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'Kudos & Wet Willies,' Dallas Here We Come Edition

There are so many things to feel good about today as a New York Giants' fan.

• The teams' first playoff victory since 2000.
• A brilliant game by Eli Manning.
• Overcoming the Jeff Garcia Curse.
• A terrific defensive effort.
• Shutting up Ronde Barber.
• Getting another shot at the Dallas Cowboys.

Short of winning a Super Bowl, it doesn't get much better than this. A playoff victory on the road and an effort from Manning that tells you he can rise to the challenge in the biggest of spots.

A visit to Dallas looms, and the tall task of trying to knock off the Cowboys, but today I don't want to think about that.

Today, I want to revel in Sunday's accomplishment. So, let's get to the 'Kudos & Wet Willies.'

Kudos to ...

Eli Manning: His numbers (20-of-27, 185 yards, 2 TDs and no turnovers) were impressive, but they weren't the whole story. The Buccaneers dared Eli to win the football game, and he did. He made the throws that had to be made, was creative, and was in control the entire game. It may have been the most commanding performance of Eli's career, and no matter what happens next week in Dallas it bodes well for the future of the franchise.

Corey Webster: Every Giants' fan had to cringe when they realized Sam Madison's absence meant Webster would play every down. Webster, though, played the best game of his Giants career with an interception, a fumble recovery, a pass defensed and zero coverage breakdowns.

Michael Strahan: Note to GM Jerry Reese -- whatever you have to do, get this guy to play next season. Strahan was a force Sunday, turning the clock back with a seven-tackle, one-sack, constant pressure game that left Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia running for his life.

Ahmad Bradshaw: Modest numbers -- 17 carries, 66 carries and one catch for 9 yards. All you need to know, though, is that when the Giants needed yards to run out the clock late it was the rookie whom Tom Coughlin trusted and not Brandon Jacobs. Bradshaw is now unquestionably an important part of the Giants' offense.

Tom Coughlin: With the first playoff victory of his Giants' tenure, and three straight impressive performances, Coughlin has the Giants pointed in the right direction. It's not really even debatable at this point -- there will be a long-term extension given to him during the off season.

Kevin Gilbride: You can forget about that talk that the Giants need to replace Gilbride, too. It won't happen. Gilbride can be questioned for some of what he's done in the past, but called a brilliant game Sunday. When Tampa Bay took away the run, he did something the Giants have not done well in the past -- he adjusted. First, with the short passing game. Second, by getting the lightning-quick Bradshaw into the game. He deserves tons of credit for Sunday's performance.

Amani Toomer: Nothing flashy, but 7 catches for 74 yards and one touchdown. The best wideout in Giants' history just keeps on doing his thing.

Gray Reugemar: Replaced Shaun O'Hara at center for the first time this season. He didn't get his name called once for a penalty or a bad snap, and the Giants line play did not suffer at all. His anonymity deserves praise.

Gerris Wilkinson: Seven tackles playing most of the game in place of Kawika Mitchell. This kid can play, and the Giants have got to find ways to get him on the field from now on.

Steve Spagnuolo: After an opening touchdown drive, the rookie defensive coordinator dialed up the pressure on Jeff Garcia. The Giants only got one sack, but they pressured Garcia all day, didn't make any coverage mistakes, tackled well and, for the most part, stuffed the Buccaneers' offense.

Wet Willies to ...

Ronde Barber: You wanted the Giants, you got 'em, and now you're getting to go home. Bye, bye! Maybe next time you'll keep your mouth shut!

Barrett Ruud: The Buccaneers' linebacker has apparently been infected by Barber Disease, or, the inability to keep his mouth shut. His assessment of Eli and the Giants AFTER getting his butt kicked? "He made little, annoying third-down conversions when he needed to. If it is third-and-8, he gets 8 1/2 yards. That was frustrating."

Jerk! That's what good teams do. You got beat. In fact, you got dominated. Now, just shut up and go home!

