'Kudos & Wet Willies,' NFC Championship Edition

by Ed Valentine on Jan 21, 2008 7:11 AM EST in Kudos & Wet Willies Comment 26 comments

I am still floating this morning. Did that really happen last night? Did the Giants really beat the Packers? Are they really in the Super Bowl?

Wow!!!

It figures that it would take overtime for the Giants to dispatch Green Bay. It figures that it would take Lawrence Tynes three tries before getting it right and hitting the game winner. It figures that it would take an unprecedented 10th straight road victory.

These are the New York Giants. Correction, the NFC Champion New York Giants. Nothing ever comes easy.

This morning, though, the Giants are one of only two teams left playing. It's a position no one expected the Giants to be in this season.

Let's get on with the 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

Kudos to ...

• Lawrence Tynes: I wanted to jump through my TV set and kill him after his two misses in regulation. Tynes, however, got it done in overtime with his 47-yard game-winner. I guess that resilience is just a reflection of the Giants themselves.

• Eli Manning: Eli has now led this team past Giants-killer Jeff Garcia, Tony Romo and Brett Favre -- in their own buildings. His numbers last (21-of-40, 254 yards) didn't tell the story. He controlled the game, didn't turn the ball over and put the ball on target all night. Forget all the doubts -- he's a big-time, winning quarterback.

• Corey Webster: Made the interception that set up Tynes' winning kick. Webster deserves all the credit in the world. Buried on the bench after several lackluster seasons as a Giant, Webster was forced into action by injuries during the playoffs. Despite getting burned for one touchdown last night Webster has been the Giants best cornerback throughout their playoff run.

• Gibril Wilson: Finally playing like the buzzsaw safety he looked like as a rookie, Wilson has had a great season. He was all over the field last night with 8 tackles.

• Plaxico Burress: Matched up with Al Harris all night, Burress absolutely abused the Green Bay cornerback. He ended with 11 catches for 154 yards.

• Domenic Hixon: Quality kick returns all night, and a huge recovery of an R.W. McQuarters fumbled that could have cost the Giants the game in regulation.

• Kevin Boss: Continuing the fumble recovery theme, Boss recovered a Brandon Jacobs fumble at the goal line that allowed the Giants to punch in a third-quarter touchdown.

• Ahmad Bradshaw: You have to love watching Jacobs run over people, but is there any question that this guy is now the Giants best running back? He had 16 carries for 63 yards last night, and had a potential game-winning touchdown run nullified by a penalty. The game changes when he get on the field.

• Antonio Pierce: Six tackles, including a brilliant play defeating two blockers on a screen pass that may have gone for a Packer touchdown.

• Steve Spagnuolo: Dialed up another brilliant defensive plan. Ryan Grant ran for just 29 yards, and aside from the 90-yard touchdown to Donald Driver, Brett Favre was largely ineffective.

• Tom Coughlin: This will be Coughlin's first Super Bowl as a head coach. Hardly anyone thought Coughlin could keep his job beyond this season, much less coach his team to the Super Bowl. He deserves tons of credit for reaching out to the players, bringing this team together and turning it into a team that believes in itself no matter the circumstances.

Wet Willies to ...

• R.W. McQuarters: Two fumbles from the usually sure-handed McQuarters almost derailed the Giants' Super Bowl bid. One came after he intercepted Favre as he ended up giving the ball back to the Packers. Hixon bailed him out on the other when McQuarters lost the handle on a punt return.

• Osi Umenyiora: If you didn't notice Umenyiora during the game last night, there is a good reason. He doesn't even appear on the stat line. That's right -- zero tackles for the Pro Bowl defensive end. Thank goodness the rest of the defense overcame his disappearing act.

• Sam Madison: It was good to see the veteran cornerback on the field -- he hadn't played since the final regular season game. His fourth-quarter personal foul penalty, though, led to Green Bay's final score and darn near cost the Giants the game.

