1990 New York Giants season
Encyclopedia
The 1990 New York Giants
season
was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football
franchise's history. The Giants
, who play in the National Football Conference
(NFC) of the National Football League
(NFL), won their sixth championship—and second Super Bowl
—in franchise history during the season. Led by linebacker
Lawrence Taylor
and quarterback
s Phil Simms
and Jeff Hostetler
, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and defeated the Chicago Bears
and defending Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers
in the NFC playoffs. In Super Bowl XXV
they defeated the Buffalo Bills
20–19 in Tampa Stadium, against a patriotic backdrop inspired by the recently started Gulf War
. The story of the season is the subject of a recent book, When the Cheering Stops, by defensive end Leonard Marshall and CBSsports.com co-writer William Bendetson.
After making the playoffs in 1989, the Giants entered the 1990 season
as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. They began the season with a 27–20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
, then won their next nine games before losing a rematch to Philadelphia 31–13 in week 12. The Giants also lost close games to the 49ers on the road and Bills at home in the regular season, before defeating both teams in playoff rematches. During the Buffalo game, Simms was lost for the season with a broken foot, and replaced by Hostetler. The Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed (211), and the team set an NFL record by committing only 14 turnovers in the regular season, which was broken by the New York Giants
and Miami Dolphins
in 2008 with 13, and then again by the New England Patriots in 2010, with only 10. After the season, six Giants were selected to the Pro Bowl.
, as opposed to the normal 12, and took running back
Rodney Hampton
in the first round with the #24 overall selection. They took defensive end
Mike Fox
out of West Virginia University
in the second round (#51 overall) and linebacker
Greg Mark
(#79 overall) out of the University of Miami
in the third round.
season
was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football
franchise's history. The Giants
, who play in the National Football Conference
(NFC) of the National Football League
(NFL), won their sixth championship—and second Super Bowl
—in franchise history during the season. Led by linebacker
Lawrence Taylor
and quarterback
s Phil Simms
and Jeff Hostetler
, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and defeated the Chicago Bears
and defending Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers
in the NFC playoffs. In Super Bowl XXV
they defeated the Buffalo Bills
20–19 in Tampa Stadium, against a patriotic backdrop inspired by the recently started Gulf War
. The story of the season is the subject of a recent book, When the Cheering Stops, by defensive end Leonard Marshall and CBSsports.com co-writer William Bendetson.
After making the playoffs in 1989, the Giants entered the 1990 season
as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. They began the season with a 27–20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
, then won their next nine games before losing a rematch to Philadelphia 31–13 in week 12. The Giants also lost close games to the 49ers on the road and Bills at home in the regular season, before defeating both teams in playoff rematches. During the Buffalo game, Simms was lost for the season with a broken foot, and replaced by Hostetler. The Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed (211), and the team set an NFL record by committing only 14 turnovers in the regular season, which was broken by the New York Giants
and Miami Dolphins
in 2008 with 13, and then again by the New England Patriots in 2010, with only 10. After the season, six Giants were selected to the Pro Bowl.
, as opposed to the normal 12, and took running back
Rodney Hampton
in the first round with the #24 overall selection. They took defensive end
Mike Fox
out of West Virginia University
in the second round (#51 overall) and linebacker
Greg Mark
(#79 overall) out of the University of Miami
in the third round.
season
was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football
franchise's history. The Giants
, who play in the National Football Conference
(NFC) of the National Football League
(NFL), won their sixth championship—and second Super Bowl
—in franchise history during the season. Led by linebacker
Lawrence Taylor
and quarterback
s Phil Simms
and Jeff Hostetler
, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and defeated the Chicago Bears
and defending Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers
in the NFC playoffs. In Super Bowl XXV
they defeated the Buffalo Bills
20–19 in Tampa Stadium, against a patriotic backdrop inspired by the recently started Gulf War
. The story of the season is the subject of a recent book, When the Cheering Stops, by defensive end Leonard Marshall and CBSsports.com co-writer William Bendetson.
