Bye Week: Five Best Wins and Losses (in my biggest fan years)

Since the Giants are on a bye this week, I don’t have much to discuss. And since the Giants have gone from Super Bowl winners a year and a half ago, to a measly two and six this year, I figured that it would be fitting to talk about the five best wins and five best losses for the Giants over the past couple of years. Mostly through the latter Fassel/Collins years and the Coughlin/Manning years.
Some of these games I look over in great fondness. Some of them make me want to throw my computer through a window.

Worst Losses:

Honorable mentions:

Panthers at Giants - 2005/2006 Playoffs NFC Wild Card Round
Score: CAR 23 - NYG 0
January 8th, 2006
This game sticks out because this was the Giants first playoff shutout in twenty years. New York was out matched on every level. These games happen, but the fact it happened in the playoffs puts it into consideration.

Cowboys at Giants
Score: DAL 35 - NYG 32
September 15th, 2003
“The Matt Bryant Game”
If this was a playoff game, or was late in the year, it would be in the top five. If you remember this game, the Giants scored eighteen points in the fourth quarter to get the lead with only eleven seconds left. Matt Bryant, the Giants kicker, was told to squib kick the ball instead of the usual kick off. The ball goes out of bounds which is an illegal procedure penalty. With the good field position from the penalty and only eleven ticks off the clock, the ‘Boys tie the game and eventually win in overtime. Here’s a game that was blown by special teams. Spoiler alert... it’s not the only one I talk about. 

Here are the official top 5.

Yeah, keep leaning, jerk. It's still wide left.

5 - Giants at Seahawks
Score: SEA 24 - NYG 21
November 27th, 2005
“The Jay Feely Game”
Getting a win in Seattle can be tough. But it’s damn near impossible when your kicker missed three consecutive field goals. The first of three misses was with four seconds left in regulation. That would have sent the Giants back home with a win. Feely then missed two field goals in overtime. IN OVERTIME! I would say that this game was like Feely kicking Giants’ fans in the teeth, but he’d probably miss. Chalk up another heartbreaker to a special teams flub up.

4 - Giants vs Ravens - Super Bowl XXXV
Score: BAL 34 - NYG 7
January 28, 2001
This was just a straight up ass whoopin’. Like Daniel LaRusso getting attacked by a bunch of black belts high schoolers dressed as skeletons. Even when the Giants got some momentum with a kick off return for a touchdown, the Ravens took the momentum back when they returned the following kick off with a touchdown of their own. But for as bad as it was, at least they made it to the Super Bowl. So there’s that silver lining.

3 - Giants vs Eagles - 2008/2009 NFC Divisional Round
Score: PHI 23 - NYG 11
January 11, 2009
Coming off a Super Bowl winning season, the Giants were in good shape to repeat by having a record of eleven and one. But then in the middle of the season, their stud receiver Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg. They ended up finishing with a twelve and four record.
After having a bye for the Wild Card round, the Giants squared off against the Eagles. It did not go well. The Giants could not score one single touchdown during the game. Considering it was their shot to have back-to-back Super Bowl wins, this loss really stings.

2 - Giants vs Eagles
Score: PHI 38 - NYG 31
December 19, 2010
“The Matt Dodge Game”
For a regular season loss, this was more of a heartbreaker than the ending of Old Yeller. Giants' punter, Matt Dodge, was a colossal screw up. He made Amanda Bynes look like Maya Angelou.

"Roses are red, oysters are shucked; Glad Dodge is gone, 'cause that guy sucked."

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Giants were up thirty-one to ten. But the Eagles scored
three touchdowns in six minutes to tie the game up at thirty-one. Since the “winning the game in four quarters” ship has sailed, the Giants were going to try to win the game in overtime. With only a few seconds to go in regulation, all Dodge had to was punt the ball out of bounds, away from the explosive DeSean Jackson, and the Giants will live to see another day. However, Dodge kicks the ball right to Jackson and Jackson proceeded to return the punt for a touchdown to win the game for the Eagles. It looks like the Giants still can’t figure out how to cover a punt return.

