Ranking Parcells' Giants teams

86
90
89
88
85
84
87
83

88, 89 and 85 are interchangeable. Even though 89 on paper is the best record, the 85 team bested the 9ers and were probably a top 3-4 team in league. 88 was ruined by tiebreaker hell and fluky losses at home to sf and philly.

Those three teams could've easily gone to another SB if not at least made deep playoff runs. Stupid strike! Stupid Jets! Stupid Flipper Anderson!

The jets were the last. But in 88, losses to philly and sf were so costly at home, and Giants should have won both if not one of those games.

In comment 12808317 jnoble said:

Quote:

Those three teams could've easily gone to another SB if not at least made deep playoff runs. Stupid strike! Stupid Jets! Stupid Flipper Anderson!

88 - Rice to Montana crushed too. I believe the 49ers would have missed the playoffs had the Giants won both.

When The Cheering Stops about the 1990 team and
while I am not finished with it, that team's defense was pretty unbelievable. LT thought it was better than 86.

was better than the 86 team. Remember, the 86 team wasn't a juggernaut, and had a lot of question marks around it for most of the season.

But I can't justify ranking 85 over 86 in retrospect. The 86 team won 14 games and proved everything they needed to in the Super Bowl.

I think they win. Even the Niners. The Rams just always gave them trouble for some reason.

was the best one that I have seen. They started out playing a bunch of close games and won some ugly ones (vs. the Cowboys, @ St. Louis), but once they came back vs. the 49ers from down 17-0, they kicked it in another gear the rest of the way. They beat down the Redskins in RFK, and then turned into a monster, which blew out everyone else on their schedule right through playoffs and the Super Bowl.

The 1990 team started out better but hit a rough patch and had to win close games late.

Honestly, the team which might have given the 1986 Giants a run for their money was the 2008 team. When the Giants demolished Baltimore 30-10 and rolled up over 200 yards on the ground vs. Rex's defense that was a team that was peaking and was dominant in every phase. They beat both Super Bowl teams in their own building. And then Plaxico shot himself....

The 86 finished December and January and absolutely dominant fashion. Historically dominant fashion no less. The 85 team wasn't ready for prime time as good as they were. They left a lot of points and wins on the table and guys like Banks the OL and even Bavaro were still coming of age.

But the Bavaro injury really hurt. Simms also had a down year and there were other tough injuries to deal with. The D was ridiculous that year though...

and give them to Simms with any other 1980s team.

The result would have been a top playoff seed.

Was the best I've ever seen The Giants play in the regular season without winning a SB.

I was too young to really get an idea of how football worked in the 80's. Yeah I watched as much as I could back then,but I really didn't get into the game and start understanding it until the early 90's.

I was the only person in my family who really loved football (at that time) I wasn't even a teenager when the Giants beat the Bills in SB 25.

The 2008 team was so damn good before Plax pulled a cheddar bob. So good even Osi being out for the season didn't stop us.

Of the Parcells teams, I think the 90 team was best. Yeah they won close games late, but they did so against Montana and a Buffalo team on the doorstep of four straight Super Bowls.

The '89 team was good, but they didn't have the marriage of defense and ball control offense that the 90 team had. To beat the '90 team you needed either a lot of luck or to play a perfect game.

I didn't follow the team regularly until 1987. I also wanted the shit out of Giants Among Men, so I know a lot about 1986. So here's my list.

The Parcells Years
1986
1990
1989
1985
1988
1984
1987
1983

In my opinion, if we didn't have to play the 1989 Rams or 195 Bears, we go to the Super Bowl. Just the wrong matchups in the wrong years. The Rams were our kryptonite in 1989.

The Fassel Years
2002
2000
1997
2001
1999
1998
2003

We were a top team late in 2002. If we hang on against the 49ers, I think we beat Tampa Bay, and against Philly would have been a toss-up. The 2003 season was the most painful season I have experienced. Eight straight games to close out the year, and I don't remember the Giants being competitive in any of them. Early in that season, I have the unfortunate experience to be there for the Brian Westbrook game. I have never heard such a quiet exit from the stadium.

The Coughlin Years
2008
2007
2011
2005
2012
2010
2006
2004
2015
2014
2009
2013

Fuck Plaxico Burress. We were a complete team in 2008. Beat both Super Bowl teams in their houses. I will go to my grave believing that if Burress doesn't go clubbing that night, or doesn't go clubbing while wearing sweatpants, or doesn't go clubbing while holding a gun in the band of his sweatpants, we win the Super Bowl. 2012 was another wasted year. Dominated Green Bay at Lambeau and San Francisco at Candlestick. One or two plays away from beating Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington. Succumbed to injuries late in the year against Atlanta and Baltimore.