After making the playoffs in 1989, the Giants entered the 1990 season
as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. They began the season with a 27–20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
, then won their next nine games before losing a rematch to Philadelphia 31–13 in week 12. The Giants also lost close games to the 49ers on the road and Bills at home in the regular season, before defeating both teams in playoff rematches. During the Buffalo game, Simms was lost for the season with a broken foot, and replaced by Hostetler. The Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed (211), and the team set an NFL record by committing only 14 turnovers in the regular season, which was broken by the New York Giants
and Miami Dolphins
in 2008 with 13, and then again by the New England Patriots in 2010, with only 10. After the season, six Giants were selected to the Pro Bowl.
, as opposed to the normal 12, and took running back
Rodney Hampton
in the first round with the #24 overall selection. They took defensive end
Mike Fox
out of West Virginia University
in the second round (#51 overall) and linebacker
Greg Mark
(#79 overall) out of the University of Miami
in the third round.
, East Rutherford, New Jersey
The Giants started the season with a 27–20 win against the Philadelphia Eagles
. Despite sitting out training camp and the preseason in a contract dispute, linebacker
Lawrence Taylor
started against the Eagles and finished with three sacks and a forced fumble. The Giants defense forced three turnovers
and held the Eagles to 83 rushing yards. The Giants offense scored three touchdowns in a 13-minute span in the third and early fourth quarters, but head coach
Bill Parcells
felt its performance was lackluster overall, "Our runners didn't run the way we wanted them to. They were a little impatient. There were five or six vivid examples of cutting back too soon. You just have to give the play a chance and let it go where it's supposed to."
, Irving, Texas
In temperatures reaching 122 degrees on the artificial turf at Texas Stadium, the Giants played the Dallas Cowboys
on September 16. In a matchup featuring the Giants, who went 12–4 in 1989, and the Cowboys, who went 1–15 in 1989, the Giants dominated from the outset, and used their backup players heavily throughout the game. Lawrence Taylor batted a Troy Aikman pass high into the air that he returned for a touchdown. The Giants defense held the Cowboys to 20 rushing yards and 156 yards of total offense, while their offense gained 369. In addition, the Cowboys totaled only nine first downs, averaged 1.8 yards a rush attempt, and were dominated by the Giants in time of possession; 41 minutes 40 seconds to 18 minutes 20 seconds. Despite the 28–7 victory, Giants center
Bart Oates
still felt the Giants offense could improve their play, "[w]e missed a lot of assignments. We rushed the ball O.K., but not like we did against Buffalo in preseason. Phil was pressured some. There were plenty of things we didn't do."
The Miami Dolphins
held the ball for only 19 minutes and 42 seconds, and totalled only 158 yards of total offense against the Giants defense on September 23. The Giants offense set the tone by holding the ball for 10 minutes and 25 seconds on the opening drive, leading to a field goal by Raul Allegre
. They defeated the Dolphins 20–3 in front of 76,483 fans at Giants Stadium
. Parcells was criticized by the local media for playing Taylor in the final moments, despite the lopsided score, after he injured his hamstring
. The Giants defense held the Dolphins passing game, led by eventual Hall of Fame
quarterback Dan Marino
, to 119 total yards, and 3.6 yards per pass attempt.
The Giants faced the Dallas Cowboys
in week four in front of 75,923 fans at Giants Stadium. The Giants defense held the Cowboys to 51 rushing yards on 20 attempts, and the Giants controlled the ball for 35 minutes and 38 seconds of the game. Giants quarterback Phil Simms
threw three touchdowns, and backup Jeff Hostetler
ran for a 12-yard score late in the fourth quarter. Although the Giants league-leading defense gave up 284 yards, 84 came on the Cowboys' final possession when the Giants played a prevent defense
. Simms threw touchdown passes to Mark Ingram, and Rodney Hampton
, and the Giants built a 31–10 early in the fourth quarter, before pulling their starters and allowing a Dallas touchdown.
The Giants used their bye week to allow injured players such as linebacker Carl Banks
, running back Rodney Hampton
, special team
er Reyna Thompson
, defensive lineman Erik Howard
and offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott to recover from their injuries. They played the Washington Redskins
in Washington D.C. the following week. The Giants forced four turnovers and won despite losing the time of possession battle to the Redskins 35 minutes 28 seconds to 24 minutes 32 seconds. Defensive coordinator
Bill Belichick
singled out free safety Greg Jackson
, who had two interceptions, after the 24–20 win. "Jackson must have had 10 interceptions in practice, and if ever the cliche held true about a player playing the way he practices, it was so this week."
