It wasn't a Bears-'85 romp through the season. There was a lot of concern about the offense, which sputtered a lot. Remember, they started with a loss to Dallas, and then they seemed to be scuffling. But they kept on winning and winning.
Then things really went to another level with the famous Minnesota 4th-and-17 play.
By the time the playoffs came we expected them to win, but it was the Giants, so nobody took anything for granted. On the whole, that season was incredibly satisfying, but it wasn't obvious how good that team was until late, and the playoff run.
It was very different from the Tom Coughlin championship runs. The '07 and '11 teams weren't that great in the regular season, but the '86 team won the division with a great record. The '07 miracle playoff & Super Bowl run was like nothing else I've ever experienced as a Giants fan, but the '86 season was more satisfying end-to-end.
I wouldn't mind having that feeling again.
At the time, I thought the '85 Giants team was better (They gave the Bears more of a fight in the playoffs than anyone else, remember, and who knows what might have happened if Landeta hadn't whiffed on that punt.) but in retrospect, I don't think I can justify that opinion.
Dane, I remember the 85 - Bears/Giants playoff vividly. The Giants-D held its own that day, but the Giants-O was completely dominated by the Bears-D, as the Bears front 7 destroyed the Giants. The Landeta whiff didn't change the outcome of that game.
after the seattle loss, you could see they never wanted that feeling the rest of the way. Got stronger and stronger and more dominate.
culminating in one of the most fav things of experiencing in my lifetime being there, the "paper blizzard" championship game and SB XXI. The winning first SB Championship can never be relived again. granted the other 3 were close, but can top the feeling of first one.
RE: RE: The Giants weren't dominant much of the '86 season.
It wasn't a Bears-'85 romp through the season. There was a lot of concern about the offense, which sputtered a lot. Remember, they started with a loss to Dallas, and then they seemed to be scuffling. But they kept on winning and winning.
Then things really went to another level with the famous Minnesota 4th-and-17 play.
By the time the playoffs came we expected them to win, but it was the Giants, so nobody took anything for granted. On the whole, that season was incredibly satisfying, but it wasn't obvious how good that team was until late, and the playoff run.
It was very different from the Tom Coughlin championship runs. The '07 and '11 teams weren't that great in the regular season, but the '86 team won the division with a great record. The '07 miracle playoff & Super Bowl run was like nothing else I've ever experienced as a Giants fan, but the '86 season was more satisfying end-to-end.
I wouldn't mind having that feeling again.
At the time, I thought the '85 Giants team was better (They gave the Bears more of a fight in the playoffs than anyone else, remember, and who knows what might have happened if Landeta hadn't whiffed on that punt.) but in retrospect, I don't think I can justify that opinion.
Dane, I remember the 85 - Bears/Giants playoff vividly. The Giants-D held its own that day, but the Giants-O was completely dominated by the Bears-D, as the Bears front 7 destroyed the Giants. The Landeta whiff didn't change the outcome of that game.
How can you say we weren't dominate? We lost game 1 and game 7 and won the next 12. We won our last three games by 10 points (on the road to a 12-2 team), 20 points and 31 points. Including the playoffs, 7 of 19 opponents scored less than 10 points against us. Sure there were some games where the score was close but mostly because Parcells kept a lid on the offense because he knew the defense would hold in crunch time.
LOL, yes it was.
I echo many of the comments above (AP Halfmoon, JohnF): after so many years trundling at the bottom, and the slow climb back to respectability, first under Ray Perkins, then the Tuna, but the smackdown in the playoffs the year before, '86 was such joy, vindication, sighs of satisfaction, and watching that D just manhandle the opponents.
Glorious!
LT dominated that season like no other defensive player I've ever seen
head down and play through everything, he became a fan favorite. He had a few years of "growing up". The 1986 season started rough for him, and in previous seasons he might have crumbled and whimpered, but he kept pushing through and turned it around in a big way.
How can you say we weren't dominate? We lost game 1 and game 7 and won the next 12. We won our last three games by 10 points (on the road to a 12-2 team), 20 points and 31 points. Including the playoffs, 7 of 19 opponents scored less than 10 points against us. Sure there were some games where the score was close but mostly because Parcells kept a lid on the offense because he knew the defense would hold in crunch time.
