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Historical Moments:

1925: Tim Mara, a successful businessman and promoter, purchased the team for a reported $500. In an era when professional football was in the shadows of baseball, boxing, horse racing and college football, while professional football teams hailed from the towns of Dayton, Rochester and Columbus, league officials believed that a team in a large market such as New York was exactly what was needed to keep the fledgling NFL alive. However, the Giants were in danger of bankruptcy despite playing competitive football in their first season. The Giants started off 0-3, but after a seven game winning streak stood at a respectable 7-3. However, more important then Wins and Losses was, what could them get out of the red? A December 11th game at the Polo Grounds against Red Grange and the Chicago Bears would be key. The game was a huge gate attraction drawing over 70,000 fans at the Polo Grounds, and kept the Giants in business, and helped to get pro-football a foothold in New York, as the Giants went on to finish with an 8-4 record splitting a home and home series with the Bears.

1926: In their second season the Giants would get off to a slow start losing three of their first four games. However, they would only lose one more game the rest of the year as they posted a solid 8-4-1 record.

1927: The Giants led by a stifling defense that only allowed 20 points in a 13-game season stomps their way to first Place, and a NFL Championship with a record 11-1-1. During the season, the Giants would walk off the field ten times having shut out their opponents, and did not allow a single score against them in the first half all season long.

1928: The Giants are unable to repeat their magical defense, and stumble their way through a sixth place 4-7-1 season. This year it is the Giants who seem to have trouble getting on the scoreboard, as they are shutout six times, and only manage to score a total of 79 points in a 12 game season.

1929: The Giants rebound and once again become one of pro-football's strongest team with an impressive 13-1-1 record. However, the 20-6 loss the Giants suffered November 24th against the Green Bay Packers would end their championship aspirations as the Packers complete a perfect 12-0 season.

1930: Near the end of another impressive second place 13-4 season Head Coach LeRoy Andres was replaced by Bernie Friedman, and Steve Owen. Following the season Owen takes over the job full time and would serve as the Giants Head Coach for the next 23 years.

1931: With the depression gripping the NFL, Tim Mara was worried that it would not only cost him his team, but his business hands over the day to day control of the team to his two sons Jack, who was twenty-two, and Wellington, who was fourteen. Wellington Mara became the youngest owner of a football team and began his storied career as a major player within the Giants organization. The Giants would go on to suffer through a mediocre 7-6-1 season.

1932: The Giants continue to struggle posting a losing record for the second time in franchise history at 4-6-2, as the NFL was set to move into the modern era.

1933: In the beginning of the NFL's modern era the Giants begin the first year of divisional play by dominating the Eastern Division with an 11-3 record, and claiming a spot in the first official NFL Championship Game in Chicago against the Bears. The game would seesaw back-and-forth with the Giants taking a 21-16 lead in the 4th Quarter. However, with less than a minute to go, the Giants defense could not hold on, and allowed a lateral that accounted for 19-yard game winning Touchdown. The Giants would make an attempt at a similar play but Bears great Red Grange grabbed Giants Back Dale Burnett around the chest making such a play impossible as time ran out.

1934: Despite struggling to finish 8-5 the Giants finish at the top of a mediocre Eastern Division to earn a NFL Championship Game rematch with Bears. However even with the Giants playing host in the Polo Grounds they had their work cut out for them as the Bears finished the season a perfect 13-0. In the first half the Giants had trouble just keeping their feet on the ground as the Polo Grounds was covered in a sheet of ice, as the thermometer read that it was only nine degrees. Giants Coach Steve Owen seeing his players stumble decided to take a gamble and sent for basketball sneakers to be worn in the second half. The Giants would fall behind 13-3, but in the 4th Quarter the Giants were able to get their footing with sneakers as the Bears still stumbled on the icy field. The steady footed Giants 4th Quarter uprising began with an Ed Danowski 28-yard Touchdown pass to Ike Franklyn. Ken Strong would race 42 yards for another Touchdown just moments later to give the Giants a 17-13 lead. Danowski and Strong would then score subsequent touchdowns to bring the final score up to 30-13 in a game that would be forever known as "The Sneaker Game".

1935: The Giants win their third consecutive Eastern Division Title and earn a trip to Detroit to take on the Lions in the NFL Championship Game. The Lions took a quick 13-0 lead in the 1st Quarter when Leroy "Ace" Gutowsky plunged over from the two yard line and Earl "Dutch" Clark shook loose on a 40-yard touchdown romp. The Giants would close the gap at 13-7 in the 3rd Quarter when Ed Danowski connected with Ken Strong for a 42-yard touchdown pass. However, the Lions defense would score twice in the 4th Quarter on a blocked punt and intercepted pass to end the Giants Championship reign.

1936: After three straight years in the NFL Championship Game the Giants suffer through a disappointing 5-6-1 season and finish in third Place in the Eastern Division.

1937: The Giants rebound to finish in second Place with a 6-3-2 record, but lose two key games to the eventual NFL Champion Washington Redskins, who claimed the Eastern Division over the Giants.

1938: After a 1-2 start the Giants go on a season ending tear and didn't lose another game the rest of the way to reclaiming the Eastern Division Title with an 8-2-1 record. In the NFL Championship Game the Giants would host the Green Bay Packers at the Polo Grounds, in a bruising thriller that was staged for the largest crowd 48,120 o see a championship game up to that time. With the victory, the Giants became the first team to win the championship twice since the divisional split-up. The Giants blocked two punts early in the game, and capitalized on both with Ward Cuff kicking a 13-yard Field Goal and Tuffy Leemans blasting over on a six yard plunge. Arnie Herber's 50-yard Touchdownpass to Carl Mulleneaux got the Packers on the scoreboard, but Ed Danowski hit Hap Barnard for a 20-yard Touchdown pass and a 16-7 lead. The Packers closed to 16-14 at halftime on Clark Hinkle's 6-yard Touchdown, then took the lead 17-16 on Engebretsen's 3rd Quarter Field Goal. However, the Giants stormed as Danowski hit Hank Soar for the game-winning 23-yard Touchdown pass.

1939: The Giants dominate the Eastern Division with a 9-1-1 record on their way to an NFL Championship rematch with Green Bay Packers. In the Championship Game played at the Milwaukee Fair Grounds the Giants would find themselves caught in a 35-mph biting cold wind that completely disrupted the Giants passing game. The Packers would go on top shutdown the Giants and claim the NFL title with a 27-0 victory.

1940: The Giants lose their grip on the Eastern Division and struggle with mediocrity on the way to a third place 6-4-1 season.

1941: On December 7th the Giants played their cross-town rival Brooklyn Dodgers for pride. Even though the Giants had lost their earlier match-up in Brooklyn, the 8-2 Giants had the Eastern Division Title sewn up. However, the game in which the Giants lost 21-7 would quickly fade into memory, as the sounds of football collisions were interrupted for the paging of Military Personal over the Polo Grounds Public Address system. Pearl Harbor had been attacked, and the country was now in World War II. With the specter of war weighing heavily there was talk of canceling the NFL Championship Game. However, the game would go on as scheduled two weeks later and the Giants would quickly grab a 6-3 1st Quarter lead over the powerful Bears in Chicago. However the Bears would take a halftime lead on a pair of field goals, and would go on to rout the Giants for a 37-9 final, with fourTouchdowns in the second half.

1942: A midseason three game losing streak dooms the Giants chances for getting back into the NFL Championship, as the men in blue fall to third place with a 5-5-1 record.

1943: The Giants get off to a rocky 2-3-1 start, as hopes for an Eastern Division Championship fades. However the Giants win their next two games and sit a 4-3-1 with two games against the first place Washington Redskins. If The Giants were to beat the Redskins in both games, they would be set up with a third straight match-up in the Eastern Division Playoffs. The Giants would win on December 5th in the Polo Grounds 14-10 and then again in Washington a week later 31-7 to set up the Divisional showdown in the Polo Grounds. However, third time was not a charm as the Redskins blanked the Giants to advance to the NFL Championship.

1944: The Giants led by a strong defense that only allows 76 points in an 8-1-1 season edge out the Philadelphia Eagles for the Eastern Division Title. The Giants would face the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship Game played at the Polo Grounds. The Giants would have a rough time getting in the end zone all day as eth Packers raced out to a 14-0 halftime lead. The Giants would final crack the scoreboard on the first play of the 4th Quarter to get within a Touchdown. However, it would be the final scoring of the day as the Packers claimed the NFL Title with a 14-7 victory.

