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Giants, Steelers clash in battle of 5-1 teams

Oct 21, 2008 - 5:54 PM NY Giants (5-1) at Pittsburgh (5-1), 4:15pm, EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Plaxico Burress insists there is no extra motivation this week.

Burress faces his former team Sunday, when the New York Giants visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in a battle of 5-1 teams and two of the last three Super Bowl winners.

Burress, who caught the winning pass in the Giants' 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in last year's Super Bowl, returns to Pittsburgh for the first time since he signed with New York following the 2004 season.

"They won a championship without me," he said. "I didn't have any hard feelings (leaving Pittsburgh). Just kind of motivated myself for a little bit more to go get winning (with the Giants). We are."

It already has been a tumultuous season for Burress, who missed the Giants' October 5 game against the Seattle Seahawks after being suspended for missing a team meeting.

In last week's 29-17 victory over the San Francisco, Burress exchanged heated words with coach Tom Coughlin after he was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct while arguing an interference call against him.

Burress insists, however, he has no problems with Coughlin, even though the two have clashed in the past.

"It's not the first time that it has happened. Football has been played in this league for 100 years," Burress said. "It gets taken out of context, blown up bigger than what it really is. But in the end, you just keep on moving."

Burress tore a tendon in his pinkie against the 49ers, but X-rays revealed no broken bones, and he is not expected to be hampered this week.

The Giants are heading into what figures to be their toughest test of the season to date, as the Steelers appear to be cruising to another AFC North title.

Pittsburgh also could have one of its top weapons - running back Willie Parker - available against the Giants. Parker has missed the last three games with a sprained knee but will practice Wednesday, according to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Tomlin also said he expects safety Troy Polamalu to play against the Giants, even though he suffered a concussion in last week's 38-10 victory at winless Cincinnati.

Mewelde Moore has picked up the slack in Parker's absence, rushing for 99 yards in a 26-21 Week Five win at Jacksonville. Against the Bengals, he ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite their record, the Giants have not played especially well the last two weeks. They were flat in a 35-14 loss at Cleveland and gained only 273 yards against the 49ers.

The loss at Cleveland snapped New York's 11-game road winning streak.