More photos » by Bill Feig - AP

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) can only watch as New Orleans Saints safety Roman Harper (41) chases after the ball Manning just fumbled in the first half of an NFL football game between the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Saints recovered.

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OK, so the headline of this post gives away what I am thinking right now. At the very least, C.C. Brown is getting 'Wet Willies' for both ears.

Before I get to the full 'Kudos & Wet Willies', however, some general thoughts about Sunday's 48-27 embarrassment our New York Giants (5-1) suffered at the hands of the New Orleans Saints (5-0).

Be honest, after watching the past few games you had to at least think it was possible that Drew Brees and the Saints would do something like this to the Giants' defense. The pass rush has not been there consistently, and the secondary's stats have had more to do with the poor offenses the Giants had played against than anything special being done by the defensive backs.

Ralph Vacchiano said that Brees predicted that New Orleans would score at least 40 points on the Giants defense. Can't get mad at the guy when he's right. Shoot, the Saints could have put up 60 or more had they needed to, or wanted to. The Giants had absolutely no answers.

The Giants' offense was not perfect Sunday, either, but I am not going to waste time criticizing that unit. Eli Manning and crew had to figure out early that their defense had no chance of helping them, and there was no way the offense was going to match the Saints score-for-score, try as they might. Manning (14-for-31, one TD, one INT, one fumble) obviously did not have his best day. Offense, though, was not the problem. The Giants did move the ball, did average 5.7 yards per play and did score 27 points.

You can't win, though, when you have to score 50 just to have a chance. The Giants think, and we want to believe, they have a championship-caliber club. That won't happen, however, if they can't play better defense than that against good teams.

I am not jumping off the bridge, and I don't think you guys should either. It was just one bad game in a long season. Still, the ease with which the Saints dispatched the Giants is disturbing. Now, on with the 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

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More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning reacts after the Giants scored a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter during of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. Eli on the field was a great sight for Giants' fans.

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Thank goodness the Junior Varsity portion of the New York Giants' schedule is complete. I love winning, and I love total domination of the opposition. But, the Giants have barely been challenged for three weeks now and I am ready to see them match up with real NFL competition.

That will happen next weekend when the Giants travel to the Big Easy to taken on the New Orleans Saints. We will have all week to talk about that game, though, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.

For today, let's focus on Sunday's 44-7 pasting of the utterly inept Oakland Raiders. The best way to do that? Our traditional 'Kudos & Wet Willies' review, of course, so let's get on with it.

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More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith, left, is congratulated by teammate Mario Manningham after catching a 25-yard touchdown pass during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo.

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Ah, another happy Monday in the Land of the 4-0 New York Giants. Not much to complain about today, unless you are a really, really pessimistic never-going-to-be-happy kind of fan. That said, let's get on to the weekly 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

Kudos to ...

• Steve Smith: This Smith is pretty darn good. How good? Historically good. He has 34 catches in four games which is the most receptions through four games in franchise history. I think we know who the Giants' No. 1 guy is now. Check out what Don Banks of SI.com wrote about Smith Sunday night. Maybe until further notice, Carolina's Steve Smith should be identified as the "other Steve Smith,'' because the Giants' Steve Smith certainly doesn't deserve an afterthought designation. New York's Smith caught 11 more passes for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Giants' 27-16 win at Kansas City, and now has a team-leading 34 receptions for 411 yards and four touchdowns this season. Carolina's Smith, he of the Pro Bowl pedigree, has yet to make much impact for the winless Panthers. Smith has caught just 15 passes for 190 yards, and is still waiting for his first score of the season. My take: Smith is an impossible cover on short to intermediate routes, and it's obvious Eli Manning loves throwing him the ball.
  
• Eli Manning: It is becoming routine, but this was another terrific game for Manning. He was 20-for-34 for 292 yards and three touchdowns. He fumbled once and was intercepted once, but the pick was clearly Mario Manningham's fault. The ball hit him right in the hands, and he was open. An NFL receiver needs to make that play. Eli has a career-best 63.2 percent completion rate and a 104 QB rating after four games. Now, we just have to cross our fingers that his heel injury isn't serious.

