Rewatching XLII and XLVI Playoff runs...

Madison Hedgepenis on the field. Brings back good BBI memories whenever I think of him.

see the game with your son. Get well sir.

In comment 15359039 eric2425ny said:

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see the game with your son. Get well sir.

Thanks, it was a bummer but honestly I can't complain, I had a few days off cold symptoms now I'm symptom free waiting off the quarantine. There will be other trips.


I had forgotten how bad we looked in the first quarter of the TB game. Offense had -2 yds. Defense stiffened after giving up an easy first drive touchdown.

After that Eli really won this game. As the announcers said, TB decided to shut down the Giants running game and force Eli to beat then. Gilbride did a great job of adjusting and Eli found the soft spots in that Tampa 2 defense to finally start moving the ball.

All those option routes were pretty amazing in terms of creating opportunities through the air. I had forgotten about how nicely they worked when everyone was on the same page.

Ronde said in the media that eli telegraphs where hes throwing, so eli unleashed a bunch of pump fakes really effectively

Two other players who of course I love and remember but I forgot how clutch their performances were in this game: Toomer and Bradshaw.

Especially Bradshaw. His running was so impressive against this defense.

On to Dallas!

If you hate Jerry Jones and all bandwagon Dallas fans.

Dallas offense looks unstoppable but their long drive (20 plays?) helps kill the clock and keep the game close when the defense was being dominated.

First of all, what a great time for Corey Webster to really develop.

The INT in the TB game by McQuarters was a masterpiece, he liked like a natural receiver out there, but the INT in this Dallas game was his most memorable one. Pretty cool that he got the game sealing INT two weeks in a row.

Finally, the defense started to play well when it mattered, in the fourth quarter.

On to Green Bay!

stay well.

We're going to the Super Bowl.


I agree with the previous poster that watching Jerry Jones at the end of the Dallas game was wooondefullll!

In comment 15359182 Jints in Carolina said:

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stay well.

Thanks a ton!

It was interesting how the defense worked out. Our mighty d-line really didn't do much against the Dallas front. Marion Barber had his way with defenders for much of the game. They seemed to mostly run away from Strahan, and with plenty of success.

The pressure started to get home in the fourth quarter. The announcer made mention of Flozell Adams looking a little hurt early in the quarter, then a bit later Flozell was completely upended by Justin Tuck. It was clear that the DL was starting to win their battles but not entirely, just enough that Tony Romo was clearly rattled by it.

This was a clear example of how an OL can really make a QB look good, imo. Romo spent much of his career paying with a very good OL. When they didn't pay well he improvised, often successfully. But that's not an effective offensive strategy overall. Had he been behind a much worse OL he clearly would have been much less effective.

And he didn't elevate his game when it really mattered like Eli did.

In spite of the lack of depth he continued bringing pressure and isolating his db's on receivers with little to no help. A free times he almost got burned as Dallas nearly completed some huge pass plays against us, only to have the receiver do the ball or Romo put it just put of reach.

Spags didn't play it safe, he took risks and they went our way. We all saw later how this wasn't a sound defensive approach, just a necessary one given our situation.

Had any other Giants player had three consecutive playoff games with at least one INT?

Also I clearly remembered Plax's total domination in FB, didn't remember how he was almost an afterthought in the first two games. And after a great couple of games to open the playoffs, Toomer's first half in GB was entirely forgettable. I remembered his amazing catch on the sideline but he had some nasty drops in this game and an offensive pass interference in the fourth quarter as well.

Also Steve Smith didn't have his best game in the cold.

Then they combined to make a catch on fourth down, short of the sticks but still a first down with the penalty. I forgot that tubes missed the field goal that would have put them ahead there.

In comment 15359204 Dan in the Springs said:

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It was interesting how the defense worked out. Our mighty d-line really didn't do much against the Dallas front. Marion Barber had his way with defenders for much of the game. They seemed to mostly run away from Strahan, and with plenty of success. The pressure started to get home in the fourth quarter. The announcer made mention of Flozell Adams looking a little hurt early in the quarter, then a bit later Flozell was completely upended by Justin Tuck. It was clear that the DL was starting to win their battles but not entirely, just enough that Tony Romo was clearly rattled by it. This was a clear example of how an OL can really make a QB look good, imo. Romo spent much of his career paying with a very good OL. When they didn't pay well he improvised, often successfully. But that's not an effective offensive strategy overall. Had he been behind a much worse OL he clearly would have been much less effective. And he didn't elevate his game when it really mattered like Eli did.

Yeah they were BUZZING romo by the end of that game. That DL was just so relentlessly talented.

I was at that game with my dad; even after the win I never would have imagined how the playoffs would unfold that year.

Amazing to think that was 15 years ago now.

