EAST RUTHERFORD -- Rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham's debut earned him plenty of praise. He was our top stud, the biggest star and the major story after the Giants' 30-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

Beckham caught four passes for 44 yards and the game-winning touchdown in his first game back from a hamstring injury. It could have been even more. Much more.

The first-round pick's speed and play-making ability showed even more on tape than it did at first glance.

Here's a play in the first half in which quarterback Eli Manning held onto the ball for almost nine seconds. As you can see, his offensive line delivered a great pocket.

Beckham continued moving during the scramble drill and was open in the back of the end zone. On this play, Manning didn't see him.

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Fortunately, it all worked out just fine. The Giants ended the drive with a Rueben Randle touchdown reception.

That one didn't cost them points in the long run. This one did, and would have been a biggie. Beckham streaked right past his defender by running a simple go route. If Manning puts the ball in the play of field, it's an 81-yard touchdown. The crowd goes wild. The Giants would have answered Antone Smith's 74-yard touchdown with an 81-yard score on the very next play.

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But Manning threw it out of bounds. His reasoning was pressure.

"We missed the protection, and so I had a guy running free at me and so it was really a throwaway," Manning said after the game. "I knew he had a go-route. I wasn't going to be able to sit there and wait for it, it was one of those where you throw it real early and the corner ends up jumping and thought I was throwing a quick throw and he jumped in. It looks bad on film but really, under the circumstances, it's a throwaway. It was a hard decision, but obviously it might look bad on film."

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It did look bad. Manning may have been a bit spooked by the corner blitz. He was about to take a hit, but also had a streaking open receiver down the left sideline. It was a play that was there for the taking. It was one (I'll ask this week) he probably believes was makeable, in retrospect.

Beckham continuously worked himself open in his 35 snaps, including on this play early in the fourth quarter -- the same drive on which he caught the game-winning touchdown. Again with one-on-one coverage, he beat his man badly, turning around cornerback Robert Alford with a jab inside, before running another go-route.

The ball went to wide receiver Victor Cruz instead and was knocked away for an incompletion. Manning didn't look toward Beckham on the play.

It happens. It happens to every quarterback in every game. But it goes to show, in part, the explosiveness that Beckham brings to the table.

The rookie also has an amazing ability to attack the ball. That is what you hear from teammates when they talk about what really makes him special, aside from his speed and explosion. It was evident on the touchdown.

Beckham wasn't exactly open when Manning released the ball.

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But he slid inside the defender (again Alford) and went after the ball, catching it at its highest point for the crucial score.

For one game at least, the hype was justified. In fact, it might have been underhyped considering the opportunities for an even bigger impact than he had in his debut.

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A common questions I receive these days involves linebacker Mark Herzlich. Why is he starting over Spencer Paysinger (who is now injured) or rookie Devon Kennard (who is finally back from injury)?

Here is one reason the Giants like Herzlich in that strongside linebacker role over Paysinger.

On Atlanta's first offensive play, Herzlich pushes tight end Levine Toilolo four yards behind the line of scrimmage on a run to the left. It greatly disrupts the play. Jackson gained one yard.

This is what the strongside linebacker is supposed to do. He's supposed to set the edge by sticking his nose into the tight end's chest.

Here it is again, on Atlanta's second play after the Giants took the lead in the fourth quarter. Herzlich and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) dominate the right side of the line, the Falcons' strongside of the formation. Jackson took a 2-yard loss on the play.

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While Herzlich sometimes struggles against the pass, he has been an asset against the run in his three games as the starter since middle linebacker Jon Beason aggravated his foot injury.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

• Defensive end Robert Ayers continues to be an incredible offseason signing. He's excelling on the outside and interior of the defensive line. In addition to being credited with two quarterback hurries, Ayers also forced two holding penalties. That's almost the equivalent of two sacks.

• Pierre-Paul had his best game yet this season. He dominated Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews, mostly with his power, against the run and pass. Defensive tackles Cullen Jenkins and Johnathan Hankins also played extremely well. Hankins had two pressures in addition to his fourth-down sack.

• The Giants need to rethink their kickoff return strategy. They returned three kicks from the end zone on Sunday. None made it out to the 20-yard line, and Preston Parker fumbled his only attempt.

Coughlin was vague when asked about the team's rule of thumb when to take it out or when to kneel on it for a touchback. Special teams coach Tom Quinn talked several weeks back about risk vs. reward and whether the kick had good hang time or not.

"I don't know. You can argue forever about the balls that ought to come out," Coughlin said. "You see it all around the league. They are bringing them out nine yards deep and the ball ends up at the 15- or 14- (yard line) or whatever. We have some ideas about when that thing should come out and when it shouldn't, but you also have the confidence of the guys bringing it out, thinking that he can do it."

Any confidence might be misplaced: The Giants have two fumbles and are averaging 20.8 yards per return.

• Rookie left guard Weston Richburg had a really strong game, even matched against the massive Paul Soliai (345 pounds) at times. Richburg has been getting his hands underneath the bigger opponents in recent weeks, allowing him to win the leverage game.

• Right tackle John Jerry didn't fair quite as well. He struggled in the run game, often falling off his blocks and failing to deliver blows. It ruined several potential good gains for the Giants on the ground.

• Punter Steve Weatherford had a really strong game to limit dangerous return man Devin Hester. But he did seem to mishit his first punt, and needed to push Hester out of bounds to prevent a disaster.

Looking at the coverage, it sure looks like Weatherford was supposed to put this kick near the right sideline. Instead, it went right down the middle and he outkicked the coverage, giving Hester plenty of room for a big return. He got 25 yards out of it.

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• Middle linebacker Jameel McClain was effective as a blitzer. Three times he disguised blitzes well and ran untouched through the middle of the Falcons line. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan miraculously dumped the ball all three times to a running back, including on the long touchdown. Still, it was good to see the blitzes getting home and knockng Ryan off his spot, even if the pressure didn't result in sacks.

• Falcons star receiver Julio Jones had 11 receptions on 16 targets for 105 yards on Sunday. That doesn't mean Giants cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie didn't play well. Jones had three catches for 26 yards on eight targets when matched against Rodgers-Cromartie, who missed some time with an ankle/leg injury. His absence for any amount of time would be a big loss.

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@nj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.