1 - Giants at 49ers - 2002/2003 NFC Wild Card Round
Score: SF 39 - NYG 38
January 5, 2003
“The Trey Junkin/Blown Call Game”
This game was the perfect storm of a horrible game. It was a playoff game, the Giants gave up a big lead, there was a monumental screw up by someone on the team, and the officials didn’t do their job correctly so their season, and their Super Bowl aspirations, ended with a blown call.
When the fourth quarter started the Giants were up thirty-eight to twenty-two. Then the 49ers score seventeen points to take a one point lead. But here’s where the game from bad, to disastrous:

I dunno, looks like a mugging to me.

Meet Trey Junkin. He was a long time NFL long snapper who came out of retirement to play for the Giants during the playoffs. With only a few seconds left of the game the Giants line up for a game-winning field goal. Junkin botches the snap and all hell breaks loose. Matt Allen, the Giants’ place holder, tried make some magic happen and throw the ball downfield. Offensive lineman Tam Hopkins was flagged as an ineligible man downfield. But a penalty wasn’t called when Rich Seubert, who was an eligible receiver, was in position to catch the ball that Matt Allen chucked in the air, but was absolutely mugged by the 49ers defensive end Chike Okeafor. A pass interference penalty should have been called. This means that there should have been offsetting penalties and the Giants should have gotten another crack at a game winning field goal. But no such luck as the Giants blow a big lead and the refs blow a big call. But it’s okay, because the Giants got an official apology from the NFL’s director of officiating, Mike Pereira.

Best Wins:

"That's my quarterback, and this is my sad face."

5 - Giants at Cowboys - 2007/2008 NFC Divisional Round
Score: NYG 21 - DAL 17
January 13, 2008
“The ‘That’s my Quarterback’ Game’”
There wasn’t really anything special about this game. The Giants just played better than the Cowboys. The fact that the Giants beat the Cowboys in Dallas to end their season was reason enough to include this game. Plus, the loss made Terrell Owens cry over his Cabo sun tanned quarterback, Tony Romo, so that’s a nice cherry on the “Romo can’t win the big one” sundae.

4 - Giants at 49ers - 2011/2012 NFC Championship
Score: NYG 20 - SF 17
January 22, 2012
“The Kyle Williams Game”
This game was a tough, gritty, old school football game. The Giants, especially Eli Manning, showed a lot of guts this game. He got his ass kicked almost every possession the Giants had. But he hung in there and played well, and didn’t make any mistakes.
Fortunately for the Giants, the 49ers made two costly mistakes. Both were committed by the 9ers return man, Kyle Williams. On the first a punt grazed his leg ever so slightly, and the Giants recovered the live ball. The Giants scored on that drive. His second fumble was during a punt return in overtime. The Giants recovered that ball as well and that set the Giants up with the game winning field goal. It certainly wasn’t a pretty game, but it showed the Giants had grit, and of course, it brought the Giants to the Super Bowl.

3 - Giants at Packers - 2007/2008 NFC Championship
Score: NYG 23 - GB 20
January 20, 2008

Coughlin should really stand near the heaters.

At a brutally cold Lambeau Field, with the game time temperature at negative one degree, and a wind chill of twenty nine below, it was the third coldest game in NFL history. Just ask Coach Tom Coughlin. His face looked like a pork chop with freezer burn. This was another hard fought game in the elements. It ended up going into overtime where Corey Webster intercepted a Brett Favre pass. This resulted in a forty-seven yard field goal by former Giants' kicker, and current MRSA patient, Lawrence Tynes, sending the Giants to the Super Bowl.

2 - Giants vs Patriots - Super Bowl XLVI
Score: NYG 21 - NE 17
February 5, 2012
This was the second Super Bowl matchup of the Giants and the Patriots in four years. This game wasn’t as exciting as their previous meeting. But there were enough exciting plays to make this game very interesting. Chase Blackburn boxing out a hobbled Gronk to intercept one of Brady’s passes. Brady barely overthrowing a wide open Welker. Manning’s incredible throw to Mario Manningham down the sideline. Bradshaw’s anti-climactic, deuce-dropping run into the end zone for the lead. The final second throw by Brady that almost landed in Gronk’s hands, and almost gave me a heart attack.
This game ended in a fourth quarter comeback, which shouldn’t surprise anybody, because that’s how so many games that season were played. Eli said during training camp that season that he was an “elite” quarterback. Well, that gosh darn quarterback proved it with his second Super Bowl MVP.