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More photos » by Chris O'Meara - AP

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow (82) loses the football after taking a hit from New York Giants' C.C. Brown (41) and Antonio Pierce (58) during the third quarter an NFL football game Sunday Sept. 27, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. The Giants shut out the Buccaneers 24-0.

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If I really wanted to keep this short and simple, I would just say this. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a very bad football team. The New York Giants are a very good one. Except for Lawrence Tynes misadventures, it is pretty hard to find anything to complain about today as a Giants fan.

Anyway, there must always be 'Kudos & Wet Willies' following Giants football. So, I'll give it my best shot.

Kudos to ...

• The Giants defense: No Kenny Phillips? No Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery or Chris Canty? Justin Tuck on the field for just a few plays? Who cares? Stung by criticism after a poor performance a week ago, the Giants defense pitched a shutout and held the Bucs to 86 total yards, an effort Antonio Pierce called "One of the best (defensive performances) I’ve been a part of." Yes, it was against a woeful Tampa Bay team. Yes, the Giants did not record a sack. But, dominance is dominance. The Bucs ran just 36 plays and had the ball for a microscopic 16:22. I'm not even going to bother singling anyone out. The defense wasn't on the field long enough for any one player to actually have a huge day.
  
• Ahmad Bradshaw: Brandon Jacobs might be a nightmare for defenders to tackle, but in his own way Bradshaw is as tough -- if not tougher -- to bring down. Bradshaw compiled 104 yards on 14 carries (7.8 yards per carry) Sunday, including a 38-yard run. Through three games he has been better than Jacobs.

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More photos » by LM Otero - AP

New York Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes (9) and guard Rich Seubert (69) celebrate Tynes' last-second field goal against the Dallas Cowboys in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The score gave the Giants a 33-31 win.

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Impressive. That's the best word I can use to describe Sunday' night's 33-31 victory by our New York Giants over the Dallas Cowboys. To win in that environment -- opening of JerryWorld, record-setting crowd, trailing until the final drive -- is a tremendous achievement.

Let's review as we always do, 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style.

Kudos to ...

• Lawrence Tynes: Nailed the game-winning 37-yard field goal -- twice. Barely made the first attempt right after Dallas coach Wade Phillips called one of those ridiculous last split-second timeouts. Drilled the second one right down the middle. Tynes made 4-of-5 field goals, missing only what should have been a chip-shot 29-yarder. You guys might not want to hear it, but Tynes is probably the perfect kicker for this team. An imperfect guy who drives you up the wall, but always seems make the kick that counts.
• Eli Manning: Drove the Giants 56 yards in seven plays, starting 1st-and-20 from the 15-yard line, for the game-winning field goal. Did you really have any doubt that Eli would get the Giants into position to have a chance at the end? I didn't. Manning was a brilliant 25-for-38 for 330 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Considering Tony Romo's brutal 13-for-29 with three picks on a day the Giants' pass rush rarely got near him,  how can anyone argue right now that they would rather have Romo as their quarterback?

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More photos » by Tim Larsen - AP

Eli Manning throws a pass Sunday.

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Time for our first regular season 'Kudos & Wet Willies' of 2009. Lots of praise today, so a loooooong list of 'Kudos.' Only a couple of 'Wet Willies' following a game that should fill New York Giants fans with optimism.

Kudos to ..

• Mario Manningham: The second-year wide receiver made more of a contribution in the first half Sunday than he did all of last season. Made a brilliant 30-yard run for a touchdown off a quick screen from Eli Manning, and finished with three catches for 58 yards. The touchdown was the first of his career.
  
• Steve Smith: Smith may never be a dominant downfield threat. He is, however, as good as any receiver in the game when he is lined up in the slot. Made six catches for 80 yards, and several of those converted third downs into first downs. Brilliant work.
  