I think the D was dominant all year, putting us in a position to win many close games. The last month, and the playoffs, the offense kicked in and thats when he started killing teams. Counting the last week of the season, I think we had an average score of something like 40-11 the rest of the way.
by mid to late November, thanks to some very gutty come from behind wins and a damn good record, the signs were there that this team was special or destined for greatness. By late December there was ample evidence that this team would destroy every team in its path. And they did just that.
interestingly enough the 90 team really dominated through the first 10 games of that season. Don't let anyone fool you with words like methodical or boring or run run pass. That team killed just about everyone on their way to a 10-0 record. Then sort of hung on for dear life the rest of the way but keep in mind the schedule got a lot tougher and the Giants lost their starting QB. Hoss was more than ready but the Giants offense changed when Hoss took over. They took less deep shots than earlier in the year. Contrary to myth, the Giants offense in 90 was pretty damn explosive early on. They went deep often.
86 team was more of a work in progress early on. The D and running game carried that team early. Once they got their sea legs they completely skull fucked everyone in their path.
86 started slower but finished in dominant fashion where as 90 started off in dominant fashion, slowed down a bit in December and saved the dramatics for NFC title game and Supe 21.
head down and play through everything, he became a fan favorite. He had a few years of "growing up". The 1986 season started rough for him, and in previous seasons he might have crumbled and whimpered, but he kept pushing through and turned it around in a big way.
Yeah, Simms should have sucked it up when his thumb broke in half and ended up sticking out of the skin.
to games since I was 10. I sat through some of the worst football games imaginable. Watching this team build up to the '86 season was amazing. My brother and I could not wait until Sunday each week. The term "long suffering fan" was an understatement. Even waiting for our flight to LA from Newark for the SB was a chore. There was a blizzard the night before and all the flights were cancelled. The terminal was full of Giants fans sleeping on the floor or where ever we could find a spot. They actually opened the private lounges for us. Eventually the PA system can and an airline executive came on saying "don't worry we will get you there". Soon thereafter a 747 was taxied to the gate. They took everyone as long as you had a ticket regardless of the flight or even the airline. Seating was open so you basically got on board and sat wherever there was an empty seat. Kind of sums up what the typical Giant fan endured for our team back then. It was finally worth the wait.
RE: When Simms decided to stop whining like a little bitch, and put his
head down and play through everything, he became a fan favorite. He had a few years of "growing up". The 1986 season started rough for him, and in previous seasons he might have crumbled and whimpered, but he kept pushing through and turned it around in a big way.
Lastly, Simms didnt miss a game in 84, 85 or 86. He git hurt early on in legit fashion. I don't remember Simms whining other than the time Parcells benched him for Scott Brunner. And I don't even think Simms went to the media. He told Parcells to trade him.
Fans were lost then and still lost now.
went to my first regular season game in 86 against Philly
then managed to sneak into a game or two later on. I remember getting into the Packers game last game of the year. Fans were chanting we want the Bears.
Oh wait, I must be wrong I was told the Giant fans were terrified of Doug Flutie and the NFC's crappiest offensive team.
haha....you and I have been fighting that fight for a long time djm
The Giants would have smoked the Bears had they gotten past the Redskins. The Skins were the better team that season anyway.
Joe Montana managed to hang three whole points on the Giants in the Meadowlands in January 1987 but sure, Doug Flutie would have led the Bears to victory. What a joke.
RE: When Simms decided to stop whining like a little bitch, and put his
head down and play through everything, he became a fan favorite. He had a few years of "growing up". The 1986 season started rough for him, and in previous seasons he might have crumbled and whimpered, but he kept pushing through and turned it around in a big way.
This might be the single stupidest piece of shit post ever entered here. You're an idiot.
Was he a "whiny bitch" when his shoulder was separated in 1980 and 1981, when he was high-lowed by Klecko and Gastineau in preseason of 1982 and destroyed his knee, or when he shattered his thumb on Clyde Simmons helmet in 1983 and the bone was sticking out? All because they had a shit offensive line that couldn't protect him?
