As far as home game, the NFL playoff game between the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings Jan. 14, 2001, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Giants defeated the Vikings 41-0
The Bill were making quick work of everybody that year and I thought that the Giants had little chance of slowing them down. In hindsight, I thought that BB's defensive game plan was a masterpiece.
which coincided with the onset of my fandom. When that happens, you're imprinted.
11/10/68, Giants win in Dallas against a Cowboys' team that finished that season 12-2. I recall the shock/elation. And it was on the road, so no blackout.
Last game of '81, Cowboys come in 12-3 and they want the game because it could mean home field advantage. Giants need it to make playoffs for first time in my fandom. No way. Wait, way.
2007 Divisional. 13-3 goes down.
Three wins against Dallas teams that, other than those 3 L's to NYG, had combined records of 37-6.
I mean the whole 2007 run was absolutely shocking to me
I was too young to appreciate (or even remember) SB 25 vs. the Bills, and really my earliest Giants memories are the Dan Reeves Giants-- specifically the playoff game that they lost to the 9ers like 49-3 when Ricky Watters had 5 TDs. So for pretty much my entire Giants' life I was used to disappointment and heartbreaking losses (including SB 35 which is the only Giants' super bowl I have ever attended).
So, for that reason, the entire '07 postseason run I was sub-consciously just waiting for the disappointment. I was trying to protect myself from it by telling myself that I was just grateful they'd made it to the Div. playoff game @Dallas because I wanted them to have one more shot at that team, and anything beyond that (including a win @Dallas) would have just been icing on the cake. I was sure Romo was going to throw a game winning TD on that last drive, and when McQuarters picked off the final pass, that was the first time I remember feeling something DIFFERENT while watching the Giants in a close pivotal game. Coming out with a win in that game was, especially against the Dallas organization who were a dynasty at the time I truly became conscious of football, was just so off-script and shocking for the Giants.
Then-- against the Packers, I will admit I had no faith that final Tynes kick going through. He'd already missed 2 earlier, and I was just having visions of Feely missing 3 against the Seahawks and a repeat of that. When it went through, THAT was an even bigger shock!
THEN-- to even think that they were going to beat an 18-0 Pats team with Brady/Belichick? I was trying again to keep my hopes tempered. That final drive by Eli I had a literal lump in my throat and it almost just felt like a game-winning TD drive in a game like that would just be too sweet for us poor Giants' fans who are so accustomed to disappointment. When Eli made that pass to Plaxico, THAT was the most elation I have ever felt watching ANY sporting event. And then just when I was sure Brady would come back to tie the game-- Boom! The Jay Alford sack I did NOT see coming.
Again, that whole postseason run really made me feel like all the tears I'd shed over the '97 Vikings loss, '00 super bowl loss and the '02 @49ers loss, all ended up being worth it just to feel the contrast of the great and unexpected joy that came along with winning SB42. It was not only exhilarating, but it actually felt completely unreal as it was happening because of what I had become accustomed to as a Giants fan.
96 -- NYG 20, DAL 6. Dallas had a down year but was still favored by 9-10 going into the game.
00 -- NYG 41, MIN 0. Expected it to be competitive.
02 -- NYG 26, STL 21 in Week 2, although it turned out the Rams were about to nosedive one year after losing Super Bowl.
11 -- NYG 29, PHI 16 in Week 3, I believed the Dream Team hype at the time.
12 -- NYG 36, CAR 7, Giants really shorthanded entering this one if I recall, end up winning by 29 on the road on TNF.
17 -- NYG 23, DEN 10 and NYG 12, KC 9...not a season any of us want to remember but I thought the Giants had no business being in either game heading into those contests.
Wasn't surprised by any of the Super Bowl runs, to be honest. Was oddly confident going into both postseasons. Then again I'm a rose-colored glass kind of fan.
The two wins at Philly in 1981 were both shockers.