Lawrence Tynes: A light-hearted 'Wet Willie,' but Tynes showed why kickers are, well, kickers, with his feeble effort to recover the Tampa Bay fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. Thank goodness Webster was there to pick it up so that we can laugh about it now.

Osi Umenyiora: Only three tackles, no sacks and very little pressure on Garcia from the Pro Bowl defensive end. He will have to play better against Dallas next week.

0 recs | Comment 49 comments

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i think
corey webster belongs in a category of his own.  he was absolutely outstanding yesterday.  maybe the performance of the year (along with osi's six sacks and bradshaw vs. buffalo).

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 7, 2008 7:41 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Gilbride
Good point on Gilbride. I've been a big basher of his, but he finally made good adjustments and the offense played well because of it.
If I'm going to break them, I'm going to break them both. - LT

by potroast on Jan 7, 2008 8:03 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Couple of thoughts
Ahmad Bradshaw and Corey Webster, for my money, were players of the game. Not to take anything away from Eli, who I thought played maybe the best game of his career yesterday, but Bradshaw and Webster stand above the rest

The minute Bradshaw got in the game, everything changed.

Webster may finally be turning into the player the Giants thought he would be. We will have a better answer on Sunday

I say yesterday may have been Eli's best game for the following reasons:

  1. The first quarter went very badly, Eli didn't flinch
  2. No picks
  3. He had great pocket presence yesterday, many times stepping up and finding a second or third option.
A couple of his short throws were bad, but I would rather have him throw a few short passes to the receivers feet, then have him sailing the ball over their heads for picks.

Congratulations to the whole team, and to Coach Coughlin, who did an amazing job having this team ready to play, and not panicking when things didn't start well

LOL, when Tynes flubbed that ball, I was yelling at the TV "Thats why you use your feet for a living!!!"

Can't wait to hear the Barber shop on Sirius

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 7, 2008 8:14 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Tynes
A Wet Willie for one of the funnier moments of the year.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 9:14 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You forgot to give kudos to the Blabbers.
Tiki helped the Jints immeasurabely by retiring, thereby removing his poison from the locker room; his post retirement comments helped the Giants to come together as a real team; Ronde's mouth gave a dollop of extra incentive to an organization that needed playoff win.  
Thanks Blabbers

by george cronin on Jan 7, 2008 9:18 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think Eli is due for a stinker
against the Cowboys, I don't think he's ever played 3 good games in a row, you Giants fans would know that better than me, but I can't recall it ever happening. Also, Romo is due for a really huge game.

However, that being said, the game really comes down to which team protects their QB the best. That was the difference in the 1st 2 games the Cowboys won and that will be the key to victory in this game as well, provided T.O. is healthy and ready to go which all indications is that he will be.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 10:30 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yeh
Eli is due for a stinker, Romo is due for a huge game. And Tampa Bay was supposed to beat the Giants.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 7, 2008 10:45 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

thats not true
anyone that knows football knew the Giants would beat the Bucs, as they are really just an average team in a very weak division.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 3:41 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If that's so
then why was Tampa Bay more than a three-point favorite, and why did the majority of 'experts' pick the Bucs?

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 3:46 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

because its not so
and terry is an idiot with lust for romo's flesh rocket.

by DieEaglesDie on Jan 7, 2008 3:55 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

because they were playing at home
thats always an automatic 3 points right there because of that reason alone.

I can't help the fact that the Bucs have been overrated all year and the so called "experts" fell into that trap.

Also, FYI, rarely do the so called experts pick against the favorite in the playoffs. Very rare.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 4:15 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The logic you use, if you wanna call it that,
is closest to the kind Steely Dan once portrayed in music - pretzel logic.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 7, 2008 4:20 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Romo
Romo will be on his back more than a red light district prostitute.
If I'm going to break them, I'm going to break them both. - LT

by potroast on Jan 7, 2008 10:56 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yeah, just like the 1st 2 games
let me see, how many sacks did the awesome DL of the Giants have of Romo in 2 games?  Answer..one!

