Giants vs. Bengals: Giants aim to sharpen passing attack

New York Giants' coach Tom Coughlin was asked a number of questions during his Wednesday press conference about Eli Manning and the suddenly off-track Giants' passing attack. Reading through the transcript I did notice, however, that no one used the "slump" word that Coughlin and Manning apparently want no part of.

The veteran coach said he had "a nice conversation" earlier this week with Manning, whose 10-for-24 performance Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers was his worst since a Jan. 2009 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

"We've been down this road before. He's going to get this thing right, and get our offensive team going again and get us on track. I fully believe that, I have great confidence in his ability to do that," Coughlin said.

Here is Coughlin's take, at least his public one, on what needs to be done to get the passing attack going again.

"Let's get on the same page, let's practice well, and let's do a great job of recognition in terms of our adjustments. Let's be decisive, let's get the ball thrown on target to the receiver according to what the coverage tells us to do. It's just a rhythm," Coughlin said.

"The one thing that nobody has really picked up on, which is kind of interesting, is you don't get any continuity offensively if you don't make any first downs. We haven't had any first downs in two weeks. Make some first downs. You make a first down, you'll have a chance to get some rhythm, get some continuity, get into your play calling. When you don't have first downs, it's like throwing darts at a board. You need the continuity."

Here was what Manning said Wednesday about the struggling passing attack:

"It all comes down to how we practice. Have great practices and hopefully, that turns over into game day production. I don't think we have to go in and change everything we're doing. We're still in games in the fourth quarter. We had a chance to go win the game. The fact is, when we get the ball back with four minutes in the last game and score a touchdown, everybody is feeling pretty good right now. That didn't happen and we're dealing with the consequences," Manning said. "We've got to keep working. That's all you can do. It's not a time to say, 'Oh, we've got to change our offense, or we have to do this-and-that.' We've got to keep working and start making some plays."