1945: With the victorious end of World War II, life began to return to normal in America, and the NFL, who got many of its stars back. However, up and coming Al Blozis who departed the Giants early in the 1944 season would not return. Blozis would lose his life in battle, and the Giants would retire his uniform number 32 in his honor. The Giants would also experience rough times on the field as they suffer through a disappointing 3-6-1 season.

1946: The Giants rebound nicely off their poor 1945 showing and reclaim the Eastern Division title with a 7-3-1 record. However, the Giants could not contain the Chicago Bears and Quarterback Sid Luckman who was a one-man wrecking crew in the Bears 24-7 win over the Giants at the Polo Grounds.

1947: The Giants never quite get started, and struggle from the very beginning of the season. The defending Eastern Division Champions would not even win their first game until November 30th, by then the Giants were settled in last place having started the season 0-7-2. The Giants would go on to split their last two games as the aging Giants finished with a 2-8-2 record.

1948: The Giants continue to struggle posting a record of 4-8 as the Giants defense allows a league high 388 points as they allowed 35 or more points seven times during the season including an embarrassing 63-35 home loss to the Chicago Cardinals and a 52-37 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

1949: After two straight eight loss seasons the Giants show some signs of life, and sit at 6-4 with two games remaining even though a Division Title is out of the question the Giants can get a measure of respect if they can beat the Philadelphia Eagles in any of the two games to close out the season. However, the Eagles prove to be too strong, and hold the Giants to a Field Goal in each game ending the Giants hopes for a winning season.

1950: The Giants rise back to the top of the newly re-christened American Conference, and put together a solid 10-2 season beating the Cleveland Browns twice. However, the Browns also finished 10-2, forcing a playoff game for a trip to the NFL Championship Game. Making matters worse is that the Giants lost a coin toss, and the game was played in Cleveland where the Browns and Giants met in a Defensive struggle, in which the Browns emerged victorious 8-3.

1951: The Giants put together another solid 9-2-1 season. However, both losses would come at the hands of the American Conference Champion Cleveland Browns.

1952: The Giants would fall one game short of first place as they posted a 7-5 record, in which they beat the first place Cleveland Browns twice. However a home loss to the last place Washington Redskins in the next to last week of the season would prove costly.

1953: While one era was ending another one was beginning for the Giants. Coach Steve Owen would retire after a disappointing 3-9 season. Owen's coaching career began as an interim head coach in 1930; his career would span the pre-modern era through the depression, and past World War II into the 1950's where the league was on the verge of exploding. While, the Giants were scuffling along a light of hope was not hard to find as second year all-purpose back Frank Gifford had a breakout season leading the Giants in Touchdowns with seven.

1954: In Jim Lee Howell's first season as head coach the Giants get off to a solid 6-2 start, and are in the thick of the race for the Eastern Conference Title. However, threee losses in their final four games ended any playoff aspirations.

1955: The Giants hopes for the playoffs end quickly as the Giants lose five of their first seven games. However, the Giants would not lose another game and would head into the off season with a 6-5-1 season to build off.

1956: After 31 seasons at the Polo Grounds the Giants leave the crumbling old ballpark for Yankee Stadium. In their first season at Yankee Stadium the Giants jump out of the gate quickly winning six of their first seven games. The Giants would go on to finish with an 8-3-1 record, which was good enough to capture the Eastern Conference Title. Leading the way was Frank Gifford, who earns the NFL MVP with a nine Touchdowns and 1,422 all-purpose yards. In the first NFL Championship Game played at Yankee Stadium the Giants would face the Chicago Bears. The game was over by halftime as the Giants established a 34-7 lead, on the way to a 47-7 victory. Leading the way for Big Blue was Quarterback Charlie Connerly, and bruising Fullback Alex Webster who walked all over the Bears all day. The Championship proved perfect timing for both the league and the Giants as the NFL was about ready for an explosion in popularity, and at the forefront was the New York Giants, who were quickly becoming household names. The NFL was eager to promote its stars, and with Madison Avenue knocking on the door, the Giants became the most recognizable team in the NFL, as stars ranging from the matinee idol Frank Gifford to the rugged Sam Huff landed in advertisements. However, two bright stars toiled in anonymity on the Giants coaching staff. Working under Coach Jim Lee Howell was Offense Coordinator Vince Lombardi, and Tom Landry who guided the Defense each would go on to establish legendary Head Coaching careers.

1957: After losing the season opener to the Cleveland Browns the Giants bounce back and stand at 7-2 after nine games. However, the quest for a second straight NFL title ended with three losses to close out the season at 7-5.

1958: Through the first 11 games the Giants stand at 7-3, but still trail the Browns for first place in the Eastern Conference by a game. This set the stage for a season finale showdown with the Browns in the final game of the season at Yankee Stadium. The Giants would edge the Browns 13-10 to force a showdown for the Eastern Conference a week later. In the rematch at Yankee Stadium the Giants defense led by Sam Huff would completely shut down Jim Brown, to aid the Giants to a 10-0 victory to advance to the NFL Championship Game. The NFL Championship Game at Yankee Stadium saw the Giants taking on the upstart Baltimore Colts led by young Quarterback Johnny Unitas. The game was also a showcase event as it was the first time a major Television Network featured an NFL Championship Game. Millions would tune in, as the NFL was about rise from the shadows. With a crowd of 64,185 on hand at Yankee Stadium, the Giants jump out to a 3-0 on a 36-yard Pat Summerall Field Goal. However, the Colts would score twice, and would head into halftime with a 14-3 lead. The Giants would get back into the game on a one yard plunge by Mel Triplett, which was set up by an 86-yard gainer from Charlie Conerly to Kyle Rote with Alex Webster picking up Rote's fumble. The Giants would later take a 17-14 lead on Conerly's 15-yard Touchdown throw to Frank Gifford. However, with seven seconds remaining Colts Kicker Steve Myrah nailed a 13 yard Field Goal to knot the game at 17-17. Time would run out and at the end of 60 minutes nothing was settled, and for the first time in NFL History Overtime was needed to decide a game. The rules were simple the first team to score won, and thus it was important to get the ball first. The Colts would win the coin flip, but would not score on their first possession. After the Giants failed to score on their first possession the Colts got the ball back and drove it the length of the field, and won the game on a one yard Touchdown plunge by Alan Ameche. The Colts would win the NFL Championship, but the game won over new fans, and set the stage for the NFL's explosion in popularity. To this day many experts still believe it to be the greatest game ever played.

1959: The Giants cruise to the Eastern Conference Title with a 10-2 record, as Quarterback Charlie Conerly takes how the NFL MVP. The Giants Conference Championship set the up in a NFL Championship Game rematch with Colts in Baltimore. The Giants would take a 9-7 lead into the 4th Quarter, but the Colts would go on an offensive explosion to pull out a 31-16 victory.

1960: At 5-1-1 the Giants had that Championship look heading into back-to-back match up with Philadelphia Eagles. However, the Giants season would come to crashing end in the first match up when Eagles Defensive Back Chuck Bednarik leveled Frank Gifford. Gifford would not regain conciseness for a few days, and would miss the rest of the season and the entire 1961 season. The Giants would only win onegame the rest of the season finishing with a 6-4-2 record.

1961: The Giants go through changes on the sidelines and on offense as Allie Sherman takes over for Jim Lee Howell, as Head Coach, while former 49er Y.A. Tittle wins the starting Quarterback job away from the aging Charlie Conerly. Y.A. Tittle would have a stellar first season passing for 2,272 yards, which would serve important as Frank Gifford sat out the season recovering from the Bednarik hit. The Giants 10-3-1 record, that included a sweep over the Eagles that catapulted them into the NFL Championship Game. However, the Giants would find themselves over matched by the Packers who claimed the first of their five NFL Championships in seven years. The Packers would get 19 points from the lags and foot of Running Back Paul Horning, who also served as the Packers kicker on the way to a 37-0 thrashing.

1962: With the return of Frank Gifford, and the stellar passing of Y.A. Tittle who threw for 3,224 yards, and connected on 33 Touchdown passes the Giants cruise to the Eastern Conference Title with a 12-2 record. This set up the Giants with a NFL Championship rematch against the Packers at Yankee Stadium. Bitter cold weather was no deterrent to 64,892 fans that turned out for the game. As things turned out, a trio of field goals by Packer guard Jerry Kramer made the difference in a game where both defensive units turned in superlative jobs. The only Giants score was a result of defensive work when Erich Barnes blocked a Max McGee punt and reserve end Jim Collier fell on the ball in the end zone, as the Packers emerged with a 16-7 victory.