He demanded a trade over the stupid Parcells decision to start Brunner in private, kept his mouth shut publicly.
that we ever had. Sorry to the younger guys here. That 86 team was the best defense hands down. We had a dominant running game and an adequate passing game. Special teams were awesome too. Our starters played on specials. Plus, our depth was incredible and partially due to the fact that the free agency rules were different then and we had backups on the team who could easily start on other teams.
How dominant were we? Just go to youtube and search 1986 giants. Watch any regular season game.
BTW, the other division rivals were awesome too. The Eagles and SKins were really good. In fact, during that Era the NFC in general was so dominant. Just look at the string of superbowls won by the NFC back then.
5-10-1, Giants beat them 35-3 at home and 17-14 at the Vet in a game that wasn't as close as the score makes it seem. The Giants were up 17-0 going into the 4th quarter and the Eagles scored on a fluky 75 yard TD pass when whoever was covering Mike Quick fell, then added a late garbage time TD.
just look at the record that year and then the postseason scoring differential.
There were more dramatic moments than 86 but as far as dominance is concerned, 86 in a landslide.
07 was just ridiculous. Not only the run but fans had to wait a long time in between 90 and 07 so there was that aspect to it as well. 07 was a like a Hollywood movie. Beating Dallas along the way was the cherry on top. My God the packers NFC title game in tundra conditions is almost forgotten that's how insanely dramatic that run was. But with that said, 90 is still my proudest NYG run ever. One phrase says it all --"THERE WILL BE NO THREEPEAT."
2011 is almost boring when stacked up to the other three. Think about that for a second. 2011 was as glorious and exciting as one could hope for and it pales in comparison to 90 and 07 in terms of dramatics.
We are fucking blessed. Even the last 3-4 years. I said it the night they won super bowl 46 we can't say a fucking word for a long long time. Fans still do...but not me. The Giants (Coughlin-Reese) owe us nothing.
Points For: 371 (23.2/g) 8th of 28
Points Against: 236 (14.8/g) 2nd of 28
1990:
Points For: 335 (20.9/g) 15th of 28
Points Against: 211 (13.2/g) 1st of 28
Taylor was more dominant in 86 yet the Giants Secondary in 1990 was light years ahead of the 86 team.
Yup. 90 D was different but in some ways better. hard to say anyone was better than that 86 D but I trust that D more than any NYG unit I ever saw. I love that 90 team like no other. Guts in spades.
So aggressive, with that killer pass rush and peak LT. The 1990 defense was like a python that slowly, calmly, strangled the life out of opponents. They didn't have the pass rush 1986 did, but as you mentioned, they didn't need to because their secondary was much better. Every single DB position was upgraded from 1986 - Patterson to Collins, Williams to Walls, Williams and Thompson as the nickel and dime CBs, Hill to Jackson, and Kinard/Welch to Guyton, plus Duerson as safety depth.
You could throw on the 1986 defense a bit, although your QB would pay the price - 3400 passing yards allowed. The 1990 defense only gave up 2700.
How can you say we weren't dominate? We lost game 1 and game 7 and won the next 12. We won our last three games by 10 points (on the road to a 12-2 team), 20 points and 31 points. Including the playoffs, 7 of 19 opponents scored less than 10 points against us. Sure there were some games where the score was close but mostly because Parcells kept a lid on the offense because he knew the defense would hold in crunch time.
At the time, they didn't seem to be dominating. They weren't blowing teams out. The D was incredible but the O was having problems. As you note, they lost games 1 and 7. That meant they were 5-2. There was a lot of hand-wringing. At that point, it wasn't obvious that they were the best team in the league, or the conference, or even in the division.
But after that, they just won and won and won. By about the last quarter of the season every Giants fan could tell something special was happening.