The first one was completely nuts. The Giants had started the season 5-3, with impressive road wins in Seattle and Atlanta in weeks 7 and 8. Then the Jets exposed their O-line in Week 9, and they quickly fell to 5-6 with Simms getting hurt in an OT loss to Washington that looked like the Coup de Grace. So they trudge to Philly to start playing out another miserable season against the 9-2 defending NFC champs. But a funny thing happens on the way to 5-11: LT tortures Ron Jaworski, Rob Carpenter starts to rumble, and Scott Brunner (mostly awful on his way to passer rating of 30.0) makes a couple of plays to keep the Giants close. Then Perry Williams clinches the win with a pick-six.
The playoff win a month later was more dramatic, but by that time the Giants were on a bit of a roll (especially Taylor and Carpenter), and Perkins had adjusted to Brunner’s limitations. The Eagles had lost four of their last five games, so they were sort of ripe for picking.
Funny ‘what-if’ on that improbable 1981 playoff run:
If the Giants had laid down in November/December as they appeared ready to do, they could have drafted Marcus Allen instead of Butch Woolfolk. Joe Morris turned out to be a nice consolation prize though.
Am I the only one that thought they were going to win that game?
I remember a regular season win against the Broncos during one of their Superbowl runs that surprised me.
I thought so as well. Once we made the playoffs in ‘07 and ‘11 and with being on a roll down the stretch, I absolutely believed no one was going to beat us.
Cowboys were really good that year, 13-3, and not many gave the Giants a shot. I said before the game that it was my Super Bowl, I wanted to beat them so badly.
I do think that game gave them the confidence that they could play with anyone.
SB42 did not surprise me. I thought they really good chance.
Washington won the Super Bowl in 1982. Lost the Super Bowl in 1983 they were 5-3 when this game was played and finished 1984 11-5.
The Giants were 3-12-1 in 1983 and 4-4 in 1984 when this game was played.
The Giants started of 1984 beating The Eagles and Cowboys but had lost 3 of their last 4 games including blow outs against the 49ers and Rams and a 24-10 loss at the Eagles.
Washington had beaten them week 3 in Washington 30-14.
Washington was a 6 point favorite on the road.
So it was shocking that the Giants won the game but it was unfathomable that they would win by 24 points and hold Washington to 13 points. The last 3 times they played, the first 3 games Parcells vs. Gibbs, Washington had scored 33, 31 and 30 points.
This was the game when Parcells decided to play a 5 DL front to stop Riggins and the Washington run game.
Even though they started 2-0 and beat the Cowboys this was Parcells first real statement win. The first sign that bigger and better things were ahead.
Quote:
Just like that, the Washington Redskins are in a heap of trouble.
Today, they were hammered by the New York Giants, 37-13, before 76,192 in Giants Stadium who didn't know whether to merely cheer or to do cartwheels over the Redskins' most inept performance since the Super Bowl and the Giants' finest performance since who remembers when.
Today, creative strategies by the Giants brought rewards. They broke from their usual offensive alignment and deployed a three-receiver formation for the entire game, and quarterback Phil Simms responded by completing 18 of 29 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns, overcoming the fact that his young line allowed him to be sacked seven times.
In between, Giants running back Joe Morris tied a team record by rushing for three touchdowns, all from a short distance, while gaining 68 yards on 15 carries.
And the Giants' 3-4 defense planted its two inside linebackers close to the line of scrimmage and let outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor play rover to the tough tune of 12 tackles. That stopped the Redskins' running game cold; it gained just 79 yards on 23 carries, getting only 11 yards more than Morris.
Running back John Riggins (16 carries for 51 yards): "We're pretty far out on a ledge right now . . . We didn't look like a pro team out there for a while. They took us out of our game plan early."
By any measurement, this performance by the Giants was superior to their 28-7 victory over Dallas in the second week of the season. Giants, indeed.
"I thought our defense was magnificent," said Giants Coach Bill Parcells. "As I've said before, I do not have any illusions about this team. There are some things that we lack, but I don't think character is one of them."
Not because they won but because they so completely dominated the Vikings. Never saw that coming at all. The 2011 NFC title game is the same - I thought they could beat the Packers but didn't think they'd kick their asses up and down the field all game long.
Only game during 2007 and 2011 playoff runs where we probably should have lost.