1963: Y.A. Tittle puts together another stellar 3000 yard passing season, while connecting on 36 Touchdown passes, which earns him the NFL MVP. The passing of Tittle enables the Giants to make return trip to the NFL Championship Game with an 11-3 record. In the NFL Championship Game in Chicago the Bear defense turned the tide in this championship game, after the Giants took an early 10-0. The Giants were the victims of five pass interceptions thereafter, two of which set up the Bear scores. Tittle, who suffered a knee injury in the first half, gallantly returned to action in the second half, but was hampered by his injury.

1964: The Giants seemed to get old at once gone was the magic in Y.A. Title's arm that only passed for 10 Touchdowns against 22 interceptions. The magic was also gone form Frank Gifford's legs as he only managed to cross the end zone 4 times. Both Giants greats would retire after the season as the Giants would suffer through a 2-10-2 season.

1965: Shortly after a mediocre 7-7 season the Giants shake the world of pro-football to its core by signing Kicker Pete Gogolak. However, Gogolak was already property of the AFL's Buffalo Bills. The AFL threatened a lawsuit, and began talking with NFL stars about buying out their contract. This worried owners in both leagues that salaries would escalate, and forced both leagues to meet on how to respect each other's contracts. The meetings would go better then expected, and resulted in a merger that included an end of the season Championship Game starting in 1966.

1966: The addition of Pete Gogolak is no help for an inept Giants team that suffers through its worst season in franchise history finishing with an awful 1-12-1 record, while allowing over 500 points on defense.

1967: The acquisition of Quarterback Fran Tarkenton ignites the Giants offense, and helps the Giants improve to 7-7. The nimble footed Tarkenton passes for 3,088 yards and 29 Touchdowns. Tarkenton's favorite target was a young Wide Receiver named Homer Jones who scored 13 Touchdowns, and caught 1,209 yards in passes. When Jones scored he would slam the football into ground, giving birth to the Touchdown celebration called the spike.

1968: The Giants get off to a promising start winning their first four games, and giving hope to Giants fan. However, the hope would fade, as the Giants would begin to struggle splitting their next six games, as rumors of coach Allie Sherman's firing began to circulate. The rumors would get louder as the Giants would lose their final four games to finish with a disappointing 7-7 record. In the final game of the year at Yankee Stadium frustrated Giants fans serenaded their departing coach with a verse of "Goodbye Allie".

1969: Under new Coach Alex Webster the Giants would get off to a strong start winning three of their first four games. However, the Giants would go into a tailspin losing their next seven games, which wiped out any playoff hopes. The Giants would win their last three games to post a record of 6-8. Despite the poor record Quarterback Fran Tarkenton would have a fine season with 23 Touchdowns to just eight interceptions.

1970: The Giants stumble out of the gates losing their first three games, but the Giants would quickly right themselves and would win nine of their next ten games, and were set up with a possibility of playoff berth with a win in their final game. However, the Giants would be routed by the Los Angeles Rams 31-3 in their season finale to finish with a 9-5 record, one game out of first place in the NFC East.

1971: With Fran Tarkenton suffering through one of his worst seasons the Giants find themselves in the NFC East cellar with a 4-10 record. After the season Fran Tarkenton is dealt back to the Minnesota Vikings, where he would lead the Vikings to three Super Bowls in four years.

1972: After dropping their first two games the Giants ran off a four game wining streak to give New York fans reason to hope. However, the Giants would split their final eight games and ended up in third place with a record of 8-6.

1973: With the renovation of Yankee Stadium into a baseball only facility the Giants are forced to find a new home. Finding a permanent home was easy, as the Giants and the New Jersey town of East Rutherford agreed on the building of a state of the art stadium. However, the stadium would not be completed until 1976, and the Giants need to find a temporary home. The Giants wanted to play on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. However New Haven officials were reluctant because of the NFL's blackout rule. NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle then with help of national politicians would persuade the FCC to change the rule so that the rule was only in effect if the game was not sold out in advance. This would clear the way for the Giants to play in New Haven after playing their first two games of the season at Yankee Stadium. However, the new home would still have a negative effect as the Giants finished with a woeful 2-11-1 record.

1974: The Giants continue to struggle in their temporary home losing all seven games played at the Yale Bowl, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Jets in the first regular season match up, with their New York rivals. The Giants would go on to finish in last place with a woeful 2-12 record.

1975: After two horrible seasons in New Haven in which the Giants only won once in 12 tries the vagabond Giants return to New York to share Shea Stadium with the Jets for one season. Shea was also used that season by the Mets, and Yankees making it the busiest facility in sports. However, the Giants struggle with a 2-5 home record, on the way to another miserable 5-9 season.

1976: After playing their first four games on the road the Giants finally move into their new home in the Meadowlands. Located just a short drive from the Lincoln Tunnel, the state of the art Giants Stadium final gave Big Blue a place of their own. However, the failures on the field continue as the Giants lose their first nine games, along the way costing Head Coach Bill Armsberger his job. The Giants would go on to finish in last place with a woeful 3-11 record.

1977: The Giants struggles continue as they suffered their fifth consecutive losing season while finishing in last place again with a terrible 5-9 record.

1978: Before a team can turn things around it is said it must first hit rock bottom. For the Giants rock bottom finally came during a late November Game at the Meadowlands against the Philadelphia Eagles. Leading 17-13 late in the 4th Quarter all the Giants had to do to win the game was kneel on the football. However, Quarterback Joe Pisarcik for some unknown reason tries to hand the ball of to Larry Csonka. The ball hit the Csonka, (who was not excepting it) in the chest and lands on the turf where Eagles Defensive Back Herman Edwards scoops it up and returns it the distance for a winning Touchdown in a play that would forever be know as "The Miracle in the Meadowlands." Had the Giants won the game they would have stayed alive in the Wild Card race with a 6-6 record. Instead the Giants would go on to win only one of their remaining games finishing with a 6-10 record.

1979: After 15 years without a playoff appearance, and the embarrassing "Miracle in the Meadowlands", Giants owner Wellington Mara was desperate to get the ship righted. Mara would turn to NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle for advice; on the recommendation of Rozelle the Giants hire George Young to run the day-to-day operations of the team. Young, had success in a similar position with Baltimore Colts years earlier, and had been serving in the front office of the Miami Dolphins. Young, who was the first true General Manager in franchise history, began by replacing Head Coach John McVay with Ray Perkins. His next move was to find a young Quarterback to build the team around. However, when the QB he selected was not a popular choice as he used a first round draft pick on Phil Simms from tiny Morehead State. Fans at the NFL Draft soundly booed the choice as New York Headlines screamed "Phil Who?" Simms would go on to have a solid rookie season as the Giants recovered from 0-4 start to stand at 4-4 at the midpoint. However, the Giants would struggle down the stretch before finish with a 6-10 record.

1980: Quarterback Phil Simms experiences a sophomore slump, and becomes "Phil Boo" to the press and fans in a season plagued by interceptions. The Giants would go on to finish with a woeful 4-12 record, which was only highlighted by a Week 10 win over the Dallas Cowboys, which probably cost their division rivals a trip to the Super Bowl.

1981: After a season in which the Giants defense allowed 425 points, General Manager George Young set out to find defense for his team. With the second Pick overall in the NFL Draft, Young would select LInebacker Lawrence Taylor from North Carolina. LT would make an immediate impact as the Giants defense improved immensely allowing almost 200 less points, as Taylor took home both Defensive Rookie and Player of the Year honors. The Giants would play solid football as well, and stood at 8-7 going into the final week of the season with a chance to make the playoffs with a win. In the final game of the season the Giants and Cowboys would meet in a defensive struggle that went to Overtime. In OT Giants Kicker Joe Danelo would nail a game winning Field Goal to send that sent the Giants to the playoff for the first time in 18 years. In the Wild Card game against the Eagles the Giants took the field with backup Quarterback Scott Brunner. The young Giants would go on to stun the defending NFC Champions in Philadelphia 27-21. In the second Round at San Francisco the Giants would stay in the game with 49ers until late before falling 38-24 to the eventual Super Bowl Champions.