1 - Giants vs Patriots - Super Bowl XVII
Score: NYG 17 - NE 14
February 3, 2008
“One Giant Loss”
This will be the game that I’ll tell my grandkids about. This was the ultimate David and Goliath story. An undefeated Patriots team that spent the season ripping teams apart, played a team that clinched a wild card spot in week sixteen. They met on the final week of the season and the Giants put up one hell of a fight, but ultimately lost to the Patriots.

See, Tarantino's movies aren't that bloody..

To say this game was close is to say that Tarantino movies are only a bit bloody. A Patriots team that was running up the score on teams was held to only fourteen points. This was due to the pressure that the Giants front four was bringing. But it took more than that. This was the game that Eli fastened the belt on his big boy pants. That last drive of his demanded that he’d be taken seriously by the rest of the league. That one play in particular, you know, the escape from the grasp of a defensive tackle and chucking the ball to Tyree only to have him catch the ball with his helmet. It could be called luck, but do you know what luck is? When hard work meets opportunity.
This is arguably the best Super Bowl ever, and it’s no surprise why. It also shouldn’t be a surprise why this is the best Giants’ win, definitely in the past fifteen years, possibly in Giants history. 

Week 8: Giants at Eagles

Well, I never thought I’d say these words this year, but the Giants find themselves in the middle of a win streak. Well, not the middle, more like a modest beginning of a win streak.

I really thought they were done for, but much like Jason Voorhees, Freddy Kruger, and Michael Myers, they aren’t dying off quietly. This all might be as premature as Christmas commercials airing before Halloween, but it seems that the Giants could be back in the division, and could be slowly and steadily walking after running and stumbling promiscuous teens. The teens being the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington R-words. Somehow you know they’ll catch up.

Hide yo kids, hide yo wives, and hide yo husbands!

Let’s get into this big win for the Giants against the Eagles.

First Quarter:

"Sweet moves, Antrel!"

New York starts off receiving the ball. They end up going three and out, and Weatherford kicks a short punt.
The Eagles take over offensively with the hamstrung, sworn enemy of Sarah McLachlan, Mike Vick, under center. On third down of their possession, Vick throws a pass that is picked off by Antrel Rolle. Unfortunately, Rolle and a few other Giants did a Globo Gym Purple Cobras victory dance, and they were flagged for a fifteen yard penalty.
After the pick and dance, the Giants get the ball back. They put together a nine play drive that ends with a Josh Brown field goal. Get ready to read his name a lot.
Philly doesn’t do much in response to the Giants field goal as they go three and out.
On their next drive, the Giants score another three points with the help of Josh Brown.
The Eagles build on their previous three and out drive and earn two first downs before eventually punting the ball away.
After two plays of the Giants following possession, the first quarter wraps up.
Score: Giants 6-Eagles 0

Second Quarter:
The Giants continue their drive that began in the first quarter. The drive ends with, you guessed it, a field goal by Josh Brown. It could have been a touchdown. The Giants were on the doorstep of the end zone, but an illegal formation by Pugh took the Giants back five yards. After three consecutive incomplete passes, they went for the field goal.
Vick and the Eagles take over again, and punt again. But after the drive, a shaken up Vick takes a seat on the bench, and rookie QB Matt Barkley straps on his helmet and starts to loosen up.
Giants get another field goal. This game is becoming as repetitive as the SAW movies.

"Do you want to play a game... of football?"

