Rewatched the 1990 NFC Championship Game vs 49’ers

LT, Montana, Rice and Lott were the best ever at their positions when they retired. Parcells, Belichick, Coughlin, Holmgren, Shanahan and a young Jon Gruden coached in the game - all future SB winning head coaches. Only thing missing was Walsh instead of Seifert. Madden and Summerall in their primes. Glorious.

I don’t know if Giants win that game if Phil is the starter. No offense to Simms, but Hoss made some big time plays with his legs that game.

In comment 16557038 bceagle05 said:

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LT, Montana, Rice and Lott were the best ever at their positions when they retired. Parcells, Belichick, Coughlin, Holmgren, Shanahan and a young Jon Gruden coached in the game - all future SB winning head coaches. Only thing missing was Walsh instead of Seifert. Madden and Summerall in their primes. Glorious.

At that point in time I felt like that game was as close to watching two of the greatest heavyweights of all time square up head to head…like Ali vs Frazier. Can you imagine the hype surrounding this game if it were to take place today?!
And the game did not disappoint!

In comment 16557040 SFGFNCGiantsFan said:

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I don’t know if Giants win that game if Phil is the starter. No offense to Simms, but Hoss made some big time plays with his legs that game.

They don't. Matt Millen said that Hostetler was the difference.

In comment 16557038 bceagle05 said:

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LT, Montana, Rice and Lott were the best ever at their positions when they retired. Parcells, Belichick, Coughlin, Holmgren, Shanahan and a young Jon Gruden coached in the game - all future SB winning head coaches. Only thing missing was Walsh instead of Seifert. Madden and Summerall in their primes. Glorious.

Shanaha was not with the 69ers yet at that point. Gruden was nothing but a gofer for Frisco at that juncture.

the country mesmerized by the start of a war.
LT in game whites with a pregame psa for the troops.
we all knew there were bigger issues but it seemed to give the game a gravity of its own. for that and reasons given above,
best game i have witnessed in my 50 odd years of following the nfl.

was dominating on the line of scrimmage. It is something that will always stand the test of time.

I also agree with the other poster that we likely one because of Hoss. He absolutely was able to deal with the Buffalo pass rush better than Simms ever could. Then, remember when Bruce smith grabbed his arm in the end zone and he was able to transition the ball to the other hand? It saved us 5 points.

A dominating defense. No Three Peat...awesome game

Personally, I think this was the best game I have ever seen. And the best back-to-back Giants games ever - IMV.

Those 49er teams were great. A true dynasty.

I have always wondered if Marshall's hit occurred today, would it be considered roughing the passer.

Was the greatest play by a defensive lineman I have ever seen. Late in the fourth quarter with the 49ers only needing a first down to end the game, they hand the ball off to all pro running back Roger Craig. Howard, playing nose, splits a double team by two pro bowl offensive lineman, center Jesse Sapolu and guard Guy McIntyre, and strips the ball so as to bounce directly to LT who recovers the fumble. Which leads directly to Barr's game winning field goal.

Given the circumstances, where the 49ers were on the verge of a three peat at home late in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game, and the quality of the talent lined up against him, one could even argue it is among the greatest defensive plays of all time.

Ahhhh, the glory days!

In comment 16557096 bw in dc said:

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I have always wondered if Marshall's hit occurred today, would it be considered roughing the passer.

100%.. this is a pussy league now. Not only has the league tried to take the violence out of it, but even the players are emotional pussies who cannot take criticism.

We have a nice treat coming up regarding one of the key players from that game.

My Dad, a rabid Jets fan walks into the living room and sits watching a couple of plays during SF's drive right before Roger Craig's fumble.

I was starting to prepare myself for the possibility we were not going to win the game and go to the Super Bowl when he said "This is the time for a superstar like Lawrence Taylor to make a defining play." I looked back and there was sincerity in his comment.