1982: If the Giants were going to make the playoffs for a second season in a row they were going to have to do it with backup Quarterback Scott Brunner, as Phil Simms would miss the entire season with an injury leading papers to give him a new name "Phil Ouch". The Giants would get off to a 0-2 start before a two month player's strike interrupted the season. When the season resumed, the Giants would lose again, and would enter a Thanksgiving match up with the Lions. With the game tied lat Lawrence Taylor would return an interception 97 yards for a Touchdown. The win was the catalyst for a second straight Defensive Player of the Year for LT. It also served as a catalyst for the Giants who would go on a three game winning streak. However the Giants would go on to lose two of their final three to finish at 4-5, which left them a tiebreaker away from the postseason. Shortly after the season Giants Coach Ray Perkins resigned to take the head-coaching job at the University of Alabama.

1983: To replace Perkins the Giants promoted Defensive Coordinator to head Coach Bill Parcells to Head Coach. However in his first season Parcells looked over matched as the Giants struggled on both sides of the ball finishing with a woeful 3-12-1 record. General Manager George Young considered firing the Parcells, but after much consideration decided to give the young coach another year.

1984: With Phil Simms regaining the starting Quarterback job and passing for 4,044 yards the Giants showed marked improvement finishing 9-7, and earning a playoff spot thanks tie-breaker. In the Wild Card Game the Giants clamped down on Running Back Eric Dickerson who set the single season rushing record, while holding the Rams to ten points. The Giants would win the game 16-10 in Los Angeles thanks in part to three Field Goals by Ali Haji-Skeeikh, who had struggled all season, but performed at his best in the season's biggest game. In the second round the Giants found themselves in the way of another Championship run by the 49ers, and fell 21-10 in San Francisco.

1985: The Giants improvement continues as the team finds a star in Running Back Joe Morris, who scores 21 Touchdowns. Lawrence Taylor also continues to establish himself as the most intimidating force in the game, a reputation that is amplified with the horrific injury to Redskins Quarterback Joe Theisman. The Giants make the playoffs again with a 10-6 record, and host their first home playoff game in 23 years. In the Wild Card Game the Giants defense would smother the 49ers n the first Giants playoff game played at the Meadowlands as the G-men advanced to the second Round with a 17-3 win. However, in the next round the Giants found themselves overmatched again, as the powerful Chicago Bears beat the Giants 21-0 on the way to a Super Bowl Championship.

1986: After the harsh end to 1985 in Chicago the Giants were on a mission in 1986. However, the season would get off to a rough start as they fell in the Monday Night season opener in Dallas 31-28, as Running Back Hershel Walker made an impressive NFL debut with Cowboys. The Giants would go on to win their next five games before losing to the Seahawks in Seattle. At 5-2 the Giants stood in a three way tie for he NFC East lead entering a key Monday Night Match up with Washington Redskins at the Meadowlands, before a distracted home crowd who was keeping one eye on the New York Mets playing in Game 7 in the World Series. The Giants beat the Redskins 27-20, while the crowd chanted "Lets Go Mets." The following week the Giants would beat the Cowboys in the Meadowlands 17-14 a loss that would send the Cowboys into a tailspin, as the Giants dfense knocked around Cowboys Quarterback Danny White. The Giants would play solid football, but found themselves behind the eight-ball late in a game in Minnesota against the Vikings. However, Phil Simms, who had struggled most of the season would come of age and set the Giants up for a dramatic Game Winning Field Goal by Raul Alegree. The Giants would face another crucial moment in a Monday Night Match up in San Francisco. The 49ers would take a 17-0 lead, but the dominant Giants would fight back thanks to the inspirational play of Tight End Mark Bavaro who dragged several 49ers defenders on his back for a key first down in the Giants 21-17 victory. The Giants would go on to finish with a 14-2, as the road comebacks proved to be key in that the Giants got Home Field through out the playoffs thanks to a tie-breaker. Lawrence Taylor would make history by winning the Defensive Player of the Year for a third time. In addition LT would become the first defender in 15 years to win the NFL MVP. The Giants would face the 49ers in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs. The game would be no contest as the Giants bruised, battered and down right embarrassed the 49ers 49-3. Not even Joe Montana was immune getting knocked unconscious by Jim Burt on a pass that was intercepted and returned for a Touchdown by Lawrence Taylor. The Giants would go on to face the Redskins in the NFC Championship Game played in a frigid windy Giants Stadium. A sold-out crowd would watch frozen to their seats as the Big Blue Wrecking Crew smothered the Redskins 17-0 along the way giving another Quarterback Jay Schroeder a concussion.

Super Bowl XXI: Pasadena, CA might as well been East Rutherford, NJ as Giants fans filled the Rose Bowl for Super Bowl XXI. The Giants were big favorites over the Denver Broncos, but went into halftime trailing 10-9. However, the Giants would come storming out in the second half and would score 24 unanswered points to crush the Broncos hopes. Phil Simms who completed his journey from "Phil Who", to "Phil Boo" to "Phil Ouch", was now "Phil Hero" was named MVP by a record 88% of his passes. The turning point would come on a fake punt, as back Quarterback Jeff Rutledge got a key first down on the go ahead scoring drive. With the game settled at 39-20 only one mystery remained when would Bill Parcells get his Gatorade Bath? Throughout the season Giants Defensive End Harry Carson would dunk Parcells after each win was in hand, at first Parcells was less than amused, but after the Giants got on a roll it would become a ritual. As time winded down Carson, who suffered through some of the Giants darkest years, disguised himself in a security jacket snuck up behind Parcells and splashed the Giants coach to officially seal the victory.

1987: Coming off the Super Bowl the Giants lost a much-hyped Monday Night Season opener in Chicago to the Bears. A week later the Giants would lose a heartbreaker to the Cowboys at the Meadowlands, which put the Giants at 0-2, when the Player's Strike began. After a week off the NFL resumed play with replacement players. The Giants would field one of the worst replacement teams going 0-3, and dooming their playoff hopes at 0-5 when the regular players returned from the picket lines. The regulars would play solid football down the stretch winning six of ten games, but with a disappointing 6-9 record the playoff were well out of reach, as the Giants went form the Super Bowl to last place.

1988: The Giants get off to a 2-2 start as Lawrence Taylor sat out the first four games on a drug suspension. When LT returned the Giants would catch fire, and would enter a season finale against the New York Jets with a 10-5 record, needing a win for the NFC East Title. However, the Jets would stun their landlords with a 27-21 win that not only knocked the Giants out of firs, but completely out of the playoffs.

1989: The Giants reclaim the NFC East title with an impressive 12-4 record that was good enough t get the Giants the number two seed in the NFC Playoffs. However, the Giants would fall in divisional Round to the Los Angeles Rams 19-13, on a long Jim Everett to Flipper Anderson pass in Overtime, before a stunned crowd at Giants Stadium.

1990: The Giants jump out of the gate quickly winning their first 11 games to take a stranglehold on the NFC East. The win streak would end in Philadelphia as the Giants and 49ers both lost their first games a week before what would have been a December math up of undefeated teams on Monday Night in San Francisco. The Giants would go on to lose that game too, and began to look like a team with allot of faults. After a home win over the Vikings, the Giants found themselves in another marquee match up with Buffalo Bills. In a Saturday game played in freezing rain at Giants Stadium the Giants would fall 17-13 as Quarterback Phil Simms suffered a season ending foot injury. The Giants would go on to win the final two games of the season with backup Quarterback Jeff Hostetler. Back up Quarterback Jeff Hostetler played solid football in the Giants final two regular season games, but without Phil Simms how far could they make it in the playoffs? The Giants would not have to test that theory in the Divisional Round as the defense held the Chicago Bears to three points, as the Giants advanced to the NFC Championship with a 31-3 win at the Meadowlands. The Giants would face the 49ers, who were seeking their third straight Super Bowl Championship in San Francisco. The 49ers would not allow the Giants to reach the endzone, but Kicker Matt Bahr kept the Giants in the game while the defense held the 49ers to 13 points, while knocking Joe Montana out of the game. The Giants would draw to within one point after a fake punt was run by Linebacker Gary Reasons. With time winding down the Giants defense would step up big again and strip Running Back Roger Craig of the football to give the G-men the ball. The Giants would set up Kicker Matt Bahr in Field Goal range with three seconds left. Bahr would nail the 42-yard Field Goal to give the Giants a 15-13 win, and a trip to the Silver Anniversary Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XXV: In the Super Bowl played in Tampa, FL the Giants would face the high octane Buffalo Bills. Without Phil Simms the Giants were heavy underdogs in the Super Bowl that was played against a patriotic backdrop because of Operation Desert Storm. The greatest Super Bowl ever played began with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by New Jersey Native Whitney Houston. The Bills would jump out to a quick 12-3 lead, as the Giants were in trouble of being caught in a Buffalo stampede. Bill Parcells knowing the Bills offense was hard to contain would have the Giants play a methodic ball control game the rest of the way, and closed the gap to 12-10 with a long Touchdown drive to close out the first half. The Giants would then go on another long methodical drive, which lasted more than 10 minutes to take a 17-12 lead. The Bills would re take the lead on a Touchdown run by Thurman Thomas on the first play of the 4th Quarter, but the Giants kept driving keeping the Bills offense on the sidelines, as they retook the lead 20-19. The Giants would establish a Super Bowl record 40:33 time of possession, but the Bills would have the ball with a chance to win the game. Quarterback Jim Kelly would get the Bills into position for a Scott Norwood Field Goal with ten seconds remaining. Norwood would hit the 47-yard attempt flush, but as it approached the goal posts it sailed wide right giving the Giants their second Super Bowl Championship.

