For what will be the final game review before training camp opens next week, I went back in the not too distant past to review the 2006 Giants @ Redskins game. This game is underrated for how important it was to the franchise when you consider the fact that if the Giants lost that game, they would complete a 2nd half collapse that saw a 6-2 record at the halfway point finish at 7-9.
Because the rest of the NFC was under performing, a Giants win put them at 8-8 and essentially in the playoffs thanks to tie breakers, in a logjam with about 4 or 5 other teams. A loss knocks them out of the playoffs and likely gets Tom Coughlin fired because of the buzzards swirling over his head.
The Giants were dealing with plenty of distractions going into this game. All the bad losses (the Tennessee 21-0 blown lead comes to mind) and the Giants made several moves before the game. Firing John Hufnagle and replacing him with QB coach Kevin Gilbride. Putting David Diehl at left tackle.
But Coughlin's future wasn't the only storyline. Tiki Barber, the Giants best player, had let is slip at midseason, that he was retiring at the end of the year, while still in his prime. It was no secret that Tiki didn't like Coughlin, though he was most productive with him. A win not only extends Coughlin's career, but kept Tiki's going into the playoffs. What Tiki would do is put forth one of the most impressive, big game, pressure performances, going off for 234 yards and 3 TDs to help the Giants win, and save Coughlin's job. Something few people remember because of Tiki's comments about Eli at the start of the 2007 season on NBC.
As for the next group of reviews, I'll probably do a couple during the season when there is some down time (after the Thursday game and the bye week). Among the games that I am planning on doing for the next batch into next offseason:
- 1990 Giants @ Rams
- 1981 Giants @ Eagles Wild Card
- 1985 Giants vs 49ers Wild Card
- 2007 Giants @ Bears
- 2008 Giants @ Steelers
- 2008 Giants vs Panthers
- 2000 Giants @ Eagles
- 1986 Giants vs Saints
- 1989 Giants @ Broncos
- 2012 Giants @ 49ers
And a handful of others as well, I'm open to requests. Since I started the blog, I went from about 50 games that I had been able to find that were buried at my parent's house, and I now have over 200 games to work with thanks to people I have met and have reached out. So plenty of content there.
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Tiki just such a puzzle, you wonder how a seemingly intelligent guy could blow his post football life so completely. He could have been a new Frank Gifford if he just had any tact. In 2006, who would have dreamed that Strahan would not only become TCs biggest supporter, but a media darling TV star post football? Life is strange.
I am REALLY looking forward to the 1990 Giants at Rams review. Possibly my favorite regular season Giants game ever. Revenge taken, a thorough, physical old time ass whipping that would have made Steve Owen smile. 2 things I remember most: the LOUD smacking of pads as the Giants tackled AND blocked, and the absolute fear and submission of the Rams in the 2nd half. That was neanderthal football at its finest.
That was actually something Antonio Pierce cued him in on in 2005, just before the Giants thrashed the Skins 36-0 following Wellington Mara's death.
1) 1980 Giants vs Cowboys at Giants Stadium.
2) 1984 Giants vs Cowboys at Giants Stadium
3) 1984 Giants vs Chiefs at Arrowhead
Of course there are tons more but those three games stand out to me...
1) 1980 Giants vs Cowboys at Giants Stadium.
2) 1984 Giants vs Cowboys at Giants Stadium
3) 1984 Giants vs Chiefs at Arrowhead
Of course there are tons more but those three games stand out to me...
JVM,
No problem. I don't have the 1980 game (unless you mean the 1981 one). I have the 1984 Chiefs game (which is at Giants' Stadium) but I don't have the week 2 game against the Cowboys, but I could get it easily.
If you are interested, I can put them on a dropbox account or something and you can get them directly. Let me know, or drop me an email at mattinsgs@gmail.com
A coach's career isn't necessarily going to look like a neat curve if you graph its success. There are numerous examples of coaches who won the Super Bowl only after going through some significant peaks and valleys. Vermeil, Gruden, Belichick, Cowher, Dungy, and Carroll are all recent examples of guys that either didn't win their Super Bowl at their first job or, in Cowher's case, coached the Steelers for 13 years before winning a Super Bowl.
There's a sound argument supporting the idea that, once you've got a guy you know can coach, you keep him as long as he's willing to stick around.
He was but don't forget to tip your hat to the offensive line of those days!
If you're open to requests, a personal favorite of mine was the 12/2/84 game against the Jets, which was the first time the Giants were the visitors in Giants Stadium, and was an important win that allowed the Giants to get the Wild Card berth.
Also, one thing I didn't mention in the review. This game was on the NFL Network, with Bryant Gumble and Cris Collinsworth in the booth. Gumble was so bland as an announcer and boring as hell. Throughout the game, Collinsworth would actually correct some of Gumble's calls or thoughts. And several times, when they discussed Tiki going to morning TV, Collinsworth kept making mention that he's out of his mind doing that and he should enjoy being a football player, which is a much better life than getting up at 4 AM to tell people the weather...not so subtle digs at Gumble.
If I remember correctly, either during the pregame show or maybe it was the local news after the game, the grounds crew was interviewed and they explained what happened with the end zones.
The field had been set up as a normal Jets home game all week. On Saturday night the grounds crew got together and switched out one of the end zones without telling anyone. When they were asked who their team was, only two of the guys (out of maybe eight or nine) were Jets fans and they were outvoted.
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I have that one, I can add it to the list. One of the interesting things about that game, as you mentioned, it was the first time the Giants were the "road" team in Giants Stadium. However, in the end zones, they actually had one end zone with the Giants logo and the other with the Jets logo. This has been a practice in the pre-season for many years, as they swap who is the home team each year. But in the regular season, when they have played, the home team would use only their logo in the end zone.
If I remember correctly, either during the pregame show or maybe it was the local news after the game, the grounds crew was interviewed and they explained what happened with the end zones.
The field had been set up as a normal Jets home game all week. On Saturday night the grounds crew got together and switched out one of the end zones without telling anyone. When they were asked who their team was, only two of the guys (out of maybe eight or nine) were Jets fans and they were outvoted.
LOL, that's awesome, I have to look that up to see what happened.
That was actually something Antonio Pierce cued him in on in 2005, just before the Giants thrashed the Skins 36-0 following Wellington Mara's death.
Thanks. I guess I got the games mixed up. Both were great beatings of the Skins and performances by Tiki.
Also, one thing I didn't mention in the review. This game was on the NFL Network, with Bryant Gumble and Cris Collinsworth in the booth. Gumble was so bland as an announcer and boring as hell. Throughout the game, Collinsworth would actually correct some of Gumble's calls or thoughts. And several times, when they discussed Tiki going to morning TV, Collinsworth kept making mention that he's out of his mind doing that and he should enjoy being a football player, which is a much better life than getting up at 4 AM to tell people the weather...not so subtle digs at Gumble.
Matt, Gumble was dreadful. His play-by-play calls in this game were awful.
Yeah, and Gumbel was just awful.