New York Giants Epic Moments

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 16, 2012

New York Giants Epic Moments

Feb. 3, 2008

Down 14-10 to the heavily favored (18-0) Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants stared down third-and-5 from their own 44-yard line with 1:15 remaining in the game. In what has become arguably the greatest, or at least the unlikeliest, play in Super Bowl history, Eli Manning improbably escaped three would-be tacklers to get off a pass, and David Tyree secured it with one hand against his helmet. Manning hit Plaxico Burress in the end zone four plays later and New York defeated the perfect Pats 17-10.

Jan. 27, 1991

MVP Ottis Anderson rushes for 102 yards and a touchdown and career backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler throws for 222 yards and a TD as Giants hold the ball for more than 40 minutes in 20-19 upset of Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV. Jeff Norwood's 47-yard FG attempts sails wide right in the final seconds.

Jan. 1, 1987

The Giants defeated the Denver Broncos in SB XXI, but no other series epitomized New York's dominance more than a second-quarter stop of John Elway's team. On first-and-goal from the one-yard line, Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson and Carl Banks each recorded consecutive tackles for loss or no gain and Denver missed the ensuing 23-yard field goal to improve its 10-7 lead. Phil Simms would complete 22-of-25 pass attempts in what became a 39-20 rout for the franchise's first Super Bowl win.

Feb. 5, 2012

In Super Bowl XLVI, a repeat title game matchup from just four seasons prior, the Giants were again trailing late in the fourth quarter. With less than four minutes on the clock from New York's own 12-yard line, Eli Manning hit Mario Manningham for an acrobatic 38-yard catch -- just his third grab of the game. The Giants marched down the rest of the field for an Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown with under a minute to go to beat the favored Patriots for the championship once more, 21-17.

Dec. 9, 1934

The Giants outscored the Bears 27-0 in the fourth quarter for their first NFL title of the playoff era. The contest was remembered as the "Sneakers Game" after Giants players switched to basketball shoes at halftime to better navigate the Polo Grounds' icy turf.

Dec. 30, 1956

The Giants hosted the Chicago Bears, who they had tied earlier in the year during an 8-3-1 campaign, at Yankee Stadium for the NFL Championship Game. Led by quarterback Frank Gifford, as well as four other future Hall of Famers in Roosevelt Brown, Andy Robustelli, Emlen Tunnel and Sam Huff -- as well as Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry making the respective offensive and defensive calls as coordinators -- Gifford was named the MVP and the Giants slaughtered the Bears 47-7 for the franchise's third NFL title.

Jan. 20, 1991

Facing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion 49ers on the road in the NFC Championship game -- a team the Giants had already lost to during the regular season -- the New York defense knocked Joe Montana out of the game. The Giants scored the game-winning field goal as time elapsed after causing the only turnover late in the fourth quarter. The triumph is most remembered for kicker Matt Bahr yelling, "This is for the troops!" as the team celebrated its 15-13 victory. The Giants went on to beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV, which remains the only one-point win in Super Bowl history, memorable for the wide right field goal to close the game.