1991: Five months after the Super Bowl Bill Parcells stuns the team by resigning after seven seasons at the helm. With the announcement so late after the season, and the Giants top two assistants taking jobs elsewhere, the Giants were forced to settle on Running Back Coach Ray Handley. Handley was over his head from the start as he was thrown into the fire of a preseason Quarterback controversy. Should Phil Simms get his job back? Should Jeff Hostetler be given the job for his post-season performance? Eventually "Hoss" would win the starting job. The Giants would win their first game, but would struggle in the ensuing weeks, and stood at 6-6 when the Quarterback Controversy raised its ugly head again. In a win in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers Hostetler sustained an injury leading Phil Simms to get his job back, but in a following press conference Ray Handley would show how ill-suited for the job he was when he stormed out at a reporter's question about the Quarterback situation. The Giants would lose three straight games before finishing at 8-8, missing out on the playoffs.

1992: The problems of Head Coach continue as the Giants continue to play terrible football. As the season wore on it was more and more apparent that Handley's days as coach were numbered, as the Giants would finish the season with a woeful 6-10 record.

1993: The Giants would hire Dan Reeves, who led the Denver Broncos to three Super Bowls as their new head coach. With Jeff Hosteller gone the starting Quarterback job was back in Phil Simms hands as the Giants ended one of the ugliest Quarterback Controversies in recent history. The Giants would return to their playoff form and would stand in first place with two weeks remaining at 11-3. However, a bad loss to the Arizona Cardinals and a heartbreaking Overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys at home cost the Giants the NFC East title. The Giants would however, earn a wild card home game and would beat the Minnesota Vikings 17-10 on a frigid afternoon at Giants Stadium. However, the Giants season would end a week later with a 44-3 thrashing at the hands of the 49ers in San Francisco.

1994: The 1993 Playoffs would mark the end of an era for the Giants as Lawrence Taylor; one of the most dominating defenders in NFL history called it a career after 13 seasons. The Giants would then go on to stun their fans in June by unceremoniously releasing Quarterback Phil Simms after 15 years to make room for third year Quarterback Dave Brown. Brown would get off to a good start winning his first three games, but it was followed by a seven game losing streak that all but doomed their playoff hopes. However, Brown and the Giants would make a valiant comeback winning their last six games to finish 9-7, which left them just short of the postseason.

1995: The Giants season got off on the wrong foot, as they were thrashed at home 35-0 by the Dallas Cowboys in the Monday Night season opener, spoiling a halftime ceremonies where the famous number 56 of Lawrence Taylor was retired. The Giants would go on to finish the season with a terrible 5-11 record, as their season ended with the franchise getting a black eye as fans pelted the San Diego Chargers with ice balls from snow under the seats knocking out a San Diego Chargers assistant coach.

1996: In his third year as starting Quarterabck Dave Brown continued to struggle, as the Giants suffered through a 6-10 season that would claim the job of Head Coach Dan Reeves, who just came into the fold at the wrong time.

1997: Under new Coach Jim Fassel the Giants get off to a another shaky start losing three of their first four games, in an attempt to change the fortunes of his team around Quarterback Dave Brown is benched in favor of second year Quarterback Danny Kannell. Although Kannell did not perform much better the Giants fortunes changed as Defensive End Michael Strahan came of age as a leader on the defense. The Giants would go on to finish with a 10-5-1 record, while not losing a single division game n the way to an NFC East Title. The third seeded the Giants would go on to face the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round. The Giants would hold a 22-13 lead with four minutes left in a game played in snowy Meadowlands. However, the Vikings would drive up the field as eth Giants defense would start fighting amongst themselves. After a Vikings Touchdown, the Giants would fail to pick up the onside kick setting leading to a game winning Field Goal that would stun the Giants 23-22.

1998: Quarterback Danny Kannell would struggle miserably in his first full season with starting job. Kannell would eventually lose his starting job to Kent Graham as the Giants need a four game winning streak to close out the season with an 8-8 record.

1999: The Giants instability as Quarterback continues as Kerry Collins gets the job away from Kent Graham. The Giants also suffer with inconstancy as they lose their final three games to finish with a 7-9 record.

2000: Picked by most experts to finish in last place at the start of the season the Giants took the field with a throwback uniform, and Kerry Collins firmly entrenched at Quarterback. The Giants get off to a good start winning seven of their first nine games to stand in first Place. However, two straight home losses had many questioning weather the Giants were for real. An irate Jim Fassel would declare in inequitable turns "The Giants were going to make the playoffs." Those words seemed to inspire the Giants who went on a season ending 5 game winning streak that not only put them in the playoffs, but also gave them home field advantage with a 12-4 record. As the Giants moved on the playoffs people continued to doubt their legitimacy, declaring them "The worst top seed ever". The Giants would face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round, and would pull away in the 3rd Quarter thanks to a spectacular interception catch and return by Defensive Back Jason Sehorn. After dispatching the Eagles the Giants were matched up against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship. The Giants were still receiving no respect, as the Vikings were favored to win the game. However, the Giants quickly jumped on the Vikings taking a 14-0 lead less then five minutes into the game, the shell-shocked Vikings never recovered as the Giants advanced to the Super Bowl with a 41-0 victory. After the game Owner Wellington Mara publicly mocked the experts calling the Giants the worst top seed ever.

Super Bowl XXXV: Back in Tampa ten years later the Giants were matched up against the smothering defense of the Baltimore Ravens in the 35th Super Bowl. The Ravens would take a 10-0 lead into halftime, as the Giants could not do anything on offense. The Ravens were in danger of pulling away after a 49-yard Interception return by Duane Starks gave the Ravens a 17-0 lead, but the Giants would quickly get back into the game on a 97-yard Kickoff return by Ron Dixon. However, the reprieve was short lived as the Ravens answered the kick return with one of their own by Jermaine Lewis that gave Baltimore a 24-7 lead on the way to a 34-7 win.

2001: The Giants would get off to a 3-1 start as Defensive End Michael Strahan was making a serious run at the single season sack record of 22. However, two consecutive onepoint losses to the St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles would send the Giants into a tailspin. Jim Fassel tried to repeat his playoff guarantee of the year before but bad penalties, and poor special teams play put the Giants into a 5-7 hole. However, the Giants would win their next two games to enter a game with Eagles in Philadelphia with a chance to still win the division. The Giants would lead the Eagles 21-14 late, but ten quick points in the final two minutes had the Giants down 24-21 with three seconds remaining. The Giants needing a miracle almost scored on an 80-yard hook and lateral, but Ron Dixon was tackled three yards short of a miracle. The Giants would go on to finish with a 7-9 record, but Strahan would get his record, with a questionable sack of Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre in the final game of the season.

