddened by (the suspension)," Coughlin added. "But we want to make sure that the message is loud and clear. We have had success here because of the team concept. And the team concept means basically that everyone is accountable and responsible and that we don't let the other guys down."

The Giants (3-0) return from their bye week in sole possession of first place in the NFC East, one-half game ahead of Dallas (3-1) and Washington (3-1).

Strangely, however, New York has a poor record following its bye week (4-15),. Last season, the Giants' bye week came after their trip to London and they lost their next game, falling to the Cowboys, 31-20.

"Every year is different," Manning said. "We understand that we just have to worry about this year."

Prior to their bye week, the Giants rallied for a 26-23 overtime victory over the Cincinnati Bengals to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2000, the year they made their previous Super Bowl appearance. New York has not started 4-0 since 1990.

The Seahawks (1-2) , who also were off last week, dropped their first two games before posting a 37-13 victory over the hapless St. Louis Rams.

Facing the Rams was a welcome relief for the Seahawks, who enduring numerous injuries - especially at wide receiver - during the first month of the season.

However, Seattle put the bye week to good use, getting running back Maurice Morris (knee) and receivers Deion Branch (knee) and Bobby Engram (shoulder) back at practice Monday.

"We're going to have a little bit of a decision to make at wide receiver," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "It'll be interesting to see how Branch and Engram feel when they get back in there. They've been out a while. But right now, the medical people are telling me that probably they're good to go."

Despite their struggles, the Seahawks are only one-half game out of first place in the NFC West, a division they have won for the past four years.