Image via Complex Original
Intro
If you sat down and made a list of the greatest National Football League franchises of all-time, you'd probably run through a few teams before you landed on the New York Giants. Just off the top of our heads, it would seem like squads like the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears, the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco 49ers, and even the Oakland Raiders would belong ahead of the G-Men. But the truth is that the Giants belong not just on that list but pretty damn close to the top of it.
Since joining the NFL back in 1925, five years after the birth of the league, the franchise ranks third all-time in the number of NFL titles won—four prior to the Super Bowl era and three since the creation of the big game. And because of it, the Giants have racked up plenty of great moments in their franchise's storied history. From their first 'chip all the way back in 1927 through their most recent victory against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, Big Blue has put together a highlight reel that's as large as its' name suggests. So with the team getting ready to try and make history again in a rematch against the Pats in Super Bowl XLVI this Sunday, we put them all together right here. We already gave Pats fans something to get excited about, so here's one for all the supporters of the G-Men: The 25 Greatest Moments in New York Giants History.
The Gatorade Bath
25. The Gatorade Bath
What: Super Bowl XXI vs. Denver Broncos
Date: 1/27/1987
The 1986-87 Giants were a special bunch. They won the Super Bowl in decisive fashion against the Denver Broncos to give the franchise its' first NFL title in 30 years. However, they also gave the sports world something that's endured for the last 25 years—the Gatorade bath. For the first time in Super Bowl history, a team doused their coach—in this case, Bill Parcells—with Gatorade after winning the big game (but, for the record, they actually started doing it during the regular season). The ritual stuck and now every coach who wins the Super Bowl gets to take a bath as the final seconds tick off the clock. And you can thank the G-Men for that. #thefuckdoesyourteamhave?
The Drought Is Over
24. The Drought Is Over
What: NFC Wild Card @ Philadelphia Eagles
Date: 12/19/1981
After missing the NFL playoffs every single year for almost two decades, the Giants finally clinched a berth in 1981 with a big win over their hated rival, the Dallas Cowboys. And they followed it up by winning their Wild Card game against another one of their rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. They lost the following week. But, if nothing else, it gave their fans a reason to start tuning into games again.
All In!
23. All In!
What: Regular season vs. Detroit Lions
Date: 11/19/2000
We never understood why this press conference doesn't get more love than some of the other notable ones out there. After a loss sent his team to 7-4 on the season, Jim Fassel stood up in front of the New York media and basically guaranteed that the Giants would go to the playoffs that season. It was a move that could have turned out terribly. But, lo and behold, they ended up making the playoffs. And they even managed to make a run to the Super Bowl, before succumbing to the Baltimore Ravens. Still, this is one of the best NFL press conferences we've ever seen. Can't it get, like, a spot on one of those Coors Light commercials or something?
A Hero's Welcome
22. A Hero's Welcome
What: 2008 Championship Parade
Date: 2/5/2008
After watching the New York Yankees take trip after trip after trip through the "Canyon of Heroes" in downtown NYC, the G-Men finally got their opportunity to do it after beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. And they made the most of it with Michael Strahan taking the stage at the parade to tell the Pats and the rest of the NFL that the Giants had "stomped you out!" Classic.
The Great White Hope
21. The Great White Hope
What: NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Date: 1/7/2001
Fun fact: There are exactly zero white cornerbacks starting in the NFL right now. Why? Well, we don't have enough space on this list to break it down. But we do know that the last great white cornerback to play in the NFL was Jason Sehorn, who made an unbelievable pick-six interception against the Philadelphia Eagles during the playoffs in '01. Seriously. This is an all-time great play and it came from a guy who was the last of a dying breed. Whatever happened to him anyway?
The Book of Eli
20. The Book of Eli
What: 2004 NFL Draft
Date: 4/24/2004
They had the fourth pick in the draft. So there was just about no way the Giants were going to get a chance to select Eli Manning, the projected No. 1 pick in the '04 Draft. But then Manning revealed that he didn't want to play for the San Diego Chargers, who had the top pick. So the Giants worked out a deal and Manning joined the team. And while Giants fans have enjoyed a love/hate relationship with him ever since, there's no denying that he's a big part of the reason they're about to play in their second Super Bowl in the last five years.
Total Domination
19. Total Domination
What: NFC Championship vs. Minnesota Vikings
Date: 1/14/2001
The Vikings stink now. But back in 2000, they were operating like a well-oiled machine. With Daunte Culpepper slinging the rock all over the field to Randy Moss and Cris Carter, it was widely believed that they might be too tough for the Giants to stop. And then the game started and the Giants punched Minny in the mouth, kicked them while they were down, and kept stomping on them en route to a dominating 41-0 victory. Even more impressive: QB Kerry Collins (yep, Kerry freakin' Collins) finished the game with five TDs and 381 passing yards to set new NFC Championship Game records. Back in '00, those were crazy numbers.