I really like the chances of Romo being upright and slicing up your secondary to shreads...again!

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 3:30 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Actually, you're wrong as usual
They had 1 in each game ... Tuck had one in the 1st game & Strahan had one in the 2nd. Now that our secondary is playing well and Tony Homo won't have wide open receivers all day, our D line will wrap him up in a heart beat.
If I'm going to break them, I'm going to break them both. - LT

by potroast on Jan 7, 2008 4:19 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

LOL!!!
You think your secondary is playing well because you shut down TBs pathetic passing game??

Thats really funny. Remember the Pats game? Remember Moss torching you guys?? Yeah, thats the Giants secondary I know and love.

You couldn't cover T.O. in 2 games, what makes you think you can cover him Sunday?

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 5:48 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It's called momentum.
Something your cowgirls don't have.
If I'm going to break them, I'm going to break them both. - LT

by potroast on Jan 7, 2008 6:12 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

momentum is highly overrated
you'll find that out this Sunday.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 9:13 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

remember
eli shredding your secondary with an injured shoulder (312 yards)?  or the pats shredding your secondary in the game in dallas (388 yards)?

TO is playing on one leg.  what makes you think you can cover plax?  your secondary blows too.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 7, 2008 7:04 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Torching?
There was one breakdown the entire game. Yes, it was costly, but that is hardly torching.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 8:21 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

582 yds and 8 Tds in 2 games
is absolutely torching in my book.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 9:14 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not one game this season
has anything to do with next week's game against the 'Girls. Compare all you want to, and it is irrelevant.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 7, 2008 4:21 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

you keep thinking the games they played
this season isn't relevant. You keep thinking that, but when the same result happens, don't act surprised.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 5:50 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Go away!
I am not wasting any more time arguing with you this week. Giants might win, they might not win. Who knows? All I know is, if you think this will be an easy win for Dallas you would be wrong.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 11:55 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

ETVal
It won't be any harder or easier than the first 2 wins, I agree. Something like 34-21 Cowboys...yeah, that sounds about right.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 3:31 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

jessica simpson
terry - how jealous are you off jessica simpson.  i know romo is your one true love.  maybe you can sub in as romo's fluffer when simpson gets tired.  good luck!

by DieEaglesDie on Jan 7, 2008 12:05 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Just to bug Terry
I am going to run a 'Jessica Simpson Photo of the Day' all week.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 1:50 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Jessica Simpson
If you just look at her face, she looks a lot like Matt Damon.

by Josh on Jan 7, 2008 3:11 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Solid
This is why they pay you the big bucks.

Throw in a Carrie Underwood photo or two as well.

by mwilli on Jan 7, 2008 3:21 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Big bucks?
Did I miss something? When did they start doing that? You haven't been stealing my checks, I hope. LOL!!!

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 3:56 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that certainly won't bug me
I'll very much enjoy the eye candy.

by Terry on Jan 7, 2008 3:32 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

ET said Simpson shots
not shots of romo's jock.  

by DieEaglesDie on Jan 7, 2008 3:54 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I couldn't agree more with the posts here.
Did anyone notice Eli 'pump faking' in this game? For whatever reason he did it (maybe to keep passes from being touched by the D), it worked well and allowed him time to complete several key passes. If used against Dallas, it will have the same effect, as the Dallas DBs are very aggressive and have been known to jump routes.

I think this game, along with others, was proof that Bradshaw should get more playing time. He is quicker to the hole than Jacobs, and that could help to offset a quick Dallas defense. I could see Bradshaw taking a majority of snaps in the first half, then let Jacobs take over in the second half when the 'Boys get winded. Nothing like a freight train running through cars parked on the tracks.

This game was also a testament to sustained drives. If we score so quickly, everyone 'high-fives' each other and forgets the effect on the defense. It's time to do as we did in this game - and do it at Dallas. If we can't run the ball well, then go to the short pass; we don't have to take it all in one play. It's better for our D if we don't go for the score in one or two plays. Obviously, if it's there, take it. Just don't force it. It hurts their defense and helps ours.