There was a random game late in the 2012 season where we blew out a pretty good Green Bay team that in hindsight was pretty surprising given how lousy we were in the second half of that season.
but really, with a little more thought, id have to agree with the poster above who nominated the entire 2007 playoff run. Ill admit it: I didnt think that team had a prayer. I was in Orlando at the time and had some friends who wanted to go to the game. I didnt want to go because I figured it would more than likely be a lot of cost for what would be a wasted trip. Obviously, a moment in time that I would like a do-over on.
Washington won the Super Bowl in 1982. Lost the Super Bowl in 1983 they were 5-3 when this game was played and finished 1984 11-5.
The Giants were 3-12-1 in 1983 and 4-4 in 1984 when this game was played.
The Giants started of 1984 beating The Eagles and Cowboys but had lost 3 of their last 4 games including blow outs against the 49ers and Rams and a 24-10 loss at the Eagles.
Washington had beaten them week 3 in Washington 30-14.
Washington was a 6 point favorite on the road.
So it was shocking that the Giants won the game but it was unfathomable that they would win by 24 points and hold Washington to 13 points. The last 3 times they played, the first 3 games Parcells vs. Gibbs, Washington had scored 33, 31 and 30 points.
This was the game when Parcells decided to play a 5 DL front to stop Riggins and the Washington run game.
Even though they started 2-0 and beat the Cowboys this was Parcells first real statement win. The first sign that bigger and better things were ahead.
Quote:
Just like that, the Washington Redskins are in a heap of trouble.
Today, they were hammered by the New York Giants, 37-13, before 76,192 in Giants Stadium who didn't know whether to merely cheer or to do cartwheels over the Redskins' most inept performance since the Super Bowl and the Giants' finest performance since who remembers when.
Today, creative strategies by the Giants brought rewards. They broke from their usual offensive alignment and deployed a three-receiver formation for the entire game, and quarterback Phil Simms responded by completing 18 of 29 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns, overcoming the fact that his young line allowed him to be sacked seven times.
In between, Giants running back Joe Morris tied a team record by rushing for three touchdowns, all from a short distance, while gaining 68 yards on 15 carries.
And the Giants' 3-4 defense planted its two inside linebackers close to the line of scrimmage and let outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor play rover to the tough tune of 12 tackles. That stopped the Redskins' running game cold; it gained just 79 yards on 23 carries, getting only 11 yards more than Morris.
Running back John Riggins (16 carries for 51 yards): "We're pretty far out on a ledge right now . . . We didn't look like a pro team out there for a while. They took us out of our game plan early."
By any measurement, this performance by the Giants was superior to their 28-7 victory over Dallas in the second week of the season. Giants, indeed.
"I thought our defense was magnificent," said Giants Coach Bill Parcells. "As I've said before, I do not have any illusions about this team. There are some things that we lack, but I don't think character is one of them."
Redskins Brought Down A Giant Notch, 37-13 - ( New Window )
thanks for this Arnie. I think that the week where they finally gave up on Butch Woolfolk for good and Morris took over as #1 back.
For me it was the 1981 win over the Eagles in the playoffs
We hadn't been in the playoffs for a decade or more. We were at Philly. It wasn't so much winning, but the way we won. We got out 20-0 and 27-7 at the half. We murdered them in the first half. It felt surreal, waiting so long for a playoff game and then coming out on fire. Of course things changed in the 2nd half and we hung on 27-21.
Not because they won but because they so completely dominated the Vikings. Never saw that coming at all. The 2011 NFC title game is the same - I thought they could beat the Packers but didn't think they'd kick their asses up and down the field all game long.
11/10/68, Giants win in Dallas against a Cowboys' team that finished that season 12-2. I recall the shock/elation. And it was on the road, so no blackout.
Last game of '81, Cowboys come in 12-3 and they want the game because it could mean home field advantage. Giants need it to make playoffs for first time in my fandom. No way. Wait, way.
2007 Divisional. 13-3 goes down.
Three wins against Dallas teams that, other than those 3 L's to NYG, had combined records of 37-6.
