EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- As much as offensive coordinator Sean Payton wants to continue calling plays for the New York Giants, there is a good chance head coach Jim Fassel is going to take over the job against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Fassel refused to answer the question on Wednesday, saying he didn't want the Jaguars to know who will be calling the plays.

However, Fassel did walk into a team meeting Wednesday and tell the players there would be changes with the offense, which has scored seven touchdowns in seven games and 89 points overall, the second fewest in the league.

New York (3-4) has scored one touchdown in losing its last two games to fall two games behind Philadelphia in the NFC East.

"We don't blame Coach Payton for fumbling the ball or jumping offsides,'' tight end Dan Campbell said. "Coach Payton is not out there doing those things. We are. Unfortunately, he kind of ended up taking the fall for it. It's not him, we're not putting the blame on him. A change had to be made and now it's up to us to adjust to that change.''

Payton, who has called the plays since the middle of the 1999 season, would not say whether a change had been made.

"If it were to be done, would I agree with it? No!'' Payton said Wednesday. "But at the same time, you are talking about a head coach's decision. I'm as disappointed as anyone about the points we have not scored.''

Much of the problems with the offense have been caused by player mistakes.

In Monday night's 17-3 loss to the Eagles, rookie fullback Charles Stackhouse fumbled at the Philadelphia 1 with New York about to take the lead. In the game before that, the Giants turned the ball over twice inside the 20-yard line in a 17-10 loss to Atlanta on Oct. 10.

"I know the play calling isn't the reason we are 3-4, let's just say that,'' Payton said.

Payton also knows that Fassel ultimately is the one on the spot.

"This profession is and will always be a bottom line business,'' said Payton, who has seen the offense move the ball but not score touchdowns. "I am big enough to understand that. I understood it when I took this position. If things should change that way, Sean Payton will do just fine.''

The one major decision that has haunted Payton this season was a pass call against Arizona in the final seconds of the first half.

New York was leading 7-0 and got the ball back after a missed field goal. Instead of taking a knee, Payton sent in a pass play for Kerry Collins.

The ball was supposed to be thrown down the field. Collins threw it to the sidelines and Justin Lucas scored the game-tying touchdown on a 38-yard interception return.

The play changed the momentum of the game, and the Cardinals won 21-7.

"There are certain people whose heads are on different planes than others, head coaches, quarterbacks, coordinators,'' Payton said. "That's part of the deal and the responsibility of these positions. I take full responsibility for what we have done on offense.''

If Fassel were to call the plays, it would a lot to his work load. He would have to participate in all the offensive meetings

"If it takes 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a nap at 2 in the morning then I'll do it,'' Fassel said. "It does not matter. It will never come to that, either. This is not rocket science we are doing. You just need a sound, fundamental game plan.''

Fassel called his own plays in his first 2½ seasons as coach.

"From what I remember, Fassel is a believer in you have a certain amount of plays, you know what to do and you just go do it,'' Campbell said.

"It's his decision to do whatever he wants to do,'' halfback Tiki Barber said. "We don't know yet. He has done it before. We'll see what happens.''