Greatest play in Giants history?

Giants are 0-2 and Redskins are driving to score late in 4th quarter. Antonio Pierce makes a goal line stand tackle to end their drive and preserve a victory. If he doesn't make that play the Giants are likely 0-3 and don't make the playoffs much less win Super Bowl.

Not saying that's better than the helmet catch or Ingram in 86 which imho are the 2 best plays, but this play is definitely worth a mention.

and you cant debate any other play into that spot. When it comes to what happens between the lines Eli's escape and Tyree pinning the ball to his helmet despite the best efforts of one of the eras most physical safeties is the greatest and I cant even fathom how it could be topped. The Helmet Catch is the greatest play in Super Bowl history. How is it not the greatest play in Giants history?

Chase Blackburn coming from months of being a substitute teacher to moss the Future HoF TE Rob Gronkowski and intercepting the GOAT QB Tom Brady in the Super Bowl while the Giants were trailing in the 4th Quarter.

Honestly can’t get over how little this is talked about. Chase had virtually retired, came back to football mid season, and was an unheralded part in fighting that defense heading into the postseason.

In comment 16191251 GoDeep13 said:

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Chase Blackburn coming from months of being a substitute teacher to moss the Future HoF TE Rob Gronkowski and intercepting the GOAT QB Tom Brady in the Super Bowl while the Giants were trailing in the 4th Quarter. Honestly can’t get over how little this is talked about. Chase had virtually retired, came back to football mid season, and was an unheralded part in fighting that defense heading into the postseason.

righting* not fighting.

In comment 16191071 Klaatu said:

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It's hard to ignore Joe Judge's two consecutive QB sneaks, though. Bounced him and Dave right out of here, and ushered in a new era of Giants football with Schoen and Daboll at the helm.

Thise QB sneaks were a classic. A classic case of a HC thinking he's the smartest guy in the room. How could he possibly not think these sneaks may get me fired.

of plays that fans will try to point to as "the one."

But there is no play in team history that has (1) superlative efforts by TWO players on the same play, (2) occurred on THE game-winning drive in the Super Bowl, and (3) was instrumental in preventing a team that was expected to go 19-0 from doing so.

Steve Sabol of NFL Films did a piece on the the Helmet catch and named it the great play in NFL history.

‘Other than the Helmet Catch…’

The Ingram play is still my favorite non-helmet catch play. In my mind’s version he was scrambling for that 1st down for a good 30 seconds.

But, with the nfc championship theme rolling, and especially SF-heavy, I’d put this play high up in the running.

Bloody Eli game could’ve ended a lot differently

In comment 16191224 BigBlueNH said:

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in the 1990 NFC Championship. That game was all but over, and the 9ers dynasty was rollin on until .....

100%. Too many people fail to realize the magnitude of that play. The 9ers were a phenomenal team and, IMV, would have rolled Buffalo to win three in a row. Which would have put them as inarguably the greatest SB era team ever.

It was the greatest play in the greatest Giants game ever...

In comment 16191064 Keaton028 said:

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escape and helmet catch in 2007 Super Bowl.

Yes! So many things in that play.... Eli's is nearly sacked. The ref almost blew the play dead. Eli almost threw it to an offensive lineman and then.... HELMET CATCH!

In comment 16191161 zxasqw12 said:

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Just a brilliant, heads-up play by Antonio Pierce... "If I don't shoot it, it's an easy touchdown" - ( New Window )

After watching this Antonio Pierce play, the degree of difficulty with him against 3 blockers but still getting through to wrap up the receiver, is a top 5 play in my book. It ranks up there with Bavaro carrying the 49ers. What an effort he gave.

Honorable mention to Gary Reasons goal line hit in 1989 against Denver.

if that play doesn't happen, the legacy of Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, Michael Strahan and others is completely different. Do the Giants even make it to the Super Bowl again four years later too?

have to admit there’s a certain fluky quality to it that only Giant fans love. For that reason, I point to the very close #2, the Eli to Manningham sideline Super Bowl catch. Perfection from Eli, perfection from Mario, and situationally vital in the biggest stage at the biggest moment. 1 and 1A for me.

but that Sehorn pick 6 against the Eagles was unreal. It still pisses me off he got hurt in that Jets preseason game. I truly think he would have had a first ballot HOF career if it wasn’t for that play.

Sehorn was so damn good before he got injured in '98. He was about to become a superstar. He was good after that ACL tear, but was never the same man prior to it.

was the greatest due to its overall impact on the franchise

In comment 16191671 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:

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Sehorn was so damn good before he got injured in '98. He was about to become a superstar. He was good after that ACL tear, but was never the same man prior to it.

Absolutely. I’ll never forget that game because my late father before they even kicked the ball off was immediately yelling “god dammit Fassel, why do you have one of our best players back there in a preseason game!” Then he was injured a few seconds later.

In comment 16191095 FanMan said:

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On 4th and 17. Underrated play. Knew they would win it all after that conversion.

Yeah this one is my pick too

because the game wasn't as important, but the greatest play in Giants history for me is

LT pick 6, Thanksgiving Day, 1982 vs Detroit

That day lives in my mind more than any of the 5 Super Bowls I watched and any playoff game.

It is when I became a fan.

I'd watched games before. but that play made me a fan. Hard to describe why, but my family of 40+ people together celebrating Thanksgiving. Adults yelling at each other, kids causing trouble, eating great food and then all huddled around one of those old console TV's erupting with excitement when LT picked it off and was rumbling down the sideline.

Anyway, for that reason that is my opinion for greatest play in Giants history.

In comment 16191060 Reale01 said:

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Changed the course of the franchise.

Drafting Phil Simms was first.

Having George Young take over (thank you Pete Rozelle) kicked off those two draft choices. *grin*

But the George Martin interception vs Denver in 1986, when he pushes Elway to the ground, then after he lumbers for the TD LT jumps on top of him, is one of my favorites.

Impossible to say.

closely, you will see that Craig was losing control of the ball ALREADY as he was hitting the line. Plus Howard got his head on the ball and it popped right into LT's hands. Not really a great play, but sometimes you need a little luck to dethrone the "3 peaters".
The greatest pure play with ZERO luck involved was Eli to Manningham in 46. The window he had to throw that ball was TINY!

The Lambuth Special!!

What it lacked in context (or success…) it made up in pure excitement !!


Link - ( New Window )

In comment 16191136 blueblood said:

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In comment 16191095 FanMan said: Quote: On 4th and 17. Underrated play. Knew they would win it all after that conversion. THIS !!!! first play I thought of...

I went to that game. I was visiting my brother who lived in mpls. We had seats that were second tier near the end zone on the side that Bobby Johnson caught the ball, so we had a direct view down the sideline behind Simms. We exploded out of our seats! The Gmen still had to make a few more gains before Allegre kicked a 33-yard FG to win!

BTW, LT had 2 sacks and Marshall had 1. Bobby Johnson also caught a TD pass earlier. For the Vikings QB Kramer got hurt and Wade Wilson came in a threw a 33-yard TD to Anthony Carter to put the Vikes ahead with just 2 minutes left. We saw that pass as it was right in front of us. Ugh!