EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Eli Manning and the New York Giants can talk about lack of execution, poor decisions and bad plays all they want to explain their offensive woes the past two weeks.

What's missing is obvious. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has been out of the mix since returning to the lineup four games ago and his chances of getting back in this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals doesn't look good with his left knee acting up again.

With Nicks and Victor Cruz on the outside, Manning usually has two targets opponents have to be worried about.

Not anymore.

A 1,000-yard receiver each of the past two seasons, Nicks has rarely been 100 percent this season. He broke his right foot in the offseason and then hurt his knee in Week 2.