2002: Trough most of the season the Giants played inconsistent football with frustrating losses to the last place Arizona Cardinals and expansion Houston Texans. After a heartbreaking home loss against the Tennessee Titans in which the Giants led by eight points in the final seconds most had given up on the Giants as they were straddled with a mediocre 6-6 record, needing to win the rest of their games to have any hope of making the playoffs. However the Giants offense would catch fire scoring 108 points in their next three games as they entered the final week of the season with a record of 9-6 needing to win their final game against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Meadowlands to make the playoffs. With Tiki Barber rushing for a career high 203 yards the Giants would get that win 10-7 in overtime. With a record of 10-6 the Giants were rolling as Quarterabck Kerry Collins passed for 4,073 yards with super rookie Tight End Jeremy Shockey becoming an instant fan favorite. In the playoffs the Giants offense continued to roll as they jumped out to a 38-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. However, the Giants would suddenly unravel as the 49ers scored 25 unanswered points to take a 39-38 lead in the 4th Quarter. Despite the collapse the Giants would still have an opportunity to win the game as they set up for a game winning 38-yard field goal. However, the special teams' troubles that plagued them all year rose up again as long snapper Trey Junkin who was signed just for the playoffs snap was low forcing holder Matt Allen to try a desperate pass, which landed incomplete, when Guard Rich Seaubert was yanked to the ground. In the chaos the officials failed to realize Seaubert was eligible and the Giants should have had another play, as the NFL sent the team a letter of apology that made the stunning loss feel even worse for Giants fans.

2003: The Giants kicked off their season on a positive note as their defense harassed St. Louis Rams Quarterback Kurt Warner all day forcing six fumbles while sacking him six times and adding an interception in an impressive 23-13 win. However, the following week their specials teams failed them as the Giants 18-point 4th Quarter was all for naught after Matt Bryant's kickoff sailed out of bounds allowing the Cowboys to quickly get in Field Goal range for a tying field goal at the end of regulation. In overtime the Giants would fall 35-32. After rebounding to beat the Washington Redskins in overtime the offense faltered in their next three games which they all lost. The Giants slump would come to an end in Minnesota as the Giants beat an undefeated Vikings team 29-17. A week late the Giants faced off with the New York Jets for city and stadium bragging rights, with the specter that the loser's playoff hopes would go on life support. In perhaps the most exciting Giants-Jets game as it went a full 15-minute overtime period before Brett Conway playing for an injured Matt Bryant nailed the game winner from 29 yards out. At 4-4 with two straight wins the Giants season appeared back on track as they faced the 1-7 Atlanta Falcons at home. However, the Giants put forth one of their worst efforts in recent years turning the ball over four times in a listless 27-7 loss before a booing crowd at Giants Stadium. Following the game Coach Jim Fassel was heard audibly yelling at his team "Are you trying to get me fired?" From there things would only get worse as the Giants would not win another game losing their final eight games to finish with a league worst 4-12 record. Even worse was the fact in seven of the eight losses were by more 13 points or more. Following the season in which the Giants appeared to quit midway through Jim Fassel was in fact fired, as the team began a major shake up that also saw them trade up to obtain the top overall pick which they used on Quarterback Eli Manning, whose rich bloodlines include his father Archie a former All-Pro Quarterback and brother Peyton the league's 2003 Co-MVP.

2004: With new Coach Tom Coughlin the Giants began a new era on a sour note losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 on the road 31-17 as former MVP Kurt Warner started the season with Rookie Quarertback Eli Manning watching from the sidelines. However, the Giants would play well over the next few weeks winning their next four games on the way to a solid 5-2 start. However, in Week 9 the Giants played sloppy football with five turnovers in a stunning 28-21 home loss to the Chicago Bears. A Week later the Giants offense struggled again in a 17-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, leading to the benching of Warner as Eli Manning was thrown into the starting role. However, Manning was clearly not ready as he was prone to interception and mistakes while having trouble hitting the Giants receivers as the Giants lost their first six games with Manning at the helm losing eight straight games overall. Hoping to end the season on a good note Eli Manning would have his best game in the final game of the season with three Touchdown passes in a 28-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys, as the Giants finished with a 6-10 record. One bright spot came from Tiki Barber, who rushed for a career high 1,518 yards with 15 Touchdowns, as he added 578 receiving yards for an impressive 2,096 All-Purpose yards while avoiding many of the fumble problems that had plagued his career.

2005: In his second season the Giants hoped Eli Manning could grow into a top notch starting Quarterback, as they signed Free Agent Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress to give him a tall downfield threat. In Game 1 though it was the special teams that helped make the difference as Willie Ponder returned a kickoff 95 yards for a TD and Char Morton returned a punt 52 yards for a Touchdown in a 42-19 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Due to Hurricane Katrina the Giants were able to get an extra game at Giants Stadium as they played a special Monday Night "road game" in the Meadowlands. The Giants would take full advantage and improved to 2-0 with a 27-10 win over the New Orleans Saints. Week 3 would be a test as the Giants hit the road, with Eli Manning in the center of a storm as the Giants traveled to San Diego to face the Chargers, whom Eli stated he would not play for when they drafted him number one overall and traded him to the Giants. With the fans raining boos on Manning, Eli was able to show allot of maturity playing well while passing for 352 yards. However, the Giants defense didn't fare as well as the Chargers won the game 45-23. Back home a week later the Giants rebounded nicely, beating the St. Louis Rams 44-24. After an overtime loss on the road to the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants appeared to be heading for a second straight loss as they trailed the Denver Broncos 23-10 in the 4th Quarter. After a Tiki Barber Touchdown run cut the deficit to six points early in the 4th, the Giants offense seemed stalled until they got the ball in the final two minutes as Eli Manning drove the Giants 83 yards hitting Amani Toomer on a perfect Touchdwon pass with five seconds left to give the Giants a dramatic 24-23 win. That game would be the final game Wellington Mara would see, as the man who was on the sideline as a ball boy in the Giants first game in 1925, before joining his father as a co-owner at the age of 14 in 1930, passed away just two days later at the age of 89. The Giants would dedicate their next game against the Washington Redskins to him, and played inspired winning 36-0. The Giants would suffer more heartache later in the season as Robert Tisch who owned the other 50% of the team also passed away, but it would not effect the team on the field as the Giants went to win the NFC East with a solid 11-5 record, as Tiki Barber set a team record with a 1,850 rushing yards while Eli Manning passed for 3,762 yards with 24 Touchdown passes. However, in the playoffs the Giants would come up shooting blank as everyone played poorly as they were embarrassed and blanked by the Carolina Panthers at home 23-0.

2006: The season started off with a media circus surrounding the so-called "Manning Bowl" as Eli faced off against his older brother Peyton as the Giants faced the Indianapolis Colts in a Prime Time showdown. Eli would hold his own, with 276 yards passing and two touchdowns, but the Colts would win the game 26-21. A week later Eli Manning was even better passing for 371 yards and three touchdowns as the Giants rallied from a 17-point deficit in the 4th Quarter, to beat the Philadelphia Eagles, in overtime 30-24 on a 31-yard Touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress. Manning would have another strong 4th Quarter a week later leading the Giants to 27 points on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, however the deficit was too larger to overcome as the Seahawks won 42-30. Following the bye week, which was turbulent, as Jeremy Shockey criticized Coach Tom Coughlin, while news leaked that Tiki Barber would retire the Giants came out smoking beating the Washington Redskins 19-3 to start a five game winning streak. However as the streak wound down the Giants injuries began to mount with Free Agent acquisition Linebacker LeVar Arrington missing the final ten games, while Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Michael Strahan soon joined him on the sidelines. Also missing half the season was Amani Toomer, who Eli Manning would sorely missed as Plaxico Burress had trouble getting open the final half of the season. After losing two straight to the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars the Giants appeared to be getting back on track as they led the Tennessee Titans 21-0 in the 4th Quarter. However, a key personal 4th down foul penalty on Frank Walker for a late hit out of bounds on Vince Young gave the Titans new life, as they rallied to tie the game with 44 seconds left. Things went form bad to worse, as Eli Manning tried to force a pass down the field, and was picked off by Pacman Jones, who set the Titans up for a game winning 49-yard Field Goal with 6 seconds left. A week later the Giants would return home and lose again on a last second field goal as the Giants hopes for a division title slipped away in a 23-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at home. The four game losing streak would finally end the following week as the Giants took advantage of a Carolina Panthers team playing with a back up Quarterback to win 27-13. The Giants though would continue to struggle as they fell below .500 with losses to the Eagles and New Orleans Saints. However, despite the terrible stretch the Giants could still make the playoffs by winning their last game on the road against the Washington Redskins. Not wanting his career to end on such a bad note, Tiki Barber rushed for a team record 234 yards with three Touchdowns, single handily led the way as the Giants won 34-28 to finish with an 8-8 record and slip into the playoffs. In the Wild Card round the Giants would face the Eagles for the third time. Much like their first meeting in Philadelphia the Giants trailed entering the 4th Quarter 20-10; however they would battle back tying the game with a little over five minutes remaining on an 11-yard pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress. However, there would be no overtime win this time around, as the Eagles drove down the field to set David Akers up for 38-yard Field Goal that gave the Eagles a 24-21 win as time expired. The Giants season would end in heartbreak as Tiki Barber the team's MVP retired to pursue a career in television after ten years, later saying it was Coach Tom Coughlin, and the atmosphere in the locker that made him retire.

