"We just aren't getting turnovers," said middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, "and that's something we have to start doing."

The Giants are 3-0 and the only undefeated team in the NFC, but they have only one interception, and even that pick was not recorded by a member of the secondary. It belongs to defensive end Justin Tuck, who took a Marc Bulger pass back 41 yards for a touchdown against St. Louis on Sept. 14.

"The turnovers and the interceptions sometimes come in bunches," noted defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. "We'll get our share. It's just a matter of when, and the defensive formations we use, and the pressure we apply. They'll come, and I hope it's soon."

The Giants do have 13 sacks in their three games -- third behind Philadelphia (17) and Tennessee (15) in the NFL, although that pair has played four games to the Giants' three (3-0).

The sack total is increasingly more impressive considering that Pro Bowl defensive ends Michael Strahan (retired) and Osi Umenyiora (knee surgery, out for the season) have been lost. Tuck replaced Strahan, and Mathias Kiwanuka, who had been moved back to strongside linebacker last season, has returned to start at right defensive end.

Spagnuolo is concerned, but only slightly, at the lack of turnovers and interceptions generated by his unit. "Carson Palmer played a very smart game and when he went into the three-step drop they were picking up our blitzes very well," he said of the Bengals' quarterback. "But the turnovers and interceptions always come in bunches. We've been close to getting them. (Cornerbacks) Corey (Webster) and Kevin (Dockery) have been close. They'll come."

Spagnuolo said Kiwanuka "just never stops, he's amazing," and observed that "nobody is really aware of what a great athlete Freddie (defensive tackle Robbins) really is." In fact, Robbins leads the team with four sacks; he has had career highs of 5 1/2 twice.

SERIES HISTORY: 13th meeting. Giants lead series, 7-5. The most historic meeting between the two, or at least the most memorable, was the game in Seattle in 2005 when the Seahawks took a 24-21 victory in OT. It was the game in which PK Jay Feely missed five FGs, including two in the fourth quarter that would have sealed a victory, and the intense noise in Qwest Field caused the Giants' offensive line to be flagged 11 times for false starts, five by then-left tackle Luke Petitgout.