Going back again to an older game, this time from 1988, a Sunday Night ESPN tilt at the Superdome against the Saints. This game was known for a few things:
- The Giants were reeling coming into this game, including a brutal loss in OT the Eagles, where LT blocked a field goal and it was returned by Clyde Simmons to win the game. Simms was also knocked out with a shoulder injury on a dirty hit by Reggie White and would not be able to play this week.
- This was Jeff Hostetler's first pro start, and it only last a half until Parcells pulled him for Jeff Rutledge. And it featured Stephen Baker's longest TD catch of his career.
- A late FG by barefoot kicker Paul McFadden to win (just barely)
- And this was one of LT defining games. With Simms out, and missing Harry Carson and Carl Banks, LT put the Giants on his back and dominated the Saints all game long. Sacking Bobby Hebert and forcing fumbles to stop scoring drives (even when the Giants would give it right back). And this was the game which LT hurt his shoulder, so much so he couldn't raise his arm and still made plays to win the game. LT may have been a terrible person off the field, but on it, he was the most dominant defensive player in NFL history.
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Pat Swilling of the Saints had one his best games as a pro that day as well but was over shadowed by LT.
I was also at the Flipper Anderson game and the Tom Flynn one on one against Al Toon game. I quit going to games for about 16 years after those losses.
Bill Parcells said that the 88' Saints game was LT's greatest game. The guy could literally ignore pain by concentrating on the task at hand.
Only the fucking Iggles could beat the Giants returning their own blocked FG for a TD. We ate dinner in stunned silence after that one
And Joe would know something about that ;>)
Back then, falling on the guy after the hit was customary lol.......John Madden would constantly say it's not the hit, but the weight of the player falling on you afterwards.
Can't argue the end result, Rutledge pulled out a nice scramble and pass at the end of the game.
Back then, falling on the guy after the hit was customary lol.......John Madden would constantly say it's not the hit, but the weight of the player falling on you afterwards.
Simms was the one who called it cheap. What he said White used to do was wrap his arms around the QB and pinned them down so they couldn't do anything to brace the fall or lessen the impact. So he would then drive their shoulder into the turf and put his full 300+ pounds on it and knock them out of the game.