In week seven, the Giants faced the Phoenix Cardinals
in front of 76,518 fans at Giants Stadium. They rushed for 151 yards on 31 carries, and committed only four penalties for 24 yards. Their defense held the Cardinals to 96 passing yards and 221 yards of total offense. With 5 minutes 38 seconds left in the game, the Cardinals—13-point underdogs going into the game—extended their lead over the Giants to 19–10. However, the Giants came back with a 38-yard touchdown from Jeff Hostetler
to Stephen Baker, and a game-winning 40-yard field goal by Matt Bahr
to win 20–19. The Giants responses were subdued in their locker room after the win. "It wasn't pretty," said Taylor. "But you don't ask how to win, you just win."
At home in front of 75,321 fans, the Giants played the Washington Redskins
in week eight. Each team totaled 16 first downs, four punts, five penalties, and the margin in time of possession was less than a minute. However, the Giants committed zero turnovers and forced the Redskins into three. Giants cornerback
Everson Walls
intercepted two passes—including one that he returned for his first career touchdown—and free safety Greg Jackson
intercepted another. The first interception, by Walls, set up a Giants touchdown to give them a 14–0 lead in the second quarter. Jackson then intercepted a pass to set up another Giants touchdown in the third quarter, and Walls returned his second interception 28 yards for a touchdown that made the score 21–10 and put the game of reach in the fourth quarter.
, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Giants improved to 8–0 with a 24–7 win over the Indianapolis Colts
in front of 56,688 in the Hoosier Dome
. The Giants defense held the Colts to 11 first downs, 181 total yards, and 55 rushing yards. Simms completed 17 of 21 for 172 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception. Simms' interception ended a streak of 150 passes without an interception. Defensive end
Leonard Marshall
sacked Colts quarterback Jeff George
twice, Dave Duerson returned a fumble for a touchdown, and the Giants defense held George to 160 yards passing on 37 pass attempts. The Giants controlled the game from the start, ending the first half leading 17–0, and ahead of the Colts 206 to 45 in total yards, 13 to 1 in first downs, and 20:57 to 9:03 in time of possession.
at Anaheim Stadium
, Anaheim, California
The Giants traveled to California to face the Los Angeles Rams on November 11. They defeated the Rams 31–7 in front of 64,632 fans in Anaheim Stadium, led by Simm's efficient passing. Going into the game the Rams had beaten the Giants three times in two years, including eliminating the Giants in the 1989 playoffs
. Although the Giants defense was only able to sack Rams quarterback Jim Everett
twice, they forced him into 17 of 36 passing for 186 yards, zero touchowns, and three interceptions. "It's hard to sack him," Belichick said. "But we kept the pressure on. We had the same coverage we used the last eight years. Nothing radically different."
The Giants defeated the Detroit Lions
20–0 in week 11 to improve their record to 10–0, and set a franchise record for wins to start to a season. Simms threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mark Ingram in the second quarter to run the score to 17–0. After the Giants kicked a field goal to make the score 20–0, the teams played a scoreless second half. The shutout
was the Giants defense first of the season, and coach Parcells commented, "[t]he defense played very well. The offense played well when I let them. We played conservatively in the second half. We played pretty much error-free. We didn't do anything stupid."
, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Giants were dealt their first 1990 regular season loss in a 31–13 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles
on November 25 to set their record at 10–1. The Eagles broke open a close game by scoring two touchdowns in 22 seconds in the fourth quarter. The game was marked by several scuffles and after the game some of the Giants players complained of the tactics used by the Eagles. The Eagles amassed 179 rushing yards and 405 total yards, and punted the ball just twice in the victory. Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham
rushed for 66 yards while completing 17 of 31 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Taylor, who recorded three sacks and seven tackles in the Giants season opening victory over the Eagles, was held to one tackle in the loss.
