Kudos & Wet Willies, MNF Edition

by Ed Valentine on Oct 16, 2007 7:37 AM EDT in Kudos & Wet Willies

Amani Toomer became the leading receiver in Giants history Monday night. (AP photo)

That's four straight wins for the New York Giants after last night's 31-10 dissection of the Atlanta Falcons. Things are definitely looking up for Big Blue.

Let's review, 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style.

Kudos to ...

• Amani Toomer: Seven catches for 89 yards and one touchdown. More importantly, became the leading receiver in Giants history. Whose mark did he surpass? Tiki Blabber's.

• Plaxico Burress: 'Game Day' continues to amaze. Six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Burress may never practice again.

• Reuben Droughns: Droughns has been a solid citizen for the Giants, never complaining about his limited role. With Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward both nicked up in the second half last night Droughns finally got a real opportunity. He responded with 14 carries for a team-high 90 yards, including a 45-yard burst. Good for him!

• The Offensive Line: Pretty much pushed the Falcons around all night while the Giants compiled 491 yards in total offense. Eli Manning was hardly pressured at all.

• Kick Coverage Teams: The much-maligned unit held the Falcons to less than 20 yards per return on six kickoffs. That's a huge improvement for this group.

Wet Willies to ...

• Eli Manning: It's really tough to give a guy who went a 27-for-39 for 303 yards and two touchdowns a 'Wet Willie.' The two bad interceptions Manning threw, however, were the only reasons Atlanta still had any hope midway through the fourth quarter. Thankfully, the Falcons awful offense couldn't take advantage.

• Jimmy Kimmel: Kimmel's appearance in the broadcast booth was awful. He wasn't funny and his jokes about ex-MNF analyst Joe Theismann were ill-advised. When will ESPN realize these guest appearances in the booth are a disaster? Fact is, the Tirico-Jaworski-Kornheiser team is pretty good on its own.

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Comments

it's hard to give eli a wet willie

considering how awesome he was in the first half. i think he really set the tone for the entire game. yeah, the two INT's were horrible decisions but his 12 straight completions were great and the TD passes to toomer and plax looked "peyton-esq". much like the jets game, if the 1st and 2nd halfs had been flipped, im sure that eli would be in the kudos category for bringing the giants back into the game.

i think feagles deserves some kudos. he did a nice job pinning them deep on possesions when the outcome of the game was still somewhat in doubt. also kudos to madison hedgecock, just because.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Oct 16, 2007 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

Eli

Yes, it's hard to give him a Wet Willie. I even admitted it when I did it. Overall, a very good game. The two picks, though, were really poor throws. I guess I'm the hard-ass teacher who refuses to give an 'A' even though the student might be deserving.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 16, 2007 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions

look on the brightside Ed

if i would've told you before the season that you would be giving wet willies to Eli when he threw for 300+ yards and two scores, you would've thought i was crazy.

it feels good to have the expectations that high for eli.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Oct 16, 2007 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Very true

And I'm sure you aren't the only one who thinks I'm nuts this morning.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 16, 2007 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

plax = iverson

practice? we're talking about practice? not a game, practice.

the d-line also more or less met expectations against that patchwork falcons line. they were causing problems all game.

a win is a win but its worth pointing out how ugly atlanta looked. how many dropped balls did thier receivers have? and how is jerious norwood not their starter? he is probably one of the best backs in the whole league.

by DieEaglesDie on Oct 16, 2007 8:53 AM EDT reply actions

Eli

I thought he played terrific except for two plays. The interception at the end of the half was terrible, no way he should have thrown it. However, I will also say he never should have had a chance to throw that pass. What were the Giants doing going for it on fourth and one at almost midfield? I thought that was an unnecessary gamble.

The second intercept wasn't so bad, esp if Toomer tacklest the guy. But again, I have to look to the coaching staff again. Does anything think we are throwing the ball just a bit too much?

www.billkohut.com

by bk0831 on Oct 16, 2007 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

Gamble

Yes, that was strange. I thought it was an opportunity for the Falcons to get back in the game if it had backfired. Unnecessary is the right way to put it.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 16, 2007 9:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Droughns

I have no idea what to make of that performance. I've cringed on most of his carries this season. Before this game he looked slow and indecisive.

Was his increased role in this game more of a result of Ward and Jacobs being banged up or because he was running the ball well?

by mpeters on Oct 16, 2007 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Droughns

Here's what I think. Coughlin has a lot of respect for Droughns and the fact that he hasn't complained about his limited role. Jacobs and Ward were both a little nicked up. I think they both could have played down the stretch in a tighter game. But, I think TC saw that the Giants had the game well in hand and saw an opportunity to reward the guy while not letting Jacobs or Ward get any more beat up than they had to. A good move, I thought.

by Ed Valentine on Oct 16, 2007 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions