In my eyes, yes. This led to a sequence of plays that ultimately prevented one the greatest teams from doing the unthinkable - winning a third straight SB.
A sequence of plays I believe is the greatest sequence in the history of the franchise.
1) The Marshall sack of Montana in the 4th, just a brutal blow, knocks Montana out, and the 9ers punt.
2) Gary Reasons executes the fake punt with under 6 minutes to go and picks up 30+ yards. This leads to a FG that cuts the lead to 13-12.
3) On the ensuing drive by the 9ers, they march deep into Giants territory, eating significant time off the clock. Erik Howard with the strip of a lifetime pokes the ball out of Craig's hands and Taylor grabs the lose ball out of the air. There is a pulse.
4) On a gimpy leg, Hoss begins the winning drive to set up the most important FG attempt in Giants history. And Bahr barely sneaks in a 42 yarder at the gun to end a chance for the 9ers to win 3 SBs in a row.
And this was at Candlestick.
I'm all ears, to hear a better sequence, but this one is very tough to beat under the circumstances.
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Came here to say this.
A signature defensive play from a historic unit in a big game.
The other game of stellar defensive plays is the 1988 Saints game where LT tore up his shoulder but dominated the game like nothing I have ever seen before.
One of my favorite plays All-Time. Fourth and goal at the one yard line. Game played in a snow storm and Reason's mouthguard flying out after the hit. As a 12 year old, it made me love watching the game and don't think I've missed many Giants games since then.
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Reason's goal line stuff vs. Denver has to be in the mix.
One of my favorite plays All-Time. Fourth and goal at the one yard line. Game played in a snow storm and Reason's mouthguard flying out after the hit. As a 12 year old, it made me love watching the game and don't think I've missed many Giants games since then.
There's a BBI'er named after that play, 'BobbyHumphriesEarpad'
Yes, this is it. Without this play, we absolutely do not go to the Superbowl.
LT pick in Detroit for a 96-yard TD on Thanksgiving is my sentimental favorite.
Sehorn incredible pick off and return for TD against Eagles in playoff game up there too.
I thought Young came in to replace Montana and then broke off a long run which then set up the Howard play
If I had to vote for one.... this is it. Webster pick in Green Bay in NFC Championship game might be second....
FANTASTIC
While not one play, LT's one-armed performance against the Saints in 1988 was one of the most amazing feats I've ever seen.
While not one play, LT's one-armed performance against the Saints in 1988 was one of the most amazing feats I've ever seen.
I mean greatest in terms of what this led to - dethroning the 9ers and setting up a chance for a second SB.
This isn't about individual games. I get that there are many.
But what this play by Marshall did was set off a sequence of events that led to an amazing set of back to back outcomes...
I have always felt this was the most significant play I have ever seen in all my Giant years.
That pick was unreal. Sehorn was amazing.
I have always felt this was the most significant play I have ever seen in all my Giant years.
In a strange twist of fate, Burt was the guy who hurt Hoss in this '91 game versus the 9ers.
at least NYG legends...
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in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field, Pierce single handedly takes on 3 blockers and snuffs the play out without any assistance.
Came here to say this.
Yup beat me to it!
Was going to say the same thing.
JPPs blocked FG @ Dallas was big in more recent times
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In comment 13980338 BamaBlue said:
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in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field, Pierce single handedly takes on 3 blockers and snuffs the play out without any assistance.
Came here to say this.
Yup beat me to it!
Make it four. Fan since the dreadful 70's, watched every snap of LT's career and the monster Parcells and Belichick defenses.
AP's play all alone against FOUR Packers, NFC Championship Game in the Frozen Tundra, probably a TD or at least close to goal line right before the Half, putting the Packers up by 8....
Yup, it's Antonio Pierce for me. Just ridiculous that he makes that tackle.
Antonio Pierce's Masterpiece - ( New Window )
I believe that hit ended Montana's career as a 49'er.
I think eventually the Giants would've worn them out but to stuff a young John Elway and that Broncos offense and hold them to ZERO points after having a 1st and goal was the beginning of the end of that game.
IIRC correctly - I swear I read somewhere That if Simms doesn't go 22-25 that day, Banks get the Superbowl MVP in the mind of the guy who wrote the article.
But, Simms had a record setting day and MVP was not going anywhere else on that day.
I think eventually the Giants would've worn them out but to stuff a young John Elway and that Broncos offense and hold them to ZERO points after having a 1st and goal was the beginning of the end of that game.
Based on the stakes, I think this is a good one. And one I thought about, too.
I believe that hit ended Montana's career as a 49'er.
