Tom Coughlin

Giants coach Tom Coughlin sees big things for his team after the bye week.

(Andrew Mills/NJ Advance Media)

EAST RUTHERFORD — Coach Tom Coughlin had a few words for his Giants players before they scattered across the country during the bye week. He told them to be prepared, because when they return, something big would happen.

"He said to prepare yourself," veteran linebacker Mark Herzlich said. "Prepare yourself for this great run we're going to make. It wasn't a question of if we're going to make a run. It was ... we're going to make a run."

The Giants (3-4) have their work cut out for them to make that happen. Their next four games are against Indianapolis, Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas. The defending champion Seahawks (3-3) have the worst record of the group. Winning in Seattle still remains one of the most difficult tasks in the NFL.

It's going to be difficult, and there most certainly is no time for any more Giants slip-ups. They lost their first two games, won three straight and have dropped their last two before the bye week.



Coughlin made it clear that they've put themselves in a position where they can't absorb another skid.

"When we get back, it's time to win," wide receiver Preston Parker said of the coach's message. "Everybody knows what time it is."

Rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham came away from Monday's meeting with the impression that there was ample time for the team to hit a hot streak. The Giants still have more than half their season remaining.

"We're 3-4," Beckham said, "but it's a long season."

If the Giants aren't careful, it can get short on them quick, especially with their upcoming schedule. And the real question with this year's team may be whether they can get healthy (starters Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Rashad Jennings, Jon Beason and Cullen Jenkins are currently struggling with injuries) and have enough talent to emulate some Giants teams of the past.

"You have to maneuver some of the talent around," Coughlin said. "I think the talent is there. We have to get the best out of them every time we line up. There is no doubt about that. We can't make up for the loss of the players, but every team has those issues."

The talent issue remains up for debate. The Giants appeared outclassed in recent weeks against the division-rival Eagles and Cowboys.

Still, what isn't in question is that the Giants coach and quarterback are remaining awfully optimistic.

"I told the guys we've had a long stretch with seven games, five preseason game. We've played a lot of football. It's good to get away from it [during the bye week]," quarterback Eli Manning said. "Told them, hey, make sure you get away, still get some workouts and make sure when you come back we know what is ahead of us.

"We know what the challenge is ahead of us to get ready and make the big run."

The Giants have done it in the past with Manning as the quarterback and Coughlin as the coach. But they had a much different supporting cast around them. It was a much more seasoned, veteran crew. The Giants have 22 players on their active roster that weren't with the team last year.

And on the offensive side of the ball Sunday in Dallas, they started three rookies, a center who hadn't started in a game in almost three years prior to this season, a wide receiver who was out of the league until the Giants called and a tight end who had three career receptions prior to 2014. On defense, they lost three starters mid-game on Sunday and were trying to survive with a rookie (linebacker Devon Kennard), unproven product (cornerback Jayron Hosley) and an unknown (cornerback Chandler Fenner) sprinkled throughout the lineup.

The final result wasn't what they were hoping for. The Giants lost 31-21 to the Cowboys and sit three games out of first place with nine remaining.

Coughlin's one caveat when delivering his message to the team seems obvious -- they must improve.

"We have nine games left to play," he said. "Maybe, hopefully, we'll be able to talk about this team being a lot better than you see it right now."

Otherwise, they can kiss that "big run" goodbye.

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.