The San Francisco 49ers
matched the Giants with their own 10–0 start in the 1990 season. Although both teams lost in week 12 to stand at 10–1, their week 13 matchup was still highly anticipated. The game took place in front of 66,092 fans at Candlestick Park. The 49ers scored the only touchdown of the game in the second quarter on a 23-yard pass from Joe Montana
to John Taylor. With four minutes left, they stopped the Giants on four passes from the 49ers' 9-yard line and went on to win, 7–3, after which 49ers safety Ronnie Lott and Simms had a heated verbal exchange. The Giants defense performed well in the loss. They held the 49ers to 152 passing yards, 88 rushing yards, and limited All-Pro Wide receiver
Jerry Rice
to one reception for 13 yards. 49ers defensive end
Charles Haley
recorded five tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in the victory.
The Giants hosted the Minnesota Vikings
in week 14. Led Taylor, who recorded 12 tackles and two sacks, the Giants defense held the Vikings to 132 passing yards. Taylor also forced a fumble by Vikings quarterback Rich Gannon
and pressured Gannon into an interception by Gary Reasons
at the Viking 17-yard line, which positioned Matt Bahr
for the game-clinching 18-yard field goal. In addition, Taylor gave several inspirational speeches to his teammates. "He told us: 'I'm going to start playing the way we're supposed to play. If anybody wants to come along, fine,' " inside linebacker Steve DeOssie
said. "He changed our attitude." The Giants won 23–15 to improve to 11–2.
The Giants lost at home to the Buffalo Bills
17–13 in week 15. The game was played in inclement weather, which caused 10,295 no-shows at Giants Stadium. They led the Bills in total yards (313 to 264), rushing yards (157 to 65), first downs (20 to 13) and time of possession (37 minutes 59 seconds to 22:01), but lost nonetheless. Simms broke his foot during the game, causing him to miss the remainder of the season, and was replaced by inexperienced backup Jeff Hostetler
The Bills built a 14–10 second quarter lead behind 74 and 78 yard touchdown drives. The teams alternated field goals to make the score 17–13. However, the Giants could not score in the fourth quarter despite mounting drives to the Bills' 18 and 23 yard lines.
, Tempe, Arizona
The Giants played the Phoenix Cardinals
in Tempe, Arizona
in week 16. Their defense allowed 452 yards, and Cardinals quarterback Timm Rosenbach
threw for three touchdowns and set a new career high with 381 yards passing. The Giants noticed in the week leading up to the game that teams had success running with their fullback
against the Cardinals, and in the game, Giants' fullback
Maurice Carthon
set a career high with 67 rushing yards on 12 carries. They also installed several plays to take advantage of quarterback Jeff Hostetler's
scrambling ability. Hostetler threw for 191 yards and ran for 31 in his first start of the season. The Giants held on to win 24–21 when two of the Cardinals fourth quarter drives resulted in interceptions and their final drive was ended by a Taylor sack.
, Foxboro, Massachusetts
The Giants travelled to Massachusetts
to face the New England Patriots
at Foxboro Stadium in week 17. The game was a de facto home game, as many Giants fans made the trip up to Foxborough
to sell the stadium out. The game had no playoff implications for the Giants, who had clinched the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs the week before. The Giants rushed for a season high yards 213 yards, led by Hostetler's 82 yards on 10 carries. The Patriots' Jason Staurovsky
missed a potential game-tying 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, and Hostetler then ran a 30-yard bootleg
on a key third down play to allow the Giants to run out the clock and secure the victory 13–10.
, center
Bart Oates
, offensive guard William Roberts
, linebacker
s Pepper Johnson
and Lawrence Taylor
, and special team
er Reyna Thompson
—were selected to the Pro Bowl
.
The Giants defeated the Chicago Bears
31–3 at home in the NFC Divisional playoff game on January 13, 1991. Ottis Anderson
rushed for 80 yards on 21 carries, and the Giants rushed for 194 yards overall, and dominated the Bears in time of possession; 38 minutes and 22 seconds to 21 minutes and 38 seconds. Parcells at the suggestion of Belichick used a four-man defensive line most of the game—as opposed to their traditional 3-4 defense
—confusing the unprepared Bears who had trouble with their blocking assignments. The Giants were 4 for 4 on fourth down plays and converted 6 of 14 third downs. The Giants defense stopped the Bears on the goal line on a fourth down attempt in the second quarter,and held Bears quarterback Mike Tomczak
to 17 of 36 passing for 205 yards, and two interceptions, and running back Neal Anderson to a season-low 19 yards on 12 carries.