2007: When the Giants season began there was not much optimism, even from the most ardent supporter of Big Blue. The team was in absolute chaos, a new General Manager Jerry Reese, and the belief that Tom Coughlin was a lame duck coach, as former Giant Tiki Barber ripped him openly in a book and with his new television job. While Eli Manning appeared to be on the road to bustville, as Barber also openly questioned his heart and leadership ability. Then there was the Michael Strahan situation, as the Giants star Defensive End began training camp uncommitted to returning for a 15th season, as he missed all of the pre-season. Before the season started Strahan finally returned as fans crossed their fingers and hoped the Giants would be better then expected. However, when the season started the dire predictions looked to be coming true as the Giants got off to an awful start as their defense looked like Swiss cheese in a 45-35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, which was followed up by a 35-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the home opener. In Week 3 the Giants continued to look like a bad team as they trailed the Washington Redskins at halftime 17-3. With Ruben Droughens leading the way and the Giants defense holding the Redskins to 85 yards in the second half the Giants would stage a 4th Quarter comeback as they clinched victory with an impressive goaline stand. The win would be a turning point for the Giants defense, as the unit that looked like Swiss Cheese in Week 1 looked like the Big Blue Wrecking Crew of the 80's as they sacked Donovan McNabb 12 times, with Osi Umenyiora leading the was with six as the Giants beat the Philadelphia Eagles 16-3. The following week the Giants winning streak increased to three as they beat the Jets in the battle of New York 35-24, with Eli Manning connecting with Plaxico Burress for the go ahead Touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Giants win streak would increase to five, as they had easy wins over the lowly Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers. Week 8 would see another lowly opponent for the Giants as they faced the Miami Dolphins. However, they had to fly over 3,000 miles to play the first regular season game in Europe. The weather was tough and slippery at London's Wimberley Stadium as Eli Manning was limited to 59-yards. However, the Giants defense shutdown the Dolphins as the Giants escaped with a 13-10 win over the winless Dolphins. After a bye week the Giants had a chance to avenge their Week 1 loss and claim first place as they hosted the Cowboys. However, their defense was exposed by Tony Romo again as their six game winning streak ended with a 31-20 loss. The Giants would alternate wins and losses over the next few weeks as they picked up big wins on the road, and played disappointing football at home, including an ugly 41-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, where Eli Manning threw four interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. The Giants would clinch a playoff spot in the next to last game of the season as they used the big play to stun the Bills 38-21 on a blustery day in Buffalo, as they Ahmad Bradshaw's 88 yard run in the snow followed by Corey Webster's 34-yard interception return singled great things ahead. Those great things would not manifest themselves in the regular season finale as they faced the 15-0 New England Patriots. The game meant nothing to the Giants, but they played with integrity and decided to play their regulars the entire game in order to prevent the Pats from making history. The Giants would give the Patriots all they could handle as Eli Manning had a strong game with four touchdown passes. However, in the end the Pats record breaking offense was too strong as they finished the season 16-0 by beating the Giants 38-35.

2007 Playoffs: As the fifth seed the Giants road to the Super Bowl was away from Giants Stadium, and for them that was a good thing, as they had not lost on the road since Week 1, while they posted a 3-5 record at home on the way to a 10-6 record. The Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers approached their Wild Card match up in different directions, as the Giants played the final week of the season to win, the Buccaneers played not to get hurt and rested many of their starters. In a battle of differing philosophies it appeared Coach Tom Coughlin's decision to play hard the final week paid off, as the Bucs appeared out of sync, despite a Touchdown on the first possession. The Bucs would not score again, until late in the fourth quarter as the Giants controlled the game and continued their road winning streak with a 24-14 win. The win set up a rematch with the Dallas Cowboys, at the site of the Week 1 loss. In the regular season the Cowboys had easily beaten the Giants twice, as the Giants defense seemed to have no answer for Tony Romo. However, Romo found love since the Giants last played the Cowboys, and while the Giants were focused on football the Cowboys, almost laughing off the Giants as insignificant vacationed during their first round playoff bye, with Tony Romo taking a much publicized trip to Mexico with girlfriend Jessica Simpson. From the start it was easy to tell that this game would be different for the Giants as their defense pressured Romo all day, as the game went into halftime tied 14-14, with Eli Manning connecting with Amani Toomer for two big touchdown passes; (a 52-yarder in the first quarter and a short four yard pass with seven seconds left in the first half). In the second half the Giants defense got even tougher harassing and rushing Romo who had a disappointing game completing just 50% of his passes, while keeping Terrell Owens under control. The Giants battling defense would final get paid off, as Brandon Jacobs' one yard Touchdown plunge gave them a 21-17 lead in the fourth quarter. From their it would be all defense as Romo attempted to lead a game winning Touchdown drive in the final minute, as R.W. McQuarters clinched victory for the Giants by stepping in front of Terry Glenn for an interception in the endzone. The win sent the Giants to the NFC Championship Game where they faced the Green Bay Packers, and sub zero temperatures. However, it was not the Giants who looked cold on the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field it was the Packers as the Giants defense continued to pressure and harass Quarterbacks as they hit Brett Favre all day. The lone blemish against the Giants defense came in the second quarter as they allowed Favre to find Donald Driver on a 90-yard Touchdown Pass, which gave the Packers a 10-6 halftime lead. In the second half the Giants would take control as they took the lead on another Touchdown plunge from Brandon Jacobs. After the Packers retook the lead the Giants recovered behind rookie Running Back Ahmed Bradshaw who had a chunk of his helmet chip off on a scoring drive that game the Giants a 20-17 lead. The Giants defense continued to harass Favre in the fourth quarter as he was picked off by R.W. McQuarters. However, McQuarters during the run back fumbled the ball giving the Packers the ball back which allowed them to tie game 20-20. The Giants would have two chances to win the game before the end of regulation, but Lawrence Tynes missed two field goal attempts. However, the Giants defense continued to shutdown Brett Favre who appeared to be badly affected by the cold, while Eli Manning remained cool under pressure in the third coldest game in NFL history. One Giant who looked worst for ware as they game went to overtime was Coach Tom Coughlin whose face looked to be going through the early stages of frost bite. Overtime would not last long as Corey Webster picked off Favre to set up a third try for Tynes, who made the third time a charm as the Giants advanced to Super Bowl XLII with a dramatic 47-yard Field Goal that won the game 23-20.