Not sure. Montana hurt his elbow in a preseason game in '91 and this cost him basically the entire '91 season.
The 9ers finished 10-6 that year - missed the playoffs - with Bono playing great after Young got hurt midway through '91. 9ers then decided that Young was the solution and Montana was too old and too broken...
An underrated one would be Everson Walls' open-field tackle on Thurman Thomas in the waning moments of the Super Bowl.
The George Martin INT for TD against Denver is #2. Just a phenominal individual effort in a big game. He went like 80 yards.
George Martin Int for TD - ( New Window )
https://youtu.be/l4sR6nboxFs
An underrated one would be Everson Walls' open-field tackle on Thurman Thomas in the waning moments of the Super Bowl.
Yeah, I have Howard mentioned in my sequence in the opening. That was a great play. The 9ers were driving...killing me and the clock.
Right before that play, my girlfriend called and said she was broken down on 66. I told her I'd be there in 10-15 minutes. I showed up an hour later... ;)
That tackle by Walls is a hidden gem.
I kept saying I wanted the giants to do to the niners what the niners had done so many times back then. I wanted to beat them at the buzzer.
Thank you football gods. Thank you giants.
I’ve said this before and feel very strongly about it that at dallas 2011 week14 is the greatest regular season moment in nyg history. Down 12 with 4 approx minutes left. If the giants lose they are done for the season and dallas clinches the east. Instead, Eli and the giants rally and win the game, jpp’s block being the final blow and the giants eventually go on to win the super bowl.
Beating dallas in amazing fashion. Ruining their season while ascending to another super bowl title? Cmon... this game is the clear cut best game in nyg history. No other game captures the degree of difficulty, stakes and clout that this one had.
Cowboys would've tied the game. It was huge and we did win the game but if Bailey makes it the second time around, it doesnt guarantee the Giants lose.
If JPP doesn't block that kick, 2011 never even has a chance to happen.
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We dont even make the playoffs that year and dont have our 4th super bowl.
Cowboys would've tied the game. It was huge and we did win the game but if Bailey makes it the second time around, it doesnt guarantee the Giants lose.
I say somehow because I always maintain that this particular game was, IMO, my favorite Eli performance. He was a machine and I think its in the conversation for his greatest game ever.
I love threads like this because it brings all of us together to reminisce about what brought us all together in the first place.
Also, I don't remember the exact point in the game, but didn't Kawika Mitchell make an important one armed 3rd down stop in the 2007 game at Lambeau?
[quote] The Erik Howard forced fumble on Craig has to be up there.
An underrated one would be Everson Walls' open-field tackle on Thurman Thomas in the waning moments of the Super Bowl. [/quote
Th Collins tackle on Thomas a few plays later (the play before the Norwood miss) was also huge as it kept Buffalo out of make-able FG range
In terms of athletic ability, Sehorn’s pick 6 of McNabb in the 2000 Divisional Round still amazes me.
I kept saying I wanted the giants to do to the niners what the niners had done so many times back then. I wanted to beat them at the buzzer.
Thank you football gods. Thank you giants.
Greatest game I have ever seen. The drama was incredible. The hitting was tremendous. It was the most nervous I have been watching a Giants game.
And to think we didn't get two weeks to deflate because they only had one week between the conference championship games and the SB. Book ended with another game of high drama seven days later...
You nailed it. Marshall getting cut by Rathman, but getting up and making the play was brilliant.
What made it work was LT beating Wallace to apply pressure. This made Montana have to buy more time...and with the coverage downfield airtight, Marshall applied the hit of a lifetime...
Although you could argue the Jacq William's punt strip fumble & recovery against the 9ers in 2012 is right up there...
And what makes it great - again - is that we prevented the 9ers from doing the unimaginable: getting a third straight SB. That was a historic, bid f-ckin deal...
Although you could argue the Jacq William's punt strip fumble & recovery against the 9ers in 2012 is right up there...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQeQCdqTS78
1.) Erik Howard forced fumble by Craig. LT recovers. vs SF 1990 NFC Champ game
2.) Corey Webster OT INT of Favre vs GB - 2011 NFC Champ
3.) Marshal hit on Montana vs SF - 1990 NFC Champ
4.) LTs INT vs DET - T’giving
5.) George Martin INT of Elway vs DEN
6.) Terry Jackson INT of Jaworski vs PHI - 1981 NFC Wild Card
7.) Jay Alford sack on Brady vs NE - SB 42
8.) Osi - 6 sacks vs PHI
...still thinking of others
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Taylor recovers,after field goal, we are going to the Superbowl.
If I had to vote for one.... this is it. Webster pick in Green Bay in NFC Championship game might be second....