IIRC the big worry was playing the Bears in the playoffs, but the Bears lost in an upset, and that was that. Washington was good but the Giants had their number. And then the Broncos led at halftime, somehow, but I don't remember being very worried about that. The Giants were superb at halftime adjustments, you could just sort of tell that Denver had hit them with their best shot and barely had a lead, and that the second half would be New York's time.
actually I remember LT being really worried about playing
...because the 70's were so, so terrible and because of the sweet buildup - from drafting LT, to getting Rob Carpenter and building the 86' team piece by piece.
The culmination of the first half of the 80's built up through that season - each week, the Giants surprising themselves and their fans, rarely losing - NEVER giving up 100 yards rushing, by seasons end a monster was born and oh were Green Bay and the Cardinals unfortunate to hit us the last 2 weeks of the season.
COMPLETELY flattened those 2 teams - the greatest Giants team of all time was running on all cylinders - a juggernaut...
I got to go to that SuperBowl - 21 and BROKE, beg, borrowed to scrape together enough to be at that - the biggest of shows, and oh did they deliver.
That depends on whether you're a baby boomer, or a millennial.
For the baby boomers, a long suffering bunch, that first
SB win was extra special. If you're a millennial, you might
feel differently!
RE: RE: When Simms decided to stop whining like a little bitch, and put his
head down and play through everything, he became a fan favorite. He had a few years of "growing up". The 1986 season started rough for him, and in previous seasons he might have crumbled and whimpered, but he kept pushing through and turned it around in a big way.
Lastly, Simms didnt miss a game in 84, 85 or 86. He git hurt early on in legit fashion. I don't remember Simms whining other than the time Parcells benched him for Scott Brunner. And I don't even think Simms went to the media. He told Parcells to trade him.
Fans were lost then and still lost now.
Look, the 1986 team is my favorite team. This was the only team that I really felt they were dominant and should win, and that SB was more thrilling to me than all the others. The other SB's we were always the underdog, and never given much of a chance. However lets not sugar coat the Simms thing. He was a 1st rd pick who, after 5 yrs in the league, more than 1/2 of the fanbase thought was a bust. He was a china doll (hurt all the time), lost his starting role for a while, and asked to be traded. Now you can rationalize all you want, but he was not highly thought of up to 1985. I say this as a Simms fan, who I think is the 2nd best QB the Giants have ever had (I never saw YA).
By the start of the '86 season, there was no doubt Simms was a very, very good QB. They became a top team during the '84 season and were improved in '85. Much was expected of them in '86 and they delivered. They only lost 2 games, the opener vs Dallas (over confidence) and at Seattle, no shame there. They had almost NO injuries all year. As for the close games and the great plays that saved games, that's what great teams do, they find ways to win. As for stats, who cares? Their game was ball control to eat up the clock and keep the defense fresh. They dominated the playoffs and came back for a dominating super bowl win. The next year, they lost their first 2 games before the strike, lost 3 replacement games because George Young and the Mara's waited until the last minute to put together a scab team. Starting out 0-5, they never recovered.
The 2007 team started out with injuries and a very terrible Eli Manning at QB. Towards the end of the season, players came back from injuries and the team was very healthy. Rookies started to contribute and Manning got good. Don't forget, he threw 4 int's vs Minnesota in late November. We didn't know the team we were watching in the playoffs. They suddenly had a great QB and rookies making their way into the lineup. The Dec-Jan Giants were a much different team than the Sept-Nov Giants. The next year they showed their playoff run wasn't a fluke until Pierce and Buress were lost.
Eli manning was never terrible or very terrible or anything close to terrible. He was a winning, strong armed but still flawed young QB. Most young qbs struggle at times. Eli did too but he also won games and played well.
Most of the media had the Giants buried. How could they come back after that devastating loss. We didn't lose again till Seattle game in the Kingdump. Simms was horrible that game. After that game the Team took it too another level and cruised until the first half of the Super Bowl.
In the Second half McConkey with the towel running on the field you knew the Giants were going to win. They clobbered Denver and Elway in the second half.
Eli manning was never terrible or very terrible or anything close to terrible. He was a winning, strong armed but still flawed young QB. Most young qbs struggle at times. Eli did too but he also won games and played well.
He threw a lot of int's before that streach. Much was also written about how he was so much better after Shockey went down.