On their next drive, the Eagles do their best to break up the predictability. Barkley lines up under center, not Vick. The very first play, Barkley fumbles the snap but recovers it. He then throws it to a wide open Brent Celek for a nine yard gain. As a long-time Giants’ fan, stuff like that worries me a lot. My worries continue to be validated as Barkley is driving down the field with ease. With Philly knocking on the door of the Giants’ end zone, it looks like the Eagles can get right back in this game. But the comeback kid, Terrell Thomas, sacked Barkley and stripped the ball. It was recovered by Jacquian Williams.
The half ends in the middle of the Giants’ possession.
Score: Giants 12-Eagles 0

Third Quarter:
With Barkley still leading this team, the Eagles put together a twelve play drive. However, it was only for forty-three yards so they end up punting.
The Giants' next drive still ended with a kick. But it wasn’t Josh Brown’s foot, it was Steve Weatherford’s. It was a Feaglesesque punt, the ball sailing out of bounds at Philadelphia’s five yard line. 
The Eagles go three and out and punt the ball away.
Then when the Giants’ next drive stalls, WeatherFeagles kicks a coffin corner punt so beautiful that it would make Dracula himself weep.
With the Eagles starting a drive on their own three yard line, they go three and out again.
The Giants run a handful of plays before the third quarter ends.
Score: Giants 12-Eagles 0

Fourth Quarter:
The Giants drive ends with yet another field goal by Brown.
The Eagles Punt.
The Giants Punt.
The Eagles Punt.
It looks like the Giants were about to punt again, but instead Zak Deossie launches a ball over Weatherford’s head. Weatherford chases after the ball towards the Giants’ end zone. What he should have done was kick the ball through the Giants end zone for a safety, hell, he should have at least covered up the ball. Instead, he runs over the ball and the Eagles scoop it up for a touchdown.
The Eagles decide to go for the onside kick with just over four minutes left in the game. However, it was an unsuccessful attempt as the Giants recover the ball.
The Giants end up punting the ball after draining over three minutes off of the clock.
With only twenty-seven seconds left in the game, the Eagles try to score a touchdown and hopefully get a two point conversion to tie up the game. But Barkley was instead intercepted by Will Hill. That put the final nail in the coffin.
The Giants kneel the ball the end the game.
Final Score: Giants 15-Eagles 7

If the Giants lost this game, that’d be the season. But this win gives them a bit more life and a bit more confidence. The lack of touchdowns still concern me, especially against a poor defense. The defense, especially against the run, still looks very impressive. Maybe, just maybe, the Giants have turned their team around.

So what have I learned?

Although he’s responsible for a fifteen yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Antrel Rolle is the heart of this defense.

The Giants’ special team coach, Tom Quinn, will most likely be looking for another job in the spring. The special teams this year has been more awful than The Wicker Man. The Nicolas Cage version.

"You know Nic, the specials teams have been really crappy this year..."

I’m not sure if the bye week at this time helps them or hurts them. I don’t know if it will take away from the Giants’ confidence but maybe it will give them time to prepare themselves for the last half of the season.

So can the Giants rise from the dead like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers? Only time will tell.

Week 7: Giants vs Vikings

Well, the Giants finally won a game. It only took them seven tries and one awful opponent to achieve it, but it was still a win. This game was hard to watch at times, like the Kathy Bates’ hot tub scene in About Schmidt. In their previous games, there were bright spots and areas of concern. This game was no different. Let’s dive in head first into this ugly win, not the jacuzzi.

...then things started getting weird at the Jersey Shore house.

1st Quarter:
The game starts off with the Giants on offense. Eli and the Giants put together a seventeen play drive which lasted over nine minutes. Unfortunately on a third and three, Eli slightly overthrows Nicks in the end zone and the Giants have to settle for three.
The Vikings punt the ball away on their first drive.
New York’s following drive stalls so they punt the ball away as well. However, the punt coverage proved to be as useful as a lead life preserver. Not only do they give up a touchdown, but they commit two penalties while giving up the touchdown, so that’s a plus. 
The Giants get the ball back and run one play to end the quarter.
Score: Giants 3-Vikings 7