So, for that reason, the entire '07 postseason run I was sub-consciously just waiting for the disappointment. I was trying to protect myself from it by telling myself that I was just grateful they'd made it to the Div. playoff game @Dallas because I wanted them to have one more shot at that team, and anything beyond that (including a win @Dallas) would have just been icing on the cake. I was sure Romo was going to throw a game winning TD on that last drive, and when McQuarters picked off the final pass, that was the first time I remember feeling something DIFFERENT while watching the Giants in a close pivotal game. Coming out with a win in that game was, especially against the Dallas organization who were a dynasty at the time I truly became conscious of football, was just so off-script and shocking for the Giants.
Then-- against the Packers, I will admit I had no faith that final Tynes kick going through. He'd already missed 2 earlier, and I was just having visions of Feely missing 3 against the Seahawks and a repeat of that. When it went through, THAT was an even bigger shock!
THEN-- to even think that they were going to beat an 18-0 Pats team with Brady/Belichick? I was trying again to keep my hopes tempered. That final drive by Eli I had a literal lump in my throat and it almost just felt like a game-winning TD drive in a game like that would just be too sweet for us poor Giants' fans who are so accustomed to disappointment. When Eli made that pass to Plaxico, THAT was the most elation I have ever felt watching ANY sporting event. And then just when I was sure Brady would come back to tie the game-- Boom! The Jay Alford sack I did NOT see coming.
Again, that whole postseason run really made me feel like all the tears I'd shed over the '97 Vikings loss, '00 super bowl loss and the '02 @49ers loss, all ended up being worth it just to feel the contrast of the great and unexpected joy that came along with winning SB42. It was not only exhilarating, but it actually felt completely unreal as it was happening because of what I had become accustomed to as a Giants fan.
00 -- NYG 41, MIN 0. Expected it to be competitive.
02 -- NYG 26, STL 21 in Week 2, although it turned out the Rams were about to nosedive one year after losing Super Bowl.
11 -- NYG 29, PHI 16 in Week 3, I believed the Dream Team hype at the time.
12 -- NYG 36, CAR 7, Giants really shorthanded entering this one if I recall, end up winning by 29 on the road on TNF.
17 -- NYG 23, DEN 10 and NYG 12, KC 9...not a season any of us want to remember but I thought the Giants had no business being in either game heading into those contests.
Wasn't surprised by any of the Super Bowl runs, to be honest. Was oddly confident going into both postseasons. Then again I'm a rose-colored glass kind of fan.
The playoff win a month later was more dramatic, but by that time the Giants were on a bit of a roll (especially Taylor and Carpenter), and Perkins had adjusted to Brunner’s limitations. The Eagles had lost four of their last five games, so they were sort of ripe for picking.
Am I the only one that thought they were going to win that game?
I remember a regular season win against the Broncos during one of their Superbowl runs that surprised me.
Bunch and Hampton with good games..
98 vs Denver.
Surprised at the way the 2000 NFC championship was not tight but very pleasantly so.
Quote:
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Am I the only one that thought they were going to win that game?
I remember a regular season win against the Broncos during one of their Superbowl runs that surprised me.
I thought so as well. Once we made the playoffs in ‘07 and ‘11 and with being on a roll down the stretch, I absolutely believed no one was going to beat us.
I do think that game gave them the confidence that they could play with anyone.
Washington won the Super Bowl in 1982. Lost the Super Bowl in 1983 they were 5-3 when this game was played and finished 1984 11-5.
The Giants were 3-12-1 in 1983 and 4-4 in 1984 when this game was played.
The Giants started of 1984 beating The Eagles and Cowboys but had lost 3 of their last 4 games including blow outs against the 49ers and Rams and a 24-10 loss at the Eagles.
Washington had beaten them week 3 in Washington 30-14.
Washington was a 6 point favorite on the road.
So it was shocking that the Giants won the game but it was unfathomable that they would win by 24 points and hold Washington to 13 points. The last 3 times they played, the first 3 games Parcells vs. Gibbs, Washington had scored 33, 31 and 30 points.
This was the game when Parcells decided to play a 5 DL front to stop Riggins and the Washington run game.
Even though they started 2-0 and beat the Cowboys this was Parcells first real statement win. The first sign that bigger and better things were ahead.