Beginner's Luck
18. Beginner's Luck
What: Regular season vs. New York Yankees
Date: 12/4/1927
Just two years after joining the NFL, the Giants clinched their first championship by beating the New York Yankees (yes, the YANKEES) 14-0 at the Polo Grounds. Back then, there was no championship game or Super Bowl, so their record allowed them to claim the 'chip. Not bad for a team that was still brand new to the league.
Crushing The Competition
17. Crushing The Competition
What: NFC Divisional Playoff vs. San Francisco 49ers
Date: 1/4/1987
The Giants didn't just beat the 49ers on this day. They beat the crap out of them—both on the scoreboard and on the field. They ended up winning the game 49-3 but, miraculously, that wasn't the worst news of the day for the Niners. Joe Montana got sacked by nose tackle Jim Burt and knocked out of the game with a concussion. On the same play, he threw an interception that was returned for a TD by the G-Men. And Jerry Rice inexplicably fumbled a ball at the beginning of the game that could have put San Fran up 7-0. It was one of the greatest moments in Giants history and, at the same time, one of the worst in the history of the 49ers.
New Boss
16. New Boss
What: 1982 NFL offseason
Date: 12/15/1982
After the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season, Giants head coach Ray Perkins resigned from his post to take a college head coaching position. So the G-Men took a shot on their defensive coordinator Bill Parcells and named him to the top position. Two Super Bowls later, he retired in 1990. Looks like the Giants made the right decision, huh?
Sacked!
15. Sacked!
What: Regular season vs. Green Bay Packers
Date: 1/6/2002
Yeah, yeah. So Brett Favre basically handed Michael Strahan a sack on a silver platter in the last game of the '01-'02 season. Whatever. Strahan still has the single-season sack record with 22.5 total. And despite what everybody said at the time, Favre's legacy wasn't tarnished a bit because of this sack. It was the other part of Brett's bait and tackle that did that.
Respect The Game
14. Respect The Game
What: Charity game vs. Notre Dame All-Stars
Date: 12/14/1930
In 1930, there were plenty of people out there—football fans included—who didn't think professional football was going to last. They thought college football was superior and they didn't think that the pros played as hard as the college kids. So a charity game was arranged between the Giants and a team of all-stars from Notre Dame with ND reuniting its legendary "Four Horsemen" for the game. ND coach Knute Rockne reportedly thought his squad would have no trouble handling the Giants. And then, they failed to score a single point and got manhandled. The game helped legitimize pro football in a way that the first decade of the NFL hadn't.
Fake Out
13. Fake Out
What: Super Bowl XXI vs. Denver Broncos
Date: 1/25/1987
Remember how New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton had his team successfully execute an onside kick during Super Bowl XLIV? He wasn't the first NFL coach to prove he had the testicular fortitude to try something completely off-the-wall in the middle of the biggest game of the year. At the beginning of the second half against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI, Bill Parcells called for a fake punt that resulted in his backup QB—his backup QB!—to run the ball on a 4th-and-1 play. Luckily, it worked and helped propel the Giants to a 39-20 Super Bowl victory.
Sneak Attack
12. Sneak Attack
What: NFL Championship vs. Chicago Bears
Date: 12/9/1934
The '34 Giants won the NFL championship over the Chicago Bears by a score of 30-13 after putting up 27 unanswered points in the second half. And if it seems like they made some adjustments at halftime, it's because they did. The biggest one: The entire team took off their cleats and put on a pair of sneakers. That gave them a distinct advantage on the frozen field at the Polo Grounds and propelled them to an easy victory.
Crowd Pleaser
11. Crowd Pleaser
What: NFL Championship vs. Green Bay Packers
Date: 12/11/1938
Believe it or not, there was actually a time when the Giants were more well-respected in the football community than the Green Bay Packers. When they bested the Pack 23-17 in the title game in 1938, they were making their fourth title game appearance, while Green Bay was making just its second. More importantly, though, this game attracted more than 48,000 people out to the Polo Grounds. It was a sign that the NFL was really starting to really catch on. And the Giants were one of the reasons.
The Greatest Game Ever Played
10. The Greatest Game Ever Played
What: NFL Championship vs. Baltimore Colts
Date: 12/28/1958
Although they actually lost this game 23-17 to Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts, this matchup was called "The Greatest Game Ever Played" for a reason. It wasn't the first NFL title game to be televised nationally. But it was the first NFL game to ever go into sudden death overtime. And because it was televised, it's often credited as being the one game that single-handedly made the NFL—and the entire concept of a Super Bowl—popular across the country. So while they didn't get the win, they still made history in the process of playing this game.
The Catch After "The Catch"
9. The Catch After "The Catch"
What: Super Bowl XLII vs. New England Patriots
Date: 2/3/2008
Everyone remembers the other "catch" in this game. Spoiler alert: That one is much, much higher on this list. But this was the moment that sealed the game for the Giants and essentially guaranteed that they'd be leaving Arizona with their seventh NFL title and their first since 1990. And, is it just us or did it look like Plaxico Burress was Tebowing in the end zone after he caught the game-winning touchdown from Eli Manning? Well played, Plax. In '08, you were the man, homie.
