My mom died the week before and I know she was looking down helping the Giants. I drank so many beers (nervous drinking) that I had to call into work next day. The Giants helped me get through that time.
First one,and at home,it was a dream come true.What a day at the stadium,the crowd ,the wind,and the best team we ever had sending us off to Pasadena.
I honestly can't believe that game was 31 years ago. I remember it like it was literally yesterday. Also a great one just waiting and waiting for it to end.
1. 1990 (My favorite Giant game ever)
2. 2011
3. 2000 (I was at the game so that puts it higher up for me)
4. 2007
5. 1986 (I was a bit too young - 9 - to appreciate this)
that's like asking me which finger would I like to give up. Maybe i'd tick down the Minny game a snatch because of the failure to pay the next game -- because that superbowl was the most depressing
and demoralizing game I've ever watched.
It was the first one and it was total physical dominance!! Montana knocked out of the game and LT running the interception back for a pick 6. Coach Walsh was later quoted as saying that game caused him to completely reconstruct the 49ers because they could not compete with the physicality of our G-Men. Nothing like watching your team physically man handle the other team.
Was basically my introduction to football. That game has a reputation as one of the greatest football games ever played, even amongst non Giant, non 49er fans. A game that featured Montana, LT and Rice just to name a few.
2011 49ers would be next. That game cemented Eli as an all-time clutch QB.
Because it was the first Giants game I can remember watching. The best football game I've ever seen. The 9ers in 90. Was 5 years old. My Grandpa, my mom, my aunt all holding hands like the players did on the sideline before my boy Matt Bahr puts its thru to send them to Tampa. Man shivers just thinking about it. The radio call was amazing too. You could feel how quiet Candlestick was.
And if you ever get the chance to watch the NFL films of the Giants season, what a great watch. Watched that VHS probably over a 1000 times growing up and cemented my forever fandom of the Giants.
They were great, great experiences for different reasons... 1986... Very cold, windy day, our first NFC Championship game at Giants Stadium. The place was electric. After the game, went to "the Bench" on Paterson Plank Road. LT and his entourage showed up... the Bench was just as electric as the stadium.
2000... The demolition of the Vikings, who if I remember correctly were a 3 point favorite... they never had a chance as Collins was on fire right from the get go, Hilliard, Toomer, it was a complete annihilation. I remember Culpepper, Moss and Chris Carter were in shock.
As great as those days were, they fail to match the 2007 Packers and 2011 49ers games. Both were incredibly emotional and thrilling Championship games.
If I have to pick one... 2011 49ers... For a few reasons... For me rivalry is bigger than with Pack, Eli kept getting up off the turf, the tension was unbelievable, the turnover, the feeling of relief when Tynes kicke the winner.
call, but I would have to go with 1986. I lived in the NYC metro area from birth until age 27 with the exception of 4 years in Northern Virginia (3rd grade through 6th grade) during the 1970s. I developed a special hatred for the Redskins because I got teased about the Giants in school. In addition to that, the idea that the Giants actually made it to the SB after so many crappy seasons was surreal to me at the time. Yup. Have to go with '86.
Finally!!!! After a loooong wait the Dream was realized. Then 2000 with my son was the greatest game he ever witnessed at the old stadium, what a party. But that 1990 game in SF was also a great one.... Damn they were all good for various reasons. But have to go with the 86 and 2000 cause we were there... Great memories all!
Long time coming, this game put the Giants in the Super Bowl for the first time. Also, the Giants D was so strong, so intimidating, they were a joy to watch. The D was the best Giants defense I’ve ever seen.
But the 1986 win against the Redskins was the most memorable. I grew up watching the Giants in the mid/late 70s. The playoffs and Superbowl were things that happened to other teams. When it was clear the Giants would win (which was almost the entire game) I was just so excited the Giants were going to a Superbowl I couldn't even sit down!
Side note - I still remember the build up to the the Superbowl and thinking it didn't really feel like the Superbowl because the Giants were in it. None of the rest of them felt that way, but that one did.