2nd Quarter:
This fifteen minute chunk of football was pretty tough to sit through. The quarter starts off with both teams going three and out.
After the Vikings punt, the Giants put together a seven play drive that culminates with a twenty-four yard touchdown pass from Eli to Wrong Page Randle.
Another key play was on the Vikings next drive. They drive down to the Giants’ thirty-five yard line when they get stopped on third down. Vikings’ kicker Blair Walsh attempts the fifty-three yard field goal but it didn’t have the distance.
After that missed attempt, the Giants and Vikings just punted to each other for the rest of the half. It was awful.
Score: Giants 10-Vikings 7

3rd Quarter:
Minnesota starts off the half with a drive that doesn’t go very far so they elected to punt the ball away. However, good ol’ Wrong Page coughs up the ball on a punt return and the Vikings get another chance of at least tying the game. But that turnover was wasted as Antrel Rolle intercepts a beauty of a pass from Josh Freeman.

Usually when I need Pepto during a game, it's because of eating wings.

Then the Giants go three and out.
Then the Vikings go three an out.
Then the Giants go three and out again, but this punt return was fumbled by Marcus Sherels, the same guy who housed a punt before.
Then everyone watching the game begins to get nauseous.
But the Giants don’t waste this turnover as newcomer Peyton Hillis rumbles into the end zone for a one yard touchdown.
Then the Vikings punted again.
The Giants start to wrap up the game when the third quarter ends.
Score Giants 17-Vikings 7

4th Quarter:
New York continues the drive that was started in the third quarter, and they finish it with a field goal from Josh Brown.
On the Giants kickoff after their field goal, Vikings return man, Sharrif Floyd, fumbled the ball and the Giants recovered. If you weren’t sure that this game was a prime example of hungover Thanksgiving Day football in pads, then this play confirmed it.
The Giants went three and out but they were able to grab another three points with another field goal by Brown.
The rest of the game included Josh Freeman throwing the ball to people on sidelines and in the crowd, and the Giants running out the clock.
Final Score: Giants 23-Vikings 7

"22's the Mike! OMAHA!"

To be honest, winning a game against a Josh Freeman led Vikings’ team is like beating a pee-wee team. The only problem is that the pee-wee team was giving the Giants some trouble early on in the game.

There are some things that the Giants did well on Monday night. They held Adrian Peterson to a measly twenty-eight yards rushing. There was finally pressure on the quarterback. Hillis looked good in the passing game, in terms of blocking and receiving. The offensive play calling was effective.

But don’t worry, the Giants still give you plenty of reasons to be concerned. They still gave up another punt return for a touchdown. That makes three for the season. Eli was close to getting picked off three times, luckily the Vikings’ secondary has worse hands than Hakeem Nicks. Speaking of which, you’d think that Nicks would be better at catching balls with those monster hands of his. It also doesn’t help that Eli was off target on some of his throws.

So what have I learned?

Jon Beason is a beast for the Giants. At first I didn’t think he’d contribute much to the team, but he’s been an essential part of the Giants’ defense.

Hillis will be serviceable as a third down back for the Giants, but I don’t expect him to be the work horse of the running game.

So for as sloppy as the game was, this was a crucial win for the Giants. Not only was it their first win of the season, but this win gives Big Blue some confidence heading into the second half of the season. Do I think this will spark a playoff run? No, but it may make for more enjoyable Sunday nights.

Week 6: Giants at Bears

At least they didn’t get blown out. Is that a good enough consolation prize for a now 0-6 football team? Personally, I’d prefer the consolation prizes from Family Double Dare, but then again, I’ve always wanted a personal Karaoke machine.

Obviously I'd rather go to Space Camp, but this will do.

When I think about the previous losses that the Giants have endured, losing by six points to a good Bears team in Chicago isn’t that bad. In fact, if the Giants had actually won a couple of games this season, this game would just be one of those “heartbreaker” games that didn’t go their way.

1st Quarter:
The Giants win the coin toss and elect to receive the ball. Good start. Then Eli Manning, who is trying to beat Brett Favre’s career interception total in one season, throws a pick on a pass intended for Rueben “Wrong Page” Randle. So much for that good start.