The Giants advanced to face the two-time defending champion San Francisco 49ers
in the NFC Championship game on January 20, 1991 in front of 65,750 fans at Candlestick Park. The game was a rematch of the 7–3 49ers win one month earlier. The teams alternated field goals in the first and second quarter to make the score 6–6 at halftime. Less than five minutes into the third quarter 49ers Joe Montana threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to receiver John Taylor to give the 49ers a 13–6 lead. A Giants' field goal made the score 13–9 at the end of the third quarter. With 9:42 remaining in the game, Leonard Marshall
sacked Montana and knocked him from the game due to several injuries. The Giants got the ball back, but were stopped on a key third down and one. On fourth down, Parcells called a fake punt, which resulted in a long run by Gary Reasons
to set up another Giants' field goal, making the score 13–12. The 49ers gained possession of the ball and attempted to run out the clock, but nose tackle Erik Howard
made a key play, fighting through a double-team to knock the ball out of running back Roger Craig's possession. Lawrence Taylor
caught the fumble in mid-air, which gave the ball to the Giants at their own 43-yard line. Hostetler complted passes to Bavaro and Baker which took them to the San Francisco 24-yard line. Matt Bahr
then made his fifth field goal from the 25-yard line a few plays later as time expired, giving the Giants a 15–13 victory.
Super Bowl XXV
took place amidst a background of war and patriotism in front of 73,813 fans at Tampa Stadium, in Tampa
, Florida
. The Gulf War
had begun less than two weeks previous and the nation rallied around the Super Bowl as a symbol of America. Adding to the patriotism was Whitney Houston's
stirring rendition of the National Anthem, which became known as one of the greatest renditions in Super Bowl history. The game lived up to the stirring Anthem, as it went down as the most competitive Super Bowl in history. The Giants got off to a quick 3–0 lead. However, the Bills scored the next 12 points, on a field goal, a touchdown by backup running back Don Smith
, and a safety after Jeff Hostetler
was sacked in the end zone by Bruce Smith, to give the Bills a 12–3 lead. The Giants then ran a drive that took nearly 8 minutes, and culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Hostetler to Stephen Baker making the score 12–10 at halftime.
The Giants received the second half kickoff and mounted a record-setting drive, during which they converted on five third down plays. The opening drive ran for over 9 minutes (a Super Bowl record) and culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Ottis Anderson, giving the Giants a 17–12 lead. The signature play of the drive came on a third down play, when Giants receiver Mark Ingram appeared about to be tackled well short of a first down. However, Ingram evaded several tacklers, and dragged one defender just enough to get the Giants the first down, and kept the drive alive. By this time, the Giants strategy to handle the Bills offense had become clear: keep them off the field. Indeed, the Giants two touchdown drives consumed over 17 minutes.
The Bills struck back quickly. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Thurman Thomas ran for a 31-yard touchdown that put the Bills back in front, 19–17. A few possessions later, the Giants drove down to the Bills 4 yard line, but were unable to score a touchdown and had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Matt Bahr that gave the Giants a 20–19 lead. Both teams exchanged possessions before the Bills began one final drive. The Bills drove down to the Giants 30-yard line to set up what would be a potentially game-winning 47-yard field goal attempt by Scott Norwood
. Just before the kick, ABC
showed a graphic indicating that, on grass that season, Norwood had only made 3–of–7 field goals from at least 40 yards, and that the 47-yarder would be Norwood's longest ever on grass. A few moments later, in what became the game's signature moment, Norwood's attempt missed wide right
, and the Giants won their second Super Bowl in five years, 20–19.
The Giants set a Super Bowl record for time of possession with a mark of 40:33, and Ottis Anderson was named MVP of the game after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown.
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
franchise's history. The Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who play in the National Football Conference
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
(NFC) of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL), won their sixth championship—and second Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
—in franchise history during the season. Led by linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
and Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and defeated the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and defending Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the NFC playoffs. In Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
they defeated the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
20–19 in Tampa Stadium, against a patriotic backdrop inspired by the recently started Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. The story of the season is the subject of a recent book, When the Cheering Stops, by defensive end Leonard Marshall and CBSsports.com co-writer William Bendetson.