Before I could look back and focus on the next play, Roger Craig took the handoff and Erik Howard....ERIK FREAKING HOWARD hits him and the ball comes out!!! Roger Craig was not a fumbler! and who does the ball naturally gravitate to??????? L T! Lawrence Taylor!

I looked back at my Dad. He laughed out loud. It was at that moment that he became a little bit of a Giants fan and I became a little bit of a Jets fan.

But any feeling we were not going to win left me at that moment!

I can't describe the euphoria I felt when LT grabbed that ball and the Giants O ran out slapping hands with the D.

A defining moment!

In comment 16557133 Eric from BBI said:

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We have a nice treat coming up regarding one of the key players from that game.

Eric,

I am sure you know this, but Erik Howard was a beast. I am in my 50s and he was one of the best NTs for a few years. I think he was one of 3 2nd rd picks the giants had one draft year in the mid 80s back when we had blue goose drafts.

In comment 16557096 bw in dc said:

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I have always wondered if Marshall's hit occurred today, would it be considered roughing the passer.

classic pat summerall:
"the report from the 49er sideline , everything hurts"

Two things on that Marshall play:

1) Leonard's effort on that play...UFB.

2) How the hell didn't Collins come up with the ball after Joe coughed it up?

In comment 16557133 Eric from BBI said:

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We have a nice treat coming up regarding one of the key players from that game.

Can’t wait!!

Both were amazing but pick one.

I’m struck by how good sf’s defense was. I knew ours was really good, but their d I didn’t remember how good they were.

In comment 16557315 Ron Johnson said:

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I’m struck by how good sf’s defense was. I knew ours was really good, but their d I didn’t remember how good they were.

Their defenses were tremendous thru that whole run. I'd say people forget that except most didn't appreciate it at the time. Montana, Walsh and the WCO got all the pub.

In comment 16557307 JohnB said:

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Both were amazing but pick one.

1990…. The 49’ers were a dynasty equivalent to the Patriots at the time. Beating them coming off back to back SB’s was the best!!!!

In comment 16557315 Ron Johnson said:

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I’m struck by how good sf’s defense was. I knew ours was really good, but their d I didn’t remember how good they were.

They were very good! But Carthon dropped a TD and Barr missed a FG also shouldn’t have been that close

In comment 16557166 NJBlueTuna said:

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In comment 16557133 Eric from BBI said: Quote: We have a nice treat coming up regarding one of the key players from that game. Eric, I am sure you know this, but Erik Howard was a beast. I am in my 50s and he was one of the best NTs for a few years. I think he was one of 3 2nd rd picks the giants had one draft year in the mid 80s back when we had blue goose drafts.

He lived in Mahwah behind my mom when he was on the Giants. We used to see him walking his pitbulls around the neighborhood... lol

between 2 of the best teams in their franchise's history.

And, most likely, the best I ever will see.

In comment 16557315 Ron Johnson said:

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I’m struck by how good sf’s defense was. I knew ours was really good, but their d I didn’t remember how good they were.

We had the #1 defense in football that season, and the Niners were #2.

In comment 16557608 Greg from LI said:

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And, most likely, the best I ever will see.

Fully agree.

I watch it every now and again, but the quality on all the videos I've found is horrible.

Does anyone know where you can get a good quality video of this game?

It was in that

In comment 16557064 DefenseWins said:

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was dominating on the line of scrimmage. It is something that will always stand the test of time. I also agree with the other poster that we likely one because of Hoss. He absolutely was able to deal with the Buffalo pass rush better than Simms ever could. Then, remember when Bruce smith grabbed his arm in the end zone and he was able to transition the ball to the other hand? It saved us 5 points.

Not entirely true. The 2011 OL was not dominant. They worked their way up to "passable" through the postseason after having been "bad" in the regular season.

I don't want to miller the thread on this point, but I couldn't let such a false take as "the key to every one of our SB victories" go unchecked.

In any case I wouldn't call the 1986 OL dominant either. It was a solid OL that got the job done.