"Hey, Eli! Come over and I'll show you the ropes. First off, do you have a camera phone?"

The Bears’ offense, led by the pouty-faced Jay Culter, takes the field at the Giants’ twelve yard line. However, the Giants’ defense held strong and the Bears ended up getting denied on a fourth and two rush attempt.
So with the momentum shifting back to the Giants’ favor, the offense took the field. It’s their time to capitalize on that defense stop. Eli doesn’t disappoint as he throws a touchdown, to Bears’ defensive back Tim Jennings.
Despite that pick six, the Giants came back out swinging. They put together a ten play, eighty yard drive, capped off with a rushing touchdown by the rejuvenated Brandon Jacobs.
After that long scoring drive, the Bears started to manufacture a long scoring drive of their own. The quarter ends halfway through their drive.
Score: Giants 7-Bears 7

2nd Quarter:
At the beginning of the quarter the Bears finish off their drive with a ten yard pass to Brandon Marshall.
The Giants recovered nicely, and scored on the following drive on a thirty-seven yard pass from Manning to good ol’ Wrong Page.
In response the Giants’ touchdown, the Bears drive down the field again and finish it off with a touchdown pass from Cutler to, you guess it, Brandon Marshall. This game has turned into a real shootout.
Well, that is until the Giants go three and out on the following possession.
Chicago responds with a field goal.
Halftime: Giants 14-Chicago 24

3rd Quarter:
With Chicago already up by ten points, they start off with the ball in the second half. It could've been devastating if the Bears got a touchdown on that drive. Luckily, the Giants held them to a fifty-two yard field goal.
So after an effective first half of the Giants’ running game, Gilbride and company decided it was in the Giants best interest to start their second half with three straight passes. Needless to say that drive stalled and ended in a punt.
The Bears end up punting the ball away on the following drive.
On their next possession, the Giants pulled their heads out of their asses and start to run the ball with Jacobs again. And surprise, surprise, the drive ended in a one yard touchdown run by Jacobs.
Score: Giants 21-Bears 27

4th Quarter:

At least this isn't the new Eli face.

Alright, it was gut-check time for Big Blue. They’ve been awful in the fourth quarter. Like Kristen Stewart’s personality awful. It was time to see if the Giants could turn it around.
The Bears started off with the ball but after a long drive the ended up punting.
The Giants responded with a punt as well.
The game was on the Giants defense again. Could they prevent the Bears from scoring again? It turns out that they could as the defense forced another punt.
Now the Giants were only down by six with over five minutes left. Unlike the past seasons, very much like the game against Dallas, Eli doesn't seem to have that late-game magic. He threw a high ball to tight end Brandon Myers, which slipped past his hands and into the hands of  Chicago’s Tim Jennings.
The Bears run out the clock and that ends the game.
Final Score: Giants 21-Bears 27

The Giants going winless after the first six games is very demoralizing. But I did notice some things that we could be optimistic about. They didn’t go for the home run ball with every new set of downs. The Giants stuck with their running game. Eli only got sacked once. The defense was very good at stopping the run. They only gave up two touchdowns to a good Bears offense. The defense also shut the Bears down in the fourth quarter.

But despite all of these silver linings, there are negatives. Eli still cost his team the game. That pick-six really could have been the difference maker for this contest. Jay Cutler had nothing to worry about in the pocket. With the Giants’ lack of pressure, Cutler was as calm as a Hindu Cow.

So what have I learned?

Rated E for "Erased from People's Memory".

Maybe David Wilson isn’t the best fit for an aging offensive line. They are currently built for a downhill runner, not a chicken with his head cut off kind of runner. 

The addition of former Madden cover-boy, and the still Madden cursed, Peyton Hillis shows you the type of running back that the Giants can work best with. Also, the return of a, hopefully, a fully healthy Andre Brown in a few weeks could be a big boost for Big Blue.

After the Bears game, the Giants are showing signs that they can improve this year. I’m not predicting a massive playoff run, I’m just saying if they continue to play smart and Eli doesn’t give away the ball, but they can piece together a few wins.