There was some idiotic predictability with our play calling early on, but it looks as if Gilbride (or someone) made adjustments to suit the situation. Good call there, Ed.

As for Blib and Blab, who cares what they say? One mouthed off before the game, and as ED posted, got his wish. Nice catch in front of him, Toomer!

The other was once on our side but I'm willing to forget that because he currently has such a penchant for bad-mouthing us. Nice job, Terdi. Oh, I mean Tiki.

by GAgiantfan on Jan 7, 2008 10:41 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hey how about a Kudo for
Feagles? His punts were booming yesterday, 44.5 yard average

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 7, 2008 11:08 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Special teams
I would give a kudo to the special teams

No coverage breakdowns

Feagles put every punt where it needed to be

And a fumble recovery.

by NYERinSF on Jan 7, 2008 11:27 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Are you still taking nominations?
How about a big Wet Wille for Bucs cornerback Phillip Buchanon?

From the NY Times:

"Eli, he really played kind of poor," Buchanon added. "He was not even trying to make any longer throws or do anything drastic. But the game plan they had for him was a good one. They played it safe. It was all real controlled, safe pass patterns.

"He did a good job. But we missed tackles on crucial plays and couldn't get many pass breakups."

Worst bunch of sore losers in the NFL, that Tampa team.

by django48 on Jan 7, 2008 11:39 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

wow
How can he say Eli played a "poor" game?

Even your most pessimistic Giants fan, and lord knows we have a few, would have to give Eli credit for his play yesterday

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 7, 2008 1:17 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sore losers
I have been amazed by some of the whiny comments from the Buccaneers. They lost, the Giants played really well. They took what was there, give them credit. Well, let's forget them and move on to the Cowboys, anyway.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 1:49 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

id be whiny to
if it was my defense that gave up a 15 play 92 yard drive with the game on the line.

eli surgically removed tampa bay's balls, heart, and brain with that drive.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Jan 7, 2008 1:57 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

From the sounds of these comments
I doubt it took much to remove the balls.

by mwilli on Jan 7, 2008 3:24 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Buchanon
It sounds like he's disappointed that he didn't see the old Eli, the one who would force throws down the field into double and triple coverage.  A big part of a quarterback's maturation process is learning to win with whatever the defense gives you, not simply lighting up the scoreboard with big stats every game.  That's what made Simms such a good QB.  And that more than anything else is why yesterday's win was so significant from the standpoint of Eli's development.  

by django48 on Jan 7, 2008 3:37 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Very true
There was maybe only one 'dangerous' throw the whole game. I was impressed by the sliding around in the pocket, the patience, the accuracy on most of the throws, the pump faking and obviously considering 2-3 options before letting the ball go. It's the most 'mature' game I've ever seen him play.

by Ed Valentine on Jan 7, 2008 3:49 PM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ugh
I see the trolls from Dallas have arrived

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 8, 2008 7:42 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I agree,
they are really annoying...

by All Day on Jan 8, 2008 9:01 AM EST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Only one way to shut up a Cowboy fan.....
Beat them

I've never met one who didn't crawl in a hole when they weren't winning

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 8, 2008 9:33 AM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wow!
OK , I will publicly give Corey Webster my biggest kudos after finally giving up on him this year.Who would have thought he could regain his college form as a ballhawk? Not me thats for sure but if he keeps it up this week it will be even bigger and better.
   Where did Gerris Wilkinson come from, under a rock...........never saw it coming......his speed is super impressive......can he rush the passer  that fast?
 Still on Gilbrides case though, how hard is it to figure out that Bradshaw is better at the ouside sweeps than Jacobs..........how much of a revelation does it take to figure that BJ is a solid in between the tackles guy?........ugh

  Terry , I give a lot of credit for any female fan of the NFL to com over here and share an opinion.......even though I detect a note of jelousy towards poor misunderstood Jessica.

by big blue wrecking crew on Jan 8, 2008 4:14 PM EST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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