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big-time wet willie

to RW. neither of those hits that he took should've jarred the ball loose. you have to protect the football better.

how about a wet willie to packers fans? even the people that came on here thought that the giants were merely a speed-bump in their path of an inevitable super bowl. the giants were clearly the better team yesterday and if you take away a fluky 90-yard TD pass to driver, they completely dominated that game.

this really is no fluke. the giants today are a better team than dallas and a better team than green bay. would you pick anyone in the AFC to beat them today? the choke-artist colts? the beat-up chargers? the super bowl will be a matchup of the two best teams in the NFL, and im already sick of the media "Cinderella" nonsense.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 21, 2008 7:36 AM EST reply actions

Right

You have it right. The best 2 teams are in the Superbowl. The Giants dominated that game ... 2 missed field goals, a couple of dropped passes ... if those were turned the other way then it would have been a rout.

by potroast on Jan 21, 2008 8:01 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

about the Packers fans. Not sure if any of you guys frequent the ESPN conversations, but in EVERY article about this game, Packer fans were shooting their mouths about how the Giants had no chance, how the Pack were so superior, how Ryan Grant (our 6th string running back) was the best RB in the NFL, how better Defenses couldn't stop the incredible GB Receivers, each of whom is infinitely better than Jerry Rice, etc., etc.

Meanwhile, Giants fans responses were pretty much always "hmmm...where have we heard all this before. Oh yea, LAST WEEK. Let them play the game, the Giants mights surprise you." And of course the Packer fans were all "Dallas was playing like crap, Green Bay is on a roll. This thing won't even be close."

By the way, does anyone expect anything different over the next 2 weeks from Patriots fans? They'll probably be even worse than the 'Boys and Packer fans. I can't wait till a few of them create user names (IwishIwereBradysGQGoat??) and start trolling these boards...

by cjmulrain on Jan 21, 2008 9:12 AM EST up reply actions

Deserving

Indeed, the Giants are deserving of this. They are the NFC's best team, even though I never would have thought that 2 months ago. They outplayed Dallas and Green Bay and earned this.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 21, 2008 9:35 AM EST up reply actions

Wet Willie

I hate to quibble after such an awesome game, especially about one of my favorite players, but I'd actually give Gibril Wilson a wet willie, despite his 8 tackles. First of all, I don't remember him making any really big stops, like the Aaron Pierce one armed, 3 blocker tackle. Second, he got burned in coverage a few times, and missed a couple of tackels (at least one which I can remember led to a 1st down). Third, and the absolute reason he deserves it, was the route he took to Driver on the 90 yard TD. Watch that play again, Gibril had an angle, and I really think he could have caught Driver by the 30 yard line, but he took an AWFUL route to get there, ended up behind him, and then slowed down when Webster dove (even though Wilson was actually closer). It didn't matter in the long run, but that play could really have cost the Giants the game.

by cjmulrain on Jan 21, 2008 9:18 AM EST reply actions

oh man

i forgot about that play by AP! that saved a touchdown easily. he fought through a block and made a one-armed tackle when the packers had a beautiful screen perfectly set-up.

that's why pierce is the leader of the defense.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 21, 2008 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

Still in shock

It hasn't sunk in yet

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 21, 2008 9:59 AM EST reply actions

Spags

The Giants have to do whatever it takes to keep him. Washington and Dallas have Asst HCs, so did the Jets with Belly and the Tuna. Create that job for Spags, designating him heir apparent to the HC job and PAY him. Imagine what our D will be with another year of Spags coaching, Kiwi back and holes plugged with draft picks and free agents.

by george cronin on Jan 21, 2008 10:10 AM EST reply actions

absolutely

This guy is the best coach we've had since John Fox, and it's only his first year as a D-coordinator. Imagine if he gets better? He's gotta be one of the best young minds in the league....give him Jason Garrett money, and make him the head coach when Coughlin retires.