Third and Really Long
8. Third and Really Long
What: Super Bowl XXV vs. Buffalo Bills
Date: 1/27/1991
Thanks to Scott Norwood's botched field goal at the end of the game (more on that later), the Giants' 14-play, 75-yard third quarter drive to score a touchdown—which is often referred to as one of the greatest drives in Super Bowl history due to the fact that it chewed up more than nine minutes of clock—always gets overlooked. But that drive resulted in an important touchdown. And it wouldn't have been possible without this spectacular effort by Mark Ingram on a key third-and-13 play. How the hell did Ingram break all those tackles?
Giant Win
7. Giant Win
What: NFL Championship vs. Chicago Bears
Date: 12/30/1956
How's this for a diesel lineup? The '56 Giants title team featured five future Hall of Fame players, including Frank Gifford, Sam Huff, Roosevelt Brown, Andy Robustelli, and Emlen Tunnel. It featured a strong supporting cast of players, including Mel Triplett, Dick Nolan, and Alex Webster. And it featured two legendary coordinators—Vince Lombardi on offense and Tom Landry on defense—calling the shots. So, it should come as no surprise to hear that they won the 'chip by a score of 47-7 over the Chicago Bears in 1956. We told you they were diesel, didn't we?
Taylor Made
6. Taylor Made
What: 1981 NFL Draft
Date: 4/28/1981
Remember how awesome running back George Rogers turned out to be for the New Orleans Saints? No, you don't. He was a pretty solid player, but he didn't have anywhere near the impact that Lawrence Taylor did throughout his career. Rogers was the guy who the Saints selected No. 1 in the '81 NFL Draft, allowing the G-Men to scoop up LT. It ended up changing the fortunes of the Giants franchise and leading to two Super Bowl wins. And to think: The guy in this clip actually questioned the G-Men selecting a defensive player over someone on the offensive side of the field. Tisk, tisk.
Easy Pickins
5. Easy Pickins
What: NFC Championship @ Green Bay Packers
Date: 1/20/2008
You could make a case for this moment being way further down the list. But here's why it deserves such high accolades: For starters, this INT by Corey Webster is the lasting image that Packers fans will have of Brett Favre, as this was his last game in a Green Bay uni. Secondly, the game was one of the coldest ever played in NFL playoff history and Giants head coach Tom Coughlin looked like his face was going to peel off by the end of it. And, finally, without this timely pick, there's a pretty good chance the Giants don't win this game and go on to play the Patriots in what would become one of the greatest Super Bowls in NFL history. All of that amounts to this being one hell of an important moment in Giants history.
For The Troops!
4. For The Troops!
What: NFC Championship @ San Francisco 49ers
Date: 1/20/1991
The San Francisco 49ers had won two consecutive Super Bowls and it was widely assumed that they were on their way to a third. During the regular season, they beat up on the Giants in a 7-3 Week 13 victory and they had home field advantage throughout the 1990 NFC Playoffs. But, did that matter to the Giants? Nope. They knocked Joe Montana out of the game, battered his backup Steve Young, and eventually forced Niners running back Roger Craig to fumble the ball away at the end of the game—setting kicker Matt Bahr up for a game-winning field goal. And as the Giants celebrated, Bahr gave a shout out to the U.S. troops who were preparing to engage in Operation Desert Storm. "This," he yelled, "is for the troops!"
Taking A Stand
3. Taking A Stand
What: Super Bowl XXI vs. Denver Broncos
Date: 1/25/1987
The Giants won this game by a score of 39-20. And, truthfully, it wasn't even that close. They scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter and set a Super Bowl record by scoring 30 total points in the second half as Phil Simms completed 22 of 25 passes total in the game. But they were this close to going down 17-7 in the second quarter when John Elway quarterbacked the Broncos to the Giants' one-yard line. However, Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, and Harry Carson all recorded key stops, the Broncos hooked a field goal on fourth down, and the G-Men were off and running with their first Super Bowl victory in team history.
Wide Right!
2. Wide Right!
What: Super Bowl XXV vs. Buffalo Bills
Date: 1/27/1991
We're not sure what's more amazing: That Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal attempt as time expired to give the Giants the first and only one-point victory in NFL history—or that the G-Men won a Super Bowl with career backup QB Jeff Hostetler running the team. Either way, the "Wide Right Game" as it's now known was full of surprises, so it's only right that it ended the way it did.
The Catch
1. The Catch
What: Super Bowl XLII vs. New England Patriots
Date: 2/3/2008
By now, Giants fans have seen this play a gazillion times (give or take). The realists still expect Eli Manning to go down in a heap, the pass to David Tyree to get intercepted or—at the very least—the refs to rule that the football hit the ground. The dreamers see Eli elude the pressure, sling the ball down the field, and hit Tyree in the only spot he could have hit him without throwing a pick—the top of his helmet. The dreamers win. It's still the single-greatest play most of us have ever seen in Super Bowl history and it etched the Giants franchise in the history books forever.