+1.
And +1 on The 87 SB sequence for a defensive sequence.
A good OL, a hard hitting RB, a mobile QB, and3 downs to make 3 yards; never thought they'd stop them. Was happy they held to a FG; the missed FG was a second Christmas.
This is what I was going to offer. It depends what you mean by “greatest defensive play” - greatest individual play, or most impactful? If it’s the former, LT’s one-handed pick 6 v the Lions would be my vote. For most impactful, it might be Alford’s sack of Brady in SB 42.
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Go watch the second half of the Detroit game back in 1982 I think. LT sits out first half with bad leg but comes in and is involved in creating 3 turnovers all leading to points including a 75 int return. He won the game himself.
This is what I was going to offer. It depends what you mean by “greatest defensive play” - greatest individual play, or most impactful? If it’s the former, LT’s one-handed pick 6 v the Lions would be my vote. For most impactful, it might be Alford’s sack of Brady in SB 42.
Every Spring I check the garden to see if anything has grown where Alford planted Brady. I was sure Patriots were coming back until that play. However nothing beats the Pierce play.
While not one play, LT's one-armed performance against the Saints in 1988 was one of the most amazing feats I've ever seen.
Agree I remember LT going back to the bench & they would pop his shoulder back in place & you could see the huge amount of pain he was in & then he'd go out & be the #GOAT-with one arm!
at least NYG legends...
This one jumped to mind with me as well.
1. Osi strip of Aaron Rodgers in 3rd Q of 2011 Divisional round. This was a deceptively close game even after the Nicks hail mary to end the 1st half, the Packers easily could have caught up without this play. video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AeHcbPLy2M&t=6m59s
2. Kawika Mitchell tackle on 3rd down vs Washington in 2007 week 3. You all remember the Giants were 0-2 that year and down 17-3 at halftime down in DC. They came up with a great goal line stand to seal the game, and on 3rd down Ladell Betts would have scored if not for a great hit from Mitchell. video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY4LuLlUhVM&t=4m40s
3. Chase Blackburn INT of Brady in SBXLVI. Huge play. Patriots had the lead and the ball early in the 4th quarter, and Blackburn comes up with a pretty amazing INT for a linebacker. video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ5wDbaVJ3A&t=4m15s
I was born in the early 80s, so I have no memories from the BBWC era.
I didn't know that Giants Linebackers could move, make a play and tackle like that. Actually, I didn't know that Giant LBs could tackle at all.
My Dad and I were at the game. 3rd row, endzone. Dixon returned the opening kickoff right at us, place went batsh*t. My father also refused to go the following week, he was Scared of Minn. I guaranteed victory, he still wouldn't go. We watched at him, 41-0. As I smiled at him the entire game
2- The George Martin interception off Elway returned for a TD. That was just a sensational play by a very underrated player.
Honerable mention - The Lawrence Taylor 99 yard interception return for a TD on Thanksgiving against the Lions to win the game.
These three are sensational plays, Jim Burt knocking down Montana was not a sensational play, LT's interception return on that play was not a sensational return, it was a great signature play of that great defense. Especially considering the opponent.
If you went further, the goal line stand in Superbowl 25 was a string of great plays by our three great linebackers, LT, Carson, and Banks. but that is not one play.
While not one play, LT's one-armed performance against the Saints in 1988 was one of the most amazing feats I've ever seen.
Gets my vote. Especially the play where he ran down ball carrier (Dalton Hilliard, I think) from the back side.
Gary Reasons' hit. Denver. 1989. Un fu*king believable hit at the right time.
Both are precious.
Have to agree. That was a clinic.
Really? Greatest defensive play in NYG history?
LT INT and TD return v the Lions.
Sehorn INT and TD return v the Eagles.
Antonio Pierce sniffing out the screeen and single handedly beating multiple blockers in the playoff game at Lambeau.
The season started terribly; the Giants were going to start 0-4, except it wasn't going to happen, especially if Kawika Mitchell had anything to do with it.
I think he stopped the Redskins at the one-yard line two or three times on one drive. His was the greatest defensive effort by one man I've ever seen
The went to Siberia (the Bills) the next year, for more money. I think he still regrets that.
Erik Howard and Gary Reasons in Denver.
In 1988, Rich Karlis visited my company in Boulder, CO because one of my female co-workers who was in charge of selecting the speaker had a crush on him. He spent the day with us, he's a really nice guy. I asked him about that field goal miss. He said that he probably relaxed too much, and maybe was over-confident, because he had already hit a 48 yarder and had won the AFC championship gave in OT; that it changed the momentum of the game, and still bugged him.