In comment 15359172 Dan in the Springs said:

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If you hate Jerry Jones and all bandwagon Dallas fans. Dallas offense looks unstoppable but their long drive (20 plays?) helps kill the clock and keep the game close when the defense was being dominated. First of all, what a great time for Corey Webster to really develop. The INT in the TB game by McQuarters was a masterpiece, he liked like a natural receiver out there, but the INT in this Dallas game was his most memorable one. Pretty cool that he got the game sealing INT two weeks in a row. Finally, the defense started to play well when it mattered, in the fourth quarter. On to Green Bay!

My God the joy I got from that game. That moment when RWQ came down with it, no flags, the game is over... I never thought i could feel so happy from a football game, and then the next two games... what a run. Stupid run.

And how great for Tynes having a chance to redeem himself...

As I begin watching XLII, two things stand out.

First, how clutch and incredible Eli was during that entire run. I know many fans were speed on him by the end, and there were a lot of forgettable gamedays where Eli had me upset, but I will always love him for his composure throughout all of that, his ability to rise up and be special when we needed him to be. I can only hope for that type of QB play in those types of moments again.

Second, rewatching this game and knowing the outcome I think it's important to remind myself of the absolute underdog status the Giants had coming into this game. A lot of people thought they were lucky to be in the playoffs, while Brady and Belichick were unbeaten and going for SB win number four. The very idea of losing was preposterous to Brady.

Nobody have the Giants a chance here, other than a few die hard believers.

sooner rather than later

First, the often celebrated NYG defense certainly benefited by the Giants early sustained drives. The first real defensive success was a the and out nearly twenty minutes into the game.

I was amazed to hear that it was only the third three and out NE had that entire season! How could that be? I must have misheard that. The next drive the Giants had consecutive sacks to force a second consecutive three and out. After rewinding I correctly heard Aikman say it was only the third time this post-season. Still an impressive feat.

In comment 15359581 gidiefor said:

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sooner rather than later

Thanks gidiefor, my quarantine ends tomorrow and I'm already symptom free, thank goodness.

I've really enjoyed this part of the quarantine, no pressure to go out or do anything means I can really get hyped for the new season, and what better way than reliving some of these moments?

Had just about everything you could imagine. Strahan sack, a forced punt, overturned by the Chase Blackburn penalty when he couldn't get off the field, many third downs, and finally NE choosing to go for it on 4th and 13 before the turnover on downs ended it.

Lots going on and so much to remember.

In comment 15359582 Dan in the Springs said:

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First, the often celebrated NYG defense certainly benefited by the Giants early sustained drives. The first real defensive success was a the and out nearly twenty minutes into the game. I was amazed to hear that it was only the third three and out NE had that entire season! How could that be? I must have misheard that. The next drive the Giants had consecutive sacks to force a second consecutive three and out. After rewinding I correctly heard Aikman say it was only the third time this post-season. Still an impressive feat.

They needed the offense to at least eat clock which they did so well. Take the air out of the ball. The NE offense was a juggernaut. Needed to limit their chances.

In comment 15359482 GruningsOnTheHill said:

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I was at that game with my dad; even after the win I never would have imagined how the playoffs would unfold that year. Amazing to think that was 15 years ago now.

My dad and I both were sure we were the only team that could beat the pats after week 17. After the TB win, i was really confident they would get there

Are the contributions made by that draft class.

Aaron Ross
Steve Smith
Jay Alford
Zak DeOssie
Kevin Boss
Michael Johnson
Ahmad Bradshaw

All made significant contributions toward the win and throughout the season. Only Adam Koets was a non-factor that day.

These rookies showed up to take down the undefeated NE Patriots. Unreal

Interesting around some new faces, I'd forgotten just how much the offense struggled early in this match. After trading points through the first quarter Atlanta finally got a nice drive going, decided to go for it in fourth drive deep in NYG territory and the Giants stopped then. Did that give them momentum?

If so, they have it right back after a holding penalty on Snee led to an obvious passing situation where Eli had the intentional grounding call in the end zone.

Atlanta's next drive looked okay too but perhaps gunshy following the last failed fourth and sorry ejected to punt on fourth and one again in Giants territory.

You can see the cracks in the OL already pretty clearly here with no run game and Baas and Boothe inside. Why really worked magic this year, although he was fourth in passing yards, he had the sixth highest in NFL history, according to the Fox booth.

Really showed the importance of momentum. For a good part of the game they were competitive and at times even dominant over the Giants. Failing to convert on two fourth and short attempts combined with the Giants success in fourth and one and the big play by Nicks just broke their sprit.

The fourth quarter there really want any fight left in them. The Giants running game really came to life. Interesting how query Cruz was considering how big he would play against San Francisco in a couple of weeks.

Starting the Green Bay game and it's obvious the crowd is really into it, they definitely expect to win.