• Kevin Boss: I still don't think the Giants throw him the ball enough, but Boss made the play every time Manning sent the ball in his direction. He will be a terrific weapon for the Giants, provided they remember to use him.
  
• Eli Manning: Yeah, I saw some of the complaints about Eli's interception in Sunday's Game Thread comments. You guys need to get over yourselves. Eli (20-29, 256 yards) played exceptionally well. He made one mistake, but otherwise threw the ball very well. He spread it around, made some plays moving around and had an excellent day. 

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More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

New York Giants wide receiver Sinorice Moss (83) catches a touchdown pass in front of New England Patriots safety Pat Chung (25) in the first quarter Thursday.

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OK, before I get to the good stuff I am giving myself a 'kudos.' Getting to the end of last night's Giants-Patriots exhibition was torture, but I managed. Without even falling asleep once. A miracle! Anyway, here is your final pre-season 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

Kudos to ...

• Lawrence Tynes: Might be the only time other than games after which he kicks a game-winner that a kicker will get first 'kudos.' Tynes kicked a 46-yard field goal and then made a tackle on special teams. Even more impressive for a wimpy little kicker, he threw the returner out of bounds and got himself a 15-yard penalty. Tom Coughlin won't agree, and neither would I in a regular-season game. But, it was pre-season and I enjoyed Tynes' macho moment.
• Receivers: What was that about the Giants not having receivers who could make plays? There were a lot of impressive performances last night. Oh, and I said receivers because I am including tight end Kevin Boss among the impressive players. Let's look at some of the top performances.
  

1. Sinorice Moss -- Two catches for 35 yards and two touchdowns, one from Eli Manning and one from David Carr. For good measure, Moss added a 31-yard kickoff return. If this indeed was a fight to the finish between Moss and Derek Hagan, Moss wins by TKO. Hagan made a nice special teams tackle, but had just one catch for 8 yards and dropped a potential touchdown pass right on the goal line.
2. Domenik Hixon made just one catch, but it was a beauty. Hixon made a leaping catch while fighting off a defender for a 38-yard gain.
3. Hakeem Nicks had just one catch, but it went for 64 yards and a score. Nicks. also well covered, made a beautiful adjustment to the ball, snagged it and ran away from the defense.
4. Kevin Boss made two nice receptions on the opening scoring drive. I hope the Giants remember to make him a key part of the passing attack beginning Sept. 13 against the Redskins.
5. Mario Manningham had four catches for 74 yards. He ran good routes, and made the plays on everything thrown in his direction. Can't do much better than that.
   

• William Beatty: The rookie left tackle started in place of David Diehl, played most of the way and held up well. I don't think his name was called all night, and that is a good thing.
• Allen Patrick: I still don't think he has a shot at anything other than the practice squad, but he ran hard and totaled 50 yards on just 8 carries.
• Antonio Pierce: For just getting on the field. Hooray!
• Tutan Reyes: The veteran offensive lineman slid over to center when Adam Koets sprained an ankle, and did the job. I feel much better about the backup center position after watching that.
• Travonti Johnson: One bad penalty, but eight tackles and played pretty well overall. I'm still not sold on him, but he has a good shot to be a backup safety.
• David Carr: Went 6-for-6 for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Looked composed. David Philips, wherever you are, I know you are smiling.

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More photos » by Tim Larsen - AP

New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks runs past New York Jets cornerback James Ihedigbo for a 71-yard touchdown during the second half Saturday night.

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If you watched last night's 27-25 loss by our New York Giants to the New York Jets you should be able to guess that today's 'Kudos & Wet Willies' will be dominated by two things.

1. Discussion of wide receivers, both good and bad.
2. How easily you can be misled by simply looking at the box score.

So, with that little preamble out of the way let's get to the good stuff. And, since we like good news before bad we will hand out 'Kudos' first.

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