Senior year of high school and went to the Eagles and Packers game. It's hard to fathom how dominant LT was unless you saw him in person. Against the Eagles he was unstoppable.
it was the culmination of the steady growth provided by George Young's drafting starting with Simms in 1979.
And because that steady growth was itself a culmination of the horrid years that led to the explosion in 1978 and the hiring of George Young.
So - 1986 was more than just a season. It was years of waiting - followed by steady great drafting by George Young (with no free agency) and the building of a truly dominating force on defense and an overall great team. I KNEW the Giants were winning in 1986 ten seconds after they lost to the Bears in 1985. Anyone who followed the steady buildup from 1979 knew the team was becoming stronger and stronger year after year. 1979 through 1986 - the most fantastic stretch of years in my lifetime all because of George Young and the Giants.
Two totally different situations. One all-time dominant season where in the end opponents were crushed without mercy, and a season straight out of a Hollywood movie with bigger and bigger insane upsets up until the defeat of what would have been the undisputed greatest NFL team of all time off of a miracle play in the most clutch drive in NFL History.
I like having them both and their reduxes of '90 and '11.
The defense was just flat mean and we could
run the rock anytime we needed to not to mention we had
a number of deamons on special teams ...
I watched Paul Horning destroy us early 60's and to finally
get to the big game with Simms and LT it was like none other
etched in the mind forever .
Eli manning was never terrible or very terrible or anything close to terrible. He was a winning, strong armed but still flawed young QB. Most young qbs struggle at times. Eli did too but he also won games and played well.
He threw a lot of int's before that streach. Much was also written about how he was so much better after Shockey went down.
Right, but he was far from terrible. We've all seen terrible. 2005-2006 Eli ain't it. Not even close.
86' was magical. My girlfriends father was a Jets fan and it was my senior year of High School. I lived in Southern Jersey. I knew more Eagle, Jets and Cowboy fans than Giants fans. My older sisters' boyfriend was a Niners fan who was miserable to me. My bus rides were hell for years because the Giants were bad for so long. I am from a large extended Italian family, and when they find a soft spot they bust balls like it is their fucking job and they are the best at it. My balls were busted for years and then......1986. Once they got in a groove at the end of the season, I knew they were going to win it all. I won bets with everyone I knew. It was the best year of my life. I busted EVERONES balls unmercifully, the apprentice surpassed the masters.
86' was magical. My girlfriends father was a Jets fan and it was my senior year of High School. I lived in Southern Jersey. I knew more Eagle, Jets and Cowboy fans than Giants fans. My older sisters' boyfriend was a Niners fan who was miserable to me. My bus rides were hell for years because the Giants were bad for so long. I am from a large extended Italian family, and when they find a soft spot they bust balls like it is their fucking job and they are the best at it. My balls were busted for years and then......1986. Once they got in a groove at the end of the season, I knew they were going to win it all. I won bets with everyone I knew. It was the best year of my life. I busted EVERONES balls unmercifully, the apprentice surpassed the masters.
Hey I know you! There was a documentary made about your life where Joe Pesci played you and Marissa Tomei played your GF: "My Cousin Vinny", right?
"the offense struggling" early on or through much of the season, I have this to say about that '86 team.
And all you young 'uns who have bitched and continue to bitch about Kevin Gilbride's offense incorporated into TC's insistence on run/pass balance, please take note.
Bill Parcels' run on 1st and 2nd down no matter what Woody Hayes memorial philosophy and Ron Earhardt's offense was brutal. To hold back a QB like Phil Simms in his prime was almost tragic stupidity - except that it ended with Simms' 22/25 3 TD Superbowl.
G-d I cringed watching that offense of Earhardt's and Parcels'. Talk about predictable!!!
Gilbride's was an offensive genius like General Patton in comparison to those clowns dictating the '86 offense.
Then things really went to another level with the famous Minnesota 4th-and-17 play.
By the time the playoffs came we expected them to win, but it was the Giants, so nobody took anything for granted. On the whole, that season was incredibly satisfying, but it wasn't obvious how good that team was until late, and the playoff run.
