Eli Manning was in the midst of a three-game stretch with no touchdown passes just a few weeks ago, a striking slump for the Giants’ star quarterback.
“It was a whole team slump,” guard Chris Snee said yesterday. “We had no confidence. It wasn’t just him.”
Manning has rebounded, continuing his rise yesterday with a career-high-tying four touchdown passes in the Giants’ 52-27 romp over the Saints at MetLife Stadium.
Manning was far from flawless. He threw two interceptions on bad balls, one of which was returned for a touchdown. But he completed 22 of 35 passes, threw for 259 yards, racked up a 99.6 rating and easily outplayed Drew Brees in lifting the Giants to a desperately needed victory in their NFC East title bid.
Manning now has thrown eight TDs in the past three weeks, following his three-game stretch when he had none.
“I think offensively, we continued to work and make sure that everybody is doing the right things,” Manning said of getting the passing game on track. “Making sure that our assignments, our techniques are perfect and getting back to practice and make sure that everything is sharp. Knowing exactly what we need to do to get open, the offensive line is protecting and we’re getting good down and distance and staying out of third-and-long situations.
“I think guys are just stepping up and responding. Getting Hakeem [Nicks] back and running where he’s making plays, that’s obviously outstanding. Getting [Domenik] Hixon back into the mix, getting him healthy and Martellus [Bennett] has been playing well. All of those things make a big difference.”
Manning’s four touchdowns were to four different receivers, as he connected on scores to tight end Bennett (six yards) and receivers Hixon (five yards), Nicks (25) and Victor Cruz (10). The last time Manning threw four TD passes was in Week 3 last year in Philadelphia. The Giants won that game, too, although they are just 4-3 when Manning fires four scores.
Manning also led the Giants to four touchdowns in their five trips inside the red zone yesterday, a promising development. Entering the day, the Giants had visited the red zone an NFC-high 49 times, but they ranked just 12th in the conference with a 49-percent touchdown rate. Yesterday, though, the Giants got red zone scores on three Manning TD throws to Bennett, Hixon and Cruz as well as a David Wilson run.
The score to Hixon was a pretty 5-yard fade in the back corner of the end zone, capping a two-minute drive before halftime.
“It was right on the money,” Hixon said, “where I expected it at.”
No reason not to with Manning now.
mark.hale@nypost,.com