Super Bowl XLII: Once again the Giants stood in the way of history for the New England Patriots, who were attempting to join the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only team to have a Perfect Season. For the 10-6 Giants it was as if they were just at the coronation for the team labeled by ESPN "The Greatest Football Team of All-Time." The Patriots had even trademarked the phrase 19-0. It was going to be cakewalk for the Patriots who entered the game as 12-point favorites. As for the Giants it had been a great run, Tom Coughlin had won over the team and his critics, Eli Manning had proven he was a good leader, and was not a bust, and Michael Strahan, who was playing in his final game had one more chance to win an elusive Super Bowl ring. Much like the early days of September expectations were low for the Giants, as fans merely wanted a good showing, truly not expecting a win. However, the Giants had a secret in the Week 17 meeting they were able to find weaknesses in the Patriots stellar offense and entered the game with a quiet confidence as they arrived in Glendale, AZ wearing black as a funeral for the Patriots perfection. The pressure was far from the Giants sideline, as they were playing with the house's money. Getting the ball first the Giants took a page out of their Super Bowl XXV victory as they kept the Patriots offense off the field, holding the ball for the game's first ten minutes. However, the Giants would only manage a 32-yard Field Goal by Lawrence Tynes. The Pats would not take long to answer back scoring a Touchdown on their first possession as Laurence Maroney scored from one yard out on the first play of the second quarter. That would be the last points scored for the next two quarters as the Giants defense kept the team in the game by keeping the Patriots under wraps, by pressuring MVP Tom Brady like he had not been pressured all season. The pressure came from all directions as Justin Tuck seemed to be on Brady's back every play. In the fourth quarter the Giants offense began to find a grove as Eli Manning connected on a 45-yard pass to Rookie Tight End Kevin Boss, who established himself as a go to receiver during the playoff run, while playing for an injured Jeremy Shockey. A few plays later Manning connected with David Tyree to give the Giants a 10-7 lead. As the playoffs continued to be filled with unsung heroes for the Giants, as it was the first Touchdown scored by Tyree all season. The Giants defense would continue their harassment of Tom Brady, but the Pats MVP who had won the Super Bowl three times, continued his dazzling fourth quarter career giving the Patriots 14-10 lead with 2:42 left in the game. The game and the season would rest in Eli Manning's hand, as his brother Peyton Super Bowl XLI's MVP watched, from the stands, it would be Eli's time to prove all his critics wrong. The drive started slow for the Giants as Manning's first two passes landed incomplete. Needing a big play to keep the drive alive hit Amani Toomer to set up a fourth down and one play, which would be converted by Brandon Jacobs. After a five yard scramble and another incomplete pass the Giants faced another key third down at their own 44-yard line. The Patriost defense would bring the pressure and appeared to have Manning sacked, but Eli escaped and found David Tyree for a 32-yard pass into Patriots territory. The escape from Eli Manning was amazing, but the catch itself was even more spectacular as Tyree battling All-Pro Rodney Harrison pinned the ball to the back of his helmet to make the competition. It was reviewed by the officials, and ruled a catch, as suddenly it seemed something special was in the air. However, time was short and the Giants still needed 24 yards to win the game. After misfires on the next two plays it was another third down pass this time to Rookie Steve Smith that kept the drive alive. The next play would bring pay dirt as Manning found Plaxico Burress who was playing injured in the endzone for a Touchdown that gave the Giants a 17-14 lead with 39 seconds remaining. With Brady needing to heave the ball down the field the Giants defense continued to apply the pressure throwing the NFL MVP who set a single season record for touchdown passes for a ten yard loss, as another Rookie Jay Alford broke up the middle. With 19 seconds left the Pats now were stuck deep in their own territory as two prayers landed safely on the ground securing the Giants improbable Super Bowl win. For his clutch drive Eli Manning was named the Super Bowl MVP. Three days later the Giants returned to New York as they were given the ticker tape parade the city had refused to give them for their two other championships, while returning to the Meadowlands later that day to celebrate with their loyal fans in New Jersey, while somewhere in Miami the 1972 Dolphins popped champagne celebrating that they remained the only perfect team in NFL history.

2008: Coming off their historic upset of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants hoped they could establish themselves a consistent Super Bowl contender. They were up against some bad history, as the Giants failed to make the playoffs in the season following their first three trips to the Super Bowl. Playing in the Thursday Night opener reserved for the Super Bowl Champion, the Giants started the season on the right foot beating the Washington Redskins 16-7, as they won their first four games. After a sloppy 35-14 Monday Night loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Giants quickly got back on track winning their next six games. During this winning streak the Giants recorded impressive road victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. At 10-1 the Giants looked to be on the road to a second straight Lombardi Trophy, when Plaxico Burress was lost for the season with a self inflicted gun shot wound to his thigh. Burress who caught the winning Touchdown pass in the Super Bowl, had gotten big money deal with the Giants, but continued to be a disciplinary problem, as he earned a suspension for their Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks, after continued tardiness to Giants practices and meetings. Burress was out of the rematch against the Redskins in Washington, but the Giants again did not miss a beat, improving to 11-1, and winning the NFC East with a solid 23-7 win. Burress' wound would only be superficial, but it marked the end of his Giants career. As an investigation determined he had an unlicensed handgun that accidental went off when he tried to prevent it from slipping down his leg, as he attempted to put the gun in the waist band of his pocket-less sweatpants, while at a Manhattan Nightclub. Making matters worse, teammates Antonio Pierce and Ahmad Bradshaw were with him at the time, and also were investigated by New York Police, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged that Burress would serve prison time, and not receive special treatment. Despite returning the gun to Burress' home in New Jersey, Pierce would not be charged, while Bradshaw who had a criminal record before his NFL career even began never faced any serious charges. The Giants would suspend Burress without pay the rest of the season and eventual release him, as New York strict guns laws eventually forced him to accept a two year prison sentence in a plea deal. Without Burress, the Giants moved on losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 in Week 13, a week later they would suffer a 20-8 loss on the road to the Dallas Cowboys, threatening their chances of winning home field. With playoff seeding on the line, the Giants hosted the Carolina Panthers in a key Sunday Night game. Trailing 21-10 late in the 2nd Quarter, the Giants began to claw their way back into the game as John Carney nailed a 35-yard Field Goal. After the Giants pulled within one point with a 3rd Quarter Touchdown by Kevin Boss, the Panthers extended the lead to eight points on a 30 yard Touchdown run by DeAngelo Williams. However, led by Derrick Ward who rushed for 215 yards the Giants, would force overtime, as Brandon Jacobs scored from one yard out with 3:21 left, tying the game on a two point conversion pass from Eli Manning to Domenik Hixon. In overtime it was Jacobs again scoring the winning Touchdown from two yards put to give the Giants home field in the playoffs and a 34-28 win. The Giants would finish the season with a 13-3 record, losing a meaningless game to the Minnesota Vikings 20-19 on a last second field goal from Ryan Longwell. In the playoffs the Giants would face the Philadelphia Eagles again when the loss of Plaxico Burress would catch up with them as the Giants struggled in the red zone, manning just three Field Goals in five trips inside the Eagles 20, while Donovan McNabb had a solid game leading the Eagles to a 23-11 victory to advance to the NFC Championship Game.

2009: After the disappointing end of the season, the Giants said good bye to Plaxico Burress, who received a two year prison sentence for possession of a hand gun. Hoping to replace Burress the Giants selected Hakeem Nicks with the 29th pick in the NFL Draft. When the season started the Giants again looked like Super Bowl contenders as held off the Washington Redskins 23-17 to win the season opener at home before embarking on a three game road trip. The first game of the road trip saw the Giants spoil the opening of the Dallas Cowboys state of the art stadium, as Lawrence Tynes nailed a 37 yard Field Goal as time expired for a 33-31 win in primetime. However, the game at a price as pass rusher Justin Tuck suffered a sprain shoulder that would slow him the remainder of the season. The Giants also lost Safety Kenny Phillip for the season with a knee injury. The Giants would win the remaining two games of the road trip beating the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. Coming back to Giants Stadium the Giants continued to play well slamming the Oakland Raiders 44-7 to start the season 5-0. However, a week later in a battle of unbeaten teams the Giants were exposed, losing to the New Orleans Saints 48-27 on the road. A week later they suffered another setback, as Eli Manning was intercepted three times in a 24-17 primetime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The Giants continued to struggle a week later, suffering a 40-17 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The loss had people questioning the Giants new Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan who replaced Steve Spagnuolo who left to become head coach of the St. Louis Rams. The losing streak would reach four games, when QB Phillip Rivers, whom the Giants traded to the San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning in the 2004 draft led an 80 yard to hit Vincent Jackson with a 18 game winning TD pass with 21 seconds left to give the Chargers a 21-20 win in the Meadowlands. The Giants defense would falter in the final minutes coming off the bye as the Atlanta Falcons scored with 35 seconds left to tie the game 31-31. The Giants would recover in overtime, as Lawrence Tynes nailed a game winning Field Goal from 45 yards out after the Giants won the coin toss. However, four days later the Giants again looked sloppy as they suffered a 26-6 loss to the Denver Broncos on Thanksgiving. At 6-5 the Giants suddenly needed a win to save their season. With another strong game from Eli Manning and a 70-yard punt return for a Touchdown by Domenik Hixon the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys for the second time 31-24. However, their defense continued to struggle a week later as they lost a primetime shootout to the Philadelphia Eagles 45-38, as Eli Manning fumbled in the final minutes while trying to drive for the tying score. The Giants offense would continue to lead the way as they beat the Washington Redskins 41-9 on Monday Night Football. However, in the final game at Giants Stadium the Giants laid an egg with an embarrassing 41-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers, which all but ended their hopes for a return to the playoffs. A week later the Giants season would come to an end at 8-8 with another lackluster loss to the Minnesota Vikings 44-7, as they posted a terrible 3-8 record after starting 5-0. The season ending struggles would lead to the Giants again changing their Defensive Coordinator as Bill Sheridan was fired and replaced by Perry Fewell.

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