Over the seven season span the Giants quilified for five post season berths, three NFC East titles and two Super Bowl Championships.
Their dominant and most consistent unit was the defense.
They were a rugged team built for cold weather football in the Northeast, particularly the frequently wind swept enviornemnt at Giants Stadium. They stuffed the run and rushed the passer. Whenever the Giants needed a big play in a big game, they looked to the defense as their catalyst. Defense was their identity.
The defense also gave the Giants notoriety, garnering fan attention much in the way San Huff and Andy Robustelli did during the Giants Golden Era of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The NFL instituted the Player of the Week awards in 1984. Covering this period Giant offensive players were honored five times and the defense 13 times, with Lawrence Taylor winning eight himself.
Pro Bowl trips were even mroe one sided. The defensive players made 19 trips to Hawaii while the offense and special teams combined for 11 Pro Bowl invitations.
As a unit, the Giants defense lead the NFL with 68 QB sacks in 1985 (yes, even more than the legendary '85 Bears defense), fewest rushing yards allowed in 1986 and most takeaways and fewest points in 1990.
Harry Carson 1984
Giants at Atlanta 10/14/84
Giants vs Kansas City 11/25/84
Giants at Jets 12/2/84
Giants at St.Louis 12/9/84
Giants vs New Orleans 12/15/84
Giants at San Francisco NFC Divisional Playoff 12/29/84
Giants at Cincinnati 10/13/85
Giants vs Washington 10/20/85
Giants vs Los Angeles 11/10/85
Giants at Dallas 12/15/85
Giants vs Pittsburgh 12/21/85
Giants vs San Francisco 12/29/85
Giants at Chicago NFC Divisional Playoff 1/5/86
Lawrence Taylor 1986
Giants at Los Angeles Raiders 9/21/86
Giants vs Denver 11/23/86
Giants at San Francisco 12/1/86
Giants at Washington 12/7/86
Giants vs San Francisco NFC Divisional Playoff 1/4/87
Giants vs Washington NFC Championship Game 1/11/87
Giants vs Denver Super Bowl XXI 1/25/87
Giants vs New England 11/8/87
Giants at Philadelphia 12/8/87
Giants at Washington 10/2/88
Giants at Phoenix 11/13/88
Giants vs Kansas City 12/11/88
Giants at Washington 9/11/89
Giants vs Detroit 9/17/89
Giants vs Minnesota 10/30/89
Giants at Phoenix 11/5/89
Giants at Denver 12/10/89
Giants vs Los Angeles Raiders 12/24/89
Giants vs Dallas 9/30/90
Giants at Washington 10/14/90
Giants at Los Angeles 11/11/90
Giants vs Chicago NFC Divisional Playoff 1/13/91
Giants at San Franciso NFC Championship Game 1/20/91
Giants vs Buffalo Super Bowl XXV 1/27/91
Love that picture of Martin returning the TD and seeing the Parcells/Bellichick reaction.......really cool.
That era was Camelot for NYG football.
84-90 was such a great time to be a Giants fan.
What an era - back when the colleges knew how to build linebackers.
I was also wondering who 56 was Arnie - he seems very disruptive. Wonder what he was so angry about?
I thought he showed some promise but he had to quit Football because of a medical condition. Only played 2-3 years if I am recalling correctly?
I thought he showed some promise but he had to quit Football because of a medical condition. Only played 2-3 years if I am recalling correctly?
Headen played from 1983-1988. He retired after suffering a neck injury.