It was very different from the Tom Coughlin championship runs. The '07 and '11 teams weren't that great in the regular season, but the '86 team won the division with a great record. The '07 miracle playoff & Super Bowl run was like nothing else I've ever experienced as a Giants fan, but the '86 season was more satisfying end-to-end.
I wouldn't mind having that feeling again.
At the time, I thought the '85 Giants team was better (They gave the Bears more of a fight in the playoffs than anyone else, remember, and who knows what might have happened if Landeta hadn't whiffed on that punt.) but in retrospect, I don't think I can justify that opinion.
culminating in one of the most fav things of experiencing in my lifetime being there, the "paper blizzard" championship game and SB XXI. The winning first SB Championship can never be relived again. granted the other 3 were close, but can top the feeling of first one.
Quote:
It wasn't a Bears-'85 romp through the season. There was a lot of concern about the offense, which sputtered a lot. Remember, they started with a loss to Dallas, and then they seemed to be scuffling. But they kept on winning and winning.
Then things really went to another level with the famous Minnesota 4th-and-17 play.
By the time the playoffs came we expected them to win, but it was the Giants, so nobody took anything for granted. On the whole, that season was incredibly satisfying, but it wasn't obvious how good that team was until late, and the playoff run.
It was very different from the Tom Coughlin championship runs. The '07 and '11 teams weren't that great in the regular season, but the '86 team won the division with a great record. The '07 miracle playoff & Super Bowl run was like nothing else I've ever experienced as a Giants fan, but the '86 season was more satisfying end-to-end.
I wouldn't mind having that feeling again.
At the time, I thought the '85 Giants team was better (They gave the Bears more of a fight in the playoffs than anyone else, remember, and who knows what might have happened if Landeta hadn't whiffed on that punt.) but in retrospect, I don't think I can justify that opinion.
Dane, I remember the 85 - Bears/Giants playoff vividly. The Giants-D held its own that day, but the Giants-O was completely dominated by the Bears-D, as the Bears front 7 destroyed the Giants. The Landeta whiff didn't change the outcome of that game.
but the Booby Johnson drop in the end zone did.
LOL, yes it was.
I echo many of the comments above (AP Halfmoon, JohnF): after so many years trundling at the bottom, and the slow climb back to respectability, first under Ray Perkins, then the Tuna, but the smackdown in the playoffs the year before, '86 was such joy, vindication, sighs of satisfaction, and watching that D just manhandle the opponents.
Glorious!
Scary good, but scarier is that I thought he was better in 1984.
I think the D was dominant all year, putting us in a position to win many close games. The last month, and the playoffs, the offense kicked in and thats when he started killing teams. Counting the last week of the season, I think we had an average score of something like 40-11 the rest of the way.
86 team was more of a work in progress early on. The D and running game carried that team early. Once they got their sea legs they completely skull fucked everyone in their path.
86 started slower but finished in dominant fashion where as 90 started off in dominant fashion, slowed down a bit in December and saved the dramatics for NFC title game and Supe 21.
Points For: 371 (23.2/g) 8th of 28
Points Against: 236 (14.8/g) 2nd of 28
1990:
Points For: 335 (20.9/g) 15th of 28
Points Against: 211 (13.2/g) 1st of 28
Yeah, Simms should have sucked it up when his thumb broke in half and ended up sticking out of the skin.
Cmon dude.
Lastly, Simms didnt miss a game in 84, 85 or 86. He git hurt early on in legit fashion. I don't remember Simms whining other than the time Parcells benched him for Scott Brunner. And I don't even think Simms went to the media. He told Parcells to trade him.
Fans were lost then and still lost now.
Oh wait, I must be wrong I was told the Giant fans were terrified of Doug Flutie and the NFC's crappiest offensive team.
Joe Montana managed to hang three whole points on the Giants in the Meadowlands in January 1987 but sure, Doug Flutie would have led the Bears to victory. What a joke.
This might be the single stupidest piece of shit post ever entered here. You're an idiot.