By the way, I also think some recognition should be given to Aaron Ross. The guy played yesterday with a separated shoulder, and while he didn't make any big plays, he also didn't give up any big plays, which is about all you can ask of an injured cornerback. If Webster has really turned the corner, which is seems like he has, the Giants have the foundations of a pretty nice secondary heading into next season.

by cjmulrain on Jan 21, 2008 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

Webster

I can't say enough about him in these playoffs. He's just been tremendous. Even on the 90 yarder I was more upset with the safeties for not covering behind him than with Webster who was doing a good job jamming all day, but had one slip. Going into next season, the Giants need to replace Butler (maybe even with Johnson) and then it looks like their secondary will actually be a strength.

by potroast on Jan 21, 2008 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

It's amazing that Webster has been their best corner throughout the playoffs. I give that guy, and the coaching staff, all the credit in the world for sticking with it. He has all the physical tools, and the hands, to be outstanding. On the TD, Driver just got his hands up and chucked Webster away. That's the risk w/press coverage, which I really don't mind.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 21, 2008 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Ross

Absolutely. He showed tremendous courage, and should get 'kudos' just for playing and keeping Geoffrey Pope off the field.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 21, 2008 11:23 AM EST up reply actions

Absolutely, Ed, Ross is a warior and played

a solid game. I thought Pope would have to play and that worried me. Still the guy's speed intrigues. It'll be interesting to see how he develops.

by george cronin on Jan 21, 2008 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

True

Hey, George, are you willing to do a 'memories' piece on Giants' Super Bowls or other NFL title game appearances? I'm willing to bet Big Blue View Nation would enjoy it.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 21, 2008 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

Sure, Ed, when would you like it

Rather than covering everything, I'd rather talk about the few I remember best. I won't do losses, although some stick in my head more vividly than wins (eg, the "greatest game ever played.)

by george cronin on Jan 21, 2008 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

Memories

George, shoot me an e-mail at bigblueview@gmail.com and we'll figure it out. I'd rather do it off line than here in the comments. -- Ed

by Ed Valentine on Jan 21, 2008 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

Game Tape

Forgot to tape the game last night - anyone know if it is available online???

by mw on Jan 21, 2008 3:52 PM EST reply actions

Reese

I know it has been said before in this group, but big kudos to Jerry Reese.

During the season:

Jacobs was out for an extended period

Ward went on IR

Kiwi went down

Shockey went down

O'Hara went out for a crucial playoff game

We don't even want to mention what happened to the secondary.

And each time, players came in and stepped up. Yes, the Giants have been relatively healthy this year, and that has helped, but the depth and the resilience of the team speaks volumes for the front office

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by NYERinSF on Jan 21, 2008 5:48 PM EST reply actions

Jacobs...

I loved the play early in the game where Jacobs blasted Charles Woodson and he went flying like a rag doll. After that play Troy Aikman, while laughing said something like, "Man I don't think Woodson will want to get in Jacob's way like that many times tonight or he won't survive."

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 21, 2008 6:30 PM EST reply actions

That was

the best hit of the night. Still, though, Bradshaw is becoming more a playmaker than Jacobs.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 21, 2008 8:31 PM EST up reply actions

Woodson

wasn't the same after that hit.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 21, 2008 9:29 PM EST reply actions

Bradshaw,

the way he turns as he comes into the line, reminds me a lot of Anderson back in the day, but he does it with the speed of Meggett.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 21, 2008 9:31 PM EST reply actions

It shouldn't be...

but Jacobs best running is to the outside. Our blocking seems better on those plays and he has a knack of finding an alley to chug through.

Ironically, Bradshaw seems to break more plays running up the middle. He hides behind the big guys and then darts through the tiniest of holes.

Alternating them is an effective way to keep defenses from getting into their groove.

by giant fan since 57 on Jan 22, 2008 6:11 AM EST reply actions

Jacobs

GA: Yeah, I hadn't thought of it that way but Jacobs as a combo of Anderson/Megget is exactly right. Hampton could get it done up the middle. I remember an exhibition game vs Buffalo during his second season (maybe his first) when he blasted off tackle for a TD of more than ninety yards.
57: Youre right about he's best going outside. His broblem up the middle is that he runs straight up, making him too big a target for the kind of cracks Bradshaw can zip through. It's too bad, because Jacobs bursting through a hole up the middle time after time would wear down a defense in a hurry.

by george cronin on Jan 22, 2008 6:49 AM EST reply actions