2000 was so incredible because the Giants were such underdogs but absolutely destroyed Minnesota in every phase of the game.
I still have to go with 2007 NFC Championship game. The 2011 game was incredible and that might have been Eli's best game as a Giant. He was playing the league's best defense and he took arguably the worst beating of his career in that game but he wasn't phased one bit.
Living in LA at the time and had a bunch of my colleagues and friends over the house for gigantic party. One of the great games and one of the biggest laughs I ever had. We were behind near the end and time was running out. I said jokingly something like Please, God, let us win and I'll sell my son to the highest bidder. We all had a small laugh after that,but then my then 3 year old son came into the room and one of my friends, Phil Goldberg, yelled out "Run, Mario, run." Talk about a huge laugh, followed shortly by the huge fumble recovery and then the field goal.
but I will eliminate 86 based on me being to young to properly enjoy it and grasp the concept of breaking through to the super bowl.
2011 was a hard fought victory but one where we were the experienced championship team and should have won, so its out.
2000 while not expected to win by many we were a very talented team who shut out one of the top offenses in my lifetime but we jumped them and they quit and then we coasted for most of 3 quarters, so the lack of anxiety makes it not the top.
90 and 2007 both ended on a field goal, both on the road, both against Hall of Fame QB's who had been to and won Superbowls. Both games were won off turnovers but I think the fumble running out the clock was more shocking then Farve throwing a pick. We were under 5 ft of dirt in 90 and busted out.
That and the difference of a 10 year old holding his breath while the kick was in the air vs a 27 year old. Even though the level of living for and through this team has never varied in my life, my perspective has grown. The impact of Flipper Anderson fresh in my mind against the 49ers, because we were going to win it all in 89 and it was his fault we didn't.
90 is the most meaningful and there fore favorite.
The 1990 NFC-C and the regular season matchup between the same two teams are the greatest pro football games I ever watched. I swear that in each of those epic gridiron battles every player on every play was giving 100% effort. In that championship game the Giants avenged their regular season loss and went on to the Super Bowl and I was so happy about beating the hated Niners I almost didn’t care if we won the Super Bowl. Of course they did win, and the greatest football player of all time got the second and final Super Bowl of his HOF career.
But great as those games were my all time favorite Giants game would be the 2011 NFC-C game. Eli is my all time favorite Giant and the NFC C game against the 9ers is the most amazing game I ever watched Eli play. Eli is under rated and under appreciated in every single way, but perhaps his most under appreciated quality is his extraordinary toughness. I’ve never seen a single player take such a vicious beating play after play. But those Niners, as tough and as mean as they were relentless, could not bow our man of steel that glorious day. For me, that championship game between the Giants and the Niners was the greatest game ever played by the greatest Giant I’ve ever seen.
1986 because it was the first and you can never again get the feeling Â
of the first one. But as giants fans we are blessed with 5 truely special games to choose from. The tough choice for me is which one is second on my list. The Eli game against the 49ers was one of the most gutsy performances you could ever see on a big stage by a Quarterback. I think this was Eli's best game ever, even topping his Super Bowl miracles. That packers game was special too. Especially that hail mary at the half. How do you top beating the 3 peats in 1990? There is no good way to make a choice when there is so much to choose from.
And 2011 games. In 2007, Plaxico simply played one of the greatest games I’ve seen a WR play in a championship game. In 2011, Manning gets pummeled in that game and comes back after each hit. That strike to Manningham for the TD was a thing of beauty. That game could have went either way.
Few things I forgot from that game are the 2 huge drops by toomer and Steve Smith not securing a first down catch towards the end of regulation on a beautifully thrown ball that would have moved the ball a lot closer and allowed us to kick a chip shot. Also that jay Alford was the long snapper because Bryan kehl was out on IR earlier in the season. Bad snap end of regulation caused tynes to hook that kick wide left. Feagles had a terrible game punting. Side note Wilson being the second best safety behind Collins I’ve seen in a giants uniform. Began watching in 1999
An easier question might be which was the least exciting game. Â
and such a high moment itself. All of those wins were great, some of them all-time great games. The Viking game was like a homecoming game - every good player in that generation scored, they got the shut out, there wasn't a moment of it that wasn't enjoyable for a Giant fan.