Today, they were hammered by the New York Giants, 37-13, before 76,192 in Giants Stadium who didn't know whether to merely cheer or to do cartwheels over the Redskins' most inept performance since the Super Bowl and the Giants' finest performance since who remembers when.
Today, creative strategies by the Giants brought rewards. They broke from their usual offensive alignment and deployed a three-receiver formation for the entire game, and quarterback Phil Simms responded by completing 18 of 29 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns, overcoming the fact that his young line allowed him to be sacked seven times.
In between, Giants running back Joe Morris tied a team record by rushing for three touchdowns, all from a short distance, while gaining 68 yards on 15 carries.
And the Giants' 3-4 defense planted its two inside linebackers close to the line of scrimmage and let outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor play rover to the tough tune of 12 tackles. That stopped the Redskins' running game cold; it gained just 79 yards on 23 carries, getting only 11 yards more than Morris.
Running back John Riggins (16 carries for 51 yards): "We're pretty far out on a ledge right now . . . We didn't look like a pro team out there for a while. They took us out of our game plan early."
By any measurement, this performance by the Giants was superior to their 28-7 victory over Dallas in the second week of the season. Giants, indeed.
"I thought our defense was magnificent," said Giants Coach Bill Parcells. "As I've said before, I do not have any illusions about this team. There are some things that we lack, but I don't think character is one of them."
Redskins Brought Down A Giant Notch, 37-13 - ( New Window )
There was a random game late in the 2012 season where we blew out a pretty good Green Bay team that in hindsight was pretty surprising given how lousy we were in the second half of that season.
Washington won the Super Bowl in 1982. Lost the Super Bowl in 1983 they were 5-3 when this game was played and finished 1984 11-5.
The Giants were 3-12-1 in 1983 and 4-4 in 1984 when this game was played.
The Giants started of 1984 beating The Eagles and Cowboys but had lost 3 of their last 4 games including blow outs against the 49ers and Rams and a 24-10 loss at the Eagles.
Washington had beaten them week 3 in Washington 30-14.
Washington was a 6 point favorite on the road.
So it was shocking that the Giants won the game but it was unfathomable that they would win by 24 points and hold Washington to 13 points. The last 3 times they played, the first 3 games Parcells vs. Gibbs, Washington had scored 33, 31 and 30 points.
This was the game when Parcells decided to play a 5 DL front to stop Riggins and the Washington run game.
Even though they started 2-0 and beat the Cowboys this was Parcells first real statement win. The first sign that bigger and better things were ahead.
Quote:
Just like that, the Washington Redskins are in a heap of trouble.
Today, they were hammered by the New York Giants, 37-13, before 76,192 in Giants Stadium who didn't know whether to merely cheer or to do cartwheels over the Redskins' most inept performance since the Super Bowl and the Giants' finest performance since who remembers when.
Today, creative strategies by the Giants brought rewards. They broke from their usual offensive alignment and deployed a three-receiver formation for the entire game, and quarterback Phil Simms responded by completing 18 of 29 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns, overcoming the fact that his young line allowed him to be sacked seven times.
In between, Giants running back Joe Morris tied a team record by rushing for three touchdowns, all from a short distance, while gaining 68 yards on 15 carries.
And the Giants' 3-4 defense planted its two inside linebackers close to the line of scrimmage and let outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor play rover to the tough tune of 12 tackles. That stopped the Redskins' running game cold; it gained just 79 yards on 23 carries, getting only 11 yards more than Morris.
Running back John Riggins (16 carries for 51 yards): "We're pretty far out on a ledge right now . . . We didn't look like a pro team out there for a while. They took us out of our game plan early."
By any measurement, this performance by the Giants was superior to their 28-7 victory over Dallas in the second week of the season. Giants, indeed.
"I thought our defense was magnificent," said Giants Coach Bill Parcells. "As I've said before, I do not have any illusions about this team. There are some things that we lack, but I don't think character is one of them."
Redskins Brought Down A Giant Notch, 37-13 - ( New Window )
thanks for this Arnie. I think that the week where they finally gave up on Butch Woolfolk for good and Morris took over as #1 back.
But, two games: Playoff win over Philadelphia in 81 and SB 42. (I can’t believe some of you actually thought they’d win that game.)
+1.