Was he a "whiny bitch" when his shoulder was separated in 1980 and 1981, when he was high-lowed by Klecko and Gastineau in preseason of 1982 and destroyed his knee, or when he shattered his thumb on Clyde Simmons helmet in 1983 and the bone was sticking out? All because they had a shit offensive line that couldn't protect him?
He demanded a trade over the stupid Parcells decision to start Brunner in private, kept his mouth shut publicly.
I cried real tears when we won that Super Bowl, as great as the others were, that one is still special.
How dominant were we? Just go to youtube and search 1986 giants. Watch any regular season game.
BTW, the other division rivals were awesome too. The Eagles and SKins were really good. In fact, during that Era the NFC in general was so dominant. Just look at the string of superbowls won by the NFC back then.
Points For: 371 (23.2/g) 8th of 28
Points Against: 236 (14.8/g) 2nd of 28
1990:
Points For: 335 (20.9/g) 15th of 28
Points Against: 211 (13.2/g) 1st of 28
Taylor was more dominant in 86 yet the Giants Secondary in 1990 was light years ahead of the 86 team.
Oh wait, I must be wrong I was told the Giant fans were terrified of Doug Flutie and the NFC's crappiest offensive team.
I was told the Giants offense would run right over the Bears and not have any turnovers.
There were more dramatic moments than 86 but as far as dominance is concerned, 86 in a landslide.
07 was just ridiculous. Not only the run but fans had to wait a long time in between 90 and 07 so there was that aspect to it as well. 07 was a like a Hollywood movie. Beating Dallas along the way was the cherry on top. My God the packers NFC title game in tundra conditions is almost forgotten that's how insanely dramatic that run was. But with that said, 90 is still my proudest NYG run ever. One phrase says it all --"THERE WILL BE NO THREEPEAT."
2011 is almost boring when stacked up to the other three. Think about that for a second. 2011 was as glorious and exciting as one could hope for and it pales in comparison to 90 and 07 in terms of dramatics.
We are fucking blessed. Even the last 3-4 years. I said it the night they won super bowl 46 we can't say a fucking word for a long long time. Fans still do...but not me. The Giants (Coughlin-Reese) owe us nothing.
Quote:
1986:
Points For: 371 (23.2/g) 8th of 28
Points Against: 236 (14.8/g) 2nd of 28
1990:
Points For: 335 (20.9/g) 15th of 28
Points Against: 211 (13.2/g) 1st of 28
Taylor was more dominant in 86 yet the Giants Secondary in 1990 was light years ahead of the 86 team.
Yup. 90 D was different but in some ways better. hard to say anyone was better than that 86 D but I trust that D more than any NYG unit I ever saw. I love that 90 team like no other. Guts in spades.
You could throw on the 1986 defense a bit, although your QB would pay the price - 3400 passing yards allowed. The 1990 defense only gave up 2700.
But after that, they just won and won and won. By about the last quarter of the season every Giants fan could tell something special was happening.
IIRC the big worry was playing the Bears in the playoffs, but the Bears lost in an upset, and that was that. Washington was good but the Giants had their number. And then the Broncos led at halftime, somehow, but I don't remember being very worried about that. The Giants were superb at halftime adjustments, you could just sort of tell that Denver had hit them with their best shot and barely had a lead, and that the second half would be New York's time.
The culmination of the first half of the 80's built up through that season - each week, the Giants surprising themselves and their fans, rarely losing - NEVER giving up 100 yards rushing, by seasons end a monster was born and oh were Green Bay and the Cardinals unfortunate to hit us the last 2 weeks of the season.
COMPLETELY flattened those 2 teams - the greatest Giants team of all time was running on all cylinders - a juggernaut...
I got to go to that SuperBowl - 21 and BROKE, beg, borrowed to scrape together enough to be at that - the biggest of shows, and oh did they deliver.
86 was great.
For the baby boomers, a long suffering bunch, that first
SB win was extra special. If you're a millennial, you might
feel differently!
Quote:
head down and play through everything, he became a fan favorite. He had a few years of "growing up". The 1986 season started rough for him, and in previous seasons he might have crumbled and whimpered, but he kept pushing through and turned it around in a big way.