I was there and it was an absolute ass kicking. I've been a Giants fan for a long time and they never do anything easily. On that day, however, the Giants just dominated and the Vikings absolutely imploded. I will always remember the feeling of joy in the stadium that day. It was great.
Can't believe that game was 10 years ago. WTF.
He lost the ball in the sun, Greg. LOL
I honestly can't believe that game was 31 years ago. I remember it like it was literally yesterday. Also a great one just waiting and waiting for it to end.
Emotionally, I have to go with 07 over 86.
1. 1990 (My favorite Giant game ever)
2. 2011
3. 2000 (I was at the game so that puts it higher up for me)
4. 2007
5. 1986 (I was a bit too young - 9 - to appreciate this)
and demoralizing game I've ever watched.
But each of those games was a terriffic game.
One of my best friends is a 9ers fan so i would say the 2011 was my favorite!!
+1
2011 49ers would be next. That game cemented Eli as an all-time clutch QB.
And if you ever get the chance to watch the NFL films of the Giants season, what a great watch. Watched that VHS probably over a 1000 times growing up and cemented my forever fandom of the Giants.
2000... The demolition of the Vikings, who if I remember correctly were a 3 point favorite... they never had a chance as Collins was on fire right from the get go, Hilliard, Toomer, it was a complete annihilation. I remember Culpepper, Moss and Chris Carter were in shock.
As great as those days were, they fail to match the 2007 Packers and 2011 49ers games. Both were incredibly emotional and thrilling Championship games.
If I have to pick one... 2011 49ers... For a few reasons... For me rivalry is bigger than with Pack, Eli kept getting up off the turf, the tension was unbelievable, the turnover, the feeling of relief when Tynes kicke the winner.
Side note - I still remember the build up to the the Superbowl and thinking it didn't really feel like the Superbowl because the Giants were in it. None of the rest of them felt that way, but that one did.
86 first in the modern era after being long suffering fan.
90 first one with my first baby daughter
07 road warriors and my baby daughter’s all grown up and a big Giants fan and we sen those Patriots fans home crying!!
11 cloud nine we’re back in it and against the hated Patriots
I still have to go with 2007 NFC Championship game. The 2011 game was incredible and that might have been Eli's best game as a Giant. He was playing the league's best defense and he took arguably the worst beating of his career in that game but he wasn't phased one bit.
2011 was a hard fought victory but one where we were the experienced championship team and should have won, so its out.
2000 while not expected to win by many we were a very talented team who shut out one of the top offenses in my lifetime but we jumped them and they quit and then we coasted for most of 3 quarters, so the lack of anxiety makes it not the top.
90 and 2007 both ended on a field goal, both on the road, both against Hall of Fame QB's who had been to and won Superbowls. Both games were won off turnovers but I think the fumble running out the clock was more shocking then Farve throwing a pick. We were under 5 ft of dirt in 90 and busted out.
That and the difference of a 10 year old holding his breath while the kick was in the air vs a 27 year old. Even though the level of living for and through this team has never varied in my life, my perspective has grown. The impact of Flipper Anderson fresh in my mind against the 49ers, because we were going to win it all in 89 and it was his fault we didn't.
90 is the most meaningful and there fore favorite.
But great as those games were my all time favorite Giants game would be the 2011 NFC-C game. Eli is my all time favorite Giant and the NFC C game against the 9ers is the most amazing game I ever watched Eli play. Eli is under rated and under appreciated in every single way, but perhaps his most under appreciated quality is his extraordinary toughness. I’ve never seen a single player take such a vicious beating play after play. But those Niners, as tough and as mean as they were relentless, could not bow our man of steel that glorious day. For me, that championship game between the Giants and the Niners was the greatest game ever played by the greatest Giant I’ve ever seen.