If you have ever been to MetLife and looked at the Giants trophy room, you will notice a few things. The Giants heavily feature the 4 Super Bowl Championship teams (as they should). There are pictures around the stadium featuring the 1986, 1990, 2007 and 2011 teams, and the 4 trophies in your face.
But noticeably absent is any real focus on the 2000 team, which won the NFC Championship blowing out the Vikings, and then were lucky not to get shut out by Baltimore in the Super Bowl.
As I recall, one of the criticisms of Jim Fassel when he was fired was that Fassel used to wear his NFC Championship ring around the Giants offices, which didn't endear him to the ownership. You don't normally think of Mara in the same breath as a George Steinbrenner (ie- championship or bust), but it appears there is something to that.
The question for BBI'ers, when I go back and I look at some of the playoff runs the Giants had in the 1980s when they didn't get to the Super Bowl, it is actually looked at more fondly than the 2000 run which ended in a Super Bowl loss. Should the Giants do more to recognize the 2000 team, or are they more or less relegated to persona non grata in Giants history?
For me it just reminds how underrated that 2011 win @ Candlestick was. IMO that was the best D since the 2000 Ravens and Eli beat them on the road, in the rain on natural grass. And IIRC the 49ers ground crew made sure the field was a mudpit.
One of the great performances in NFL history and nobody outside Giants fans will ever remember.
Even with their flea-bitten offensive line.
The Ravens had a generational best defense; they inflicted the punishment that any self respecting buzzsaw does ...
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/crossout/images/9/92/Buzzsaw.png/revision/latest?cb=20180124062357
One of the Eagles - corners, cannot remember which one (pro bowler) said it made a huge difference. But Greg knows better than him I suppose
I was in New Orleans for Super Bowl 47 (Ravens-49ers) with a buddy of mine who is a huge Jets fan. The night before the game he said he'd do anything for the Jets to just get to a Super Bowl. I disagreed with his sentiment based on the Raven game...if you get to the Super Bowl, you'd better win it. It's a brutal game to lose.
Walking out of the Superdome amongst a bunch of dejected 49ers fans after the game, my buddy changed his mind. If you get there, you'd better win it. That's part of what makes that game so great.
One of Giant OL players said after the game - playing against Goose & Adams was like being in a phone booth with a grizzly bear.
I m with the Mara s, not much use for that season
I thank my lucky stars every fucking day that we won the Super Bowl the very next season. Otherwise that would still sting way more than it does now.
The Patriots have lost 3 SB’s under Belichick/Brady, the Steelers have lost SB’s, Broncos, etc.
We have been incredibly spoiled to have a 4-1 record in SB’s, it’s in the top tier of the NFL. 5-0 in NFC title games!
2000 was a fun ride which I look back fondly on. Hell, we beat the Eagles in the playoffs & 3 times that year.
I thank my lucky stars every fucking day that we won the Super Bowl the very next season. Otherwise that would still sting way more than it does now.
Interesting how the ‘’97 playoff meltdown against the Vikes with 90 seconds left and up by 10 (not to mention leading 22-3 at halftime) still, IF I EVER THINK ABOUT IT, is a more devastating loss than the ‘89 Flipper game and the 2002 meltdown against the Niners. But that’s just me. Yes, I agree, we could have made real noise in 2010
Quote:
I still wonder what would have happened with the 2010 team if they had made the playoffs. I felt like that team had a run in them. But, the game we shall not speak of obviously de-railed that.
I thank my lucky stars every fucking day that we won the Super Bowl the very next season. Otherwise that would still sting way more than it does now.
Interesting how the ‘’97 playoff meltdown against the Vikes with 90 seconds left and up by 10 (not to mention leading 22-3 at halftime) still, IF I EVER THINK ABOUT IT, is a more devastating loss than the ‘89 Flipper game and the 2002 meltdown against the Niners. But that’s just me. Yes, I agree, we could have made real noise in 2010
Ugh.. Chris Calloway. Still remember that like it was yesterday. Terrible loss.
That game should be remembered for the Ravens cappping off one of the greatest defensive teams in NFL history, not the Giants getting there in spectacular fashion just to get their doors blown off.
All hail Ron Dixon.
I'm of the generation that grew up with the 80s teams, and then the crap that followed. Tge Fassel era brought back some respectability to the team. 2000 was a good year, and that playoff run was great.
And we did lose to one of the greatest defenses of the modern era, even if it took me a long time as a fan to get over it and see it that way.
That team has a special place in my heart
I'm of the generation that grew up with the 80s teams, and then the crap that followed. Tge Fassel era brought back some respectability to the team. 2000 was a good year, and that playoff run was great.
And we did lose to one of the greatest defenses of the modern era, even if it took me a long time as a fan to get over it and see it that way.
That team has a special place in my heart
I'm of the generation that grew up with the 80s teams, and then the crap that followed. Tge Fassel era brought back some respectability to the team. 2000 was a good year, and that playoff run was great.
And we did lose to one of the greatest defenses of the modern era, even if it took me a long time as a fan to get over it and see it that way.
That team has a special place in my heart
I'm with you there. After the disaster that was Handley and Reeves, the Fassel teams were an improvement despite their flaws.
Overall, it's pretty hard to believe that only four Giants seasons since 1991 (27 years!) have included playoff wins. That's kind of shitty.
That 1993 team was good enough to win it all, in my opinion, but the bye week and home game were crucial towards doing it. They were better than the 2000 team, which went (as you said) two rounds further.
The 1993 regular season finale might be -- to me, anyway -- the most monumental Giants regular season loss.