Lastly, Simms didnt miss a game in 84, 85 or 86. He git hurt early on in legit fashion. I don't remember Simms whining other than the time Parcells benched him for Scott Brunner. And I don't even think Simms went to the media. He told Parcells to trade him.
Fans were lost then and still lost now.
Look, the 1986 team is my favorite team. This was the only team that I really felt they were dominant and should win, and that SB was more thrilling to me than all the others. The other SB's we were always the underdog, and never given much of a chance. However lets not sugar coat the Simms thing. He was a 1st rd pick who, after 5 yrs in the league, more than 1/2 of the fanbase thought was a bust. He was a china doll (hurt all the time), lost his starting role for a while, and asked to be traded. Now you can rationalize all you want, but he was not highly thought of up to 1985. I say this as a Simms fan, who I think is the 2nd best QB the Giants have ever had (I never saw YA).
The 2007 team started out with injuries and a very terrible Eli Manning at QB. Towards the end of the season, players came back from injuries and the team was very healthy. Rookies started to contribute and Manning got good. Don't forget, he threw 4 int's vs Minnesota in late November. We didn't know the team we were watching in the playoffs. They suddenly had a great QB and rookies making their way into the lineup. The Dec-Jan Giants were a much different team than the Sept-Nov Giants. The next year they showed their playoff run wasn't a fluke until Pierce and Buress were lost.
In the Second half McConkey with the towel running on the field you knew the Giants were going to win. They clobbered Denver and Elway in the second half.
He threw a lot of int's before that streach. Much was also written about how he was so much better after Shockey went down.
We were 10-6, and in the 6 losses, the largest margin of defeat was only 7 points....we were in every game.....
We beat the 49'ers in the playoffs, and then went to Chicago...it was the Bear's year, with that defense.....
After that loss, the Giants could have folded next season, or saw that they needed to play at an even higher level...they chose to do the latter.....
14-2...very close to an undefeated season.....the defense gave up 23 points in the playoffs in three games.....
But most important of all, their first SB win, and first championship in 30 years...the waiting was finally over.....
And because that steady growth was itself a culmination of the horrid years that led to the explosion in 1978 and the hiring of George Young.
So - 1986 was more than just a season. It was years of waiting - followed by steady great drafting by George Young (with no free agency) and the building of a truly dominating force on defense and an overall great team. I KNEW the Giants were winning in 1986 ten seconds after they lost to the Bears in 1985. Anyone who followed the steady buildup from 1979 knew the team was becoming stronger and stronger year after year. 1979 through 1986 - the most fantastic stretch of years in my lifetime all because of George Young and the Giants.
I like having them both and their reduxes of '90 and '11.
and u said u cant compare and u basically did brilliance of intense men
run the rock anytime we needed to not to mention we had
a number of deamons on special teams ...
I watched Paul Horning destroy us early 60's and to finally
get to the big game with Simms and LT it was like none other
etched in the mind forever .
Quote:
Eli manning was never terrible or very terrible or anything close to terrible. He was a winning, strong armed but still flawed young QB. Most young qbs struggle at times. Eli did too but he also won games and played well.
He threw a lot of int's before that streach. Much was also written about how he was so much better after Shockey went down.
Right, but he was far from terrible. We've all seen terrible. 2005-2006 Eli ain't it. Not even close.
Hey I know you! There was a documentary made about your life where Joe Pesci played you and Marissa Tomei played your GF: "My Cousin Vinny", right?
And all you young 'uns who have bitched and continue to bitch about Kevin Gilbride's offense incorporated into TC's insistence on run/pass balance, please take note.
Bill Parcels' run on 1st and 2nd down no matter what Woody Hayes memorial philosophy and Ron Earhardt's offense was brutal. To hold back a QB like Phil Simms in his prime was almost tragic stupidity - except that it ended with Simms' 22/25 3 TD Superbowl.
G-d I cringed watching that offense of Earhardt's and Parcels'. Talk about predictable!!!
Gilbride's was an offensive genius like General Patton in comparison to those clowns dictating the '86 offense.