After making the playoffs in 1989, the Giants entered the 1990 season
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. They began the season with a 27–20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, then won their next nine games before losing a rematch to Philadelphia 31–13 in week 12. The Giants also lost close games to the 49ers on the road and Bills at home in the regular season, before defeating both teams in playoff rematches. During the Buffalo game, Simms was lost for the season with a broken foot, and replaced by Hostetler. The Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed (211), and the team set an NFL record by committing only 14 turnovers in the regular season, which was broken by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2008 with 13, and then again by the New England Patriots in 2010, with only 10. After the season, six Giants were selected to the Pro Bowl.
NFL Draft
The Giants had 11 selections in the 12 round 1990 NFL Draft1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
, as opposed to the normal 12, and took running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Craig Hampton born April 3, 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 215 lbs. running back from the University of Georgia by way of Kashmere High School in...
in the first round with the #24 overall selection. They took defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Mike Fox
Mike Fox (football player)
Michael James Fox is a former American football defensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers...
out of West Virginia University
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
in the second round (#51 overall) and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Greg Mark
Greg Mark
Gregory S. Mark is a former American football defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft...
(#79 overall) out of the University of Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in the third round.
Roster
The 1990 New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
franchise's history. The Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who play in the National Football Conference
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
(NFC) of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL), won their sixth championship—and second Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
—in franchise history during the season. Led by linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
and Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and defeated the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and defending Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the NFC playoffs. In Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
they defeated the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
20–19 in Tampa Stadium, against a patriotic backdrop inspired by the recently started Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. The story of the season is the subject of a recent book, When the Cheering Stops, by defensive end Leonard Marshall and CBSsports.com co-writer William Bendetson.
After making the playoffs in 1989, the Giants entered the 1990 season
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. They began the season with a 27–20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, then won their next nine games before losing a rematch to Philadelphia 31–13 in week 12. The Giants also lost close games to the 49ers on the road and Bills at home in the regular season, before defeating both teams in playoff rematches. During the Buffalo game, Simms was lost for the season with a broken foot, and replaced by Hostetler. The Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed (211), and the team set an NFL record by committing only 14 turnovers in the regular season, which was broken by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2008 with 13, and then again by the New England Patriots in 2010, with only 10. After the season, six Giants were selected to the Pro Bowl.
NFL Draft
The Giants had 11 selections in the 12 round 1990 NFL Draft1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
, as opposed to the normal 12, and took running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Craig Hampton born April 3, 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 215 lbs. running back from the University of Georgia by way of Kashmere High School in...
in the first round with the #24 overall selection. They took defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Mike Fox
Mike Fox (football player)
Michael James Fox is a former American football defensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers...
out of West Virginia University
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
in the second round (#51 overall) and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Greg Mark
Greg Mark
Gregory S. Mark is a former American football defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft...
(#79 overall) out of the University of Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in the third round.
Roster
The 1990 New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
was one of the most successful seasons in the professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
franchise's history. The Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who play in the National Football Conference
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
(NFC) of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL), won their sixth championship—and second Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
—in franchise history during the season. Led by linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
s Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
and Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
, the Giants posted a 13–3 record and defeated the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and defending Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the NFC playoffs. In Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
they defeated the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
20–19 in Tampa Stadium, against a patriotic backdrop inspired by the recently started Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. The story of the season is the subject of a recent book, When the Cheering Stops, by defensive end Leonard Marshall and CBSsports.com co-writer William Bendetson.
After making the playoffs in 1989, the Giants entered the 1990 season
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. They began the season with a 27–20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, then won their next nine games before losing a rematch to Philadelphia 31–13 in week 12. The Giants also lost close games to the 49ers on the road and Bills at home in the regular season, before defeating both teams in playoff rematches. During the Buffalo game, Simms was lost for the season with a broken foot, and replaced by Hostetler. The Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed (211), and the team set an NFL record by committing only 14 turnovers in the regular season, which was broken by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2008 with 13, and then again by the New England Patriots in 2010, with only 10. After the season, six Giants were selected to the Pro Bowl.
NFL Draft
The Giants had 11 selections in the 12 round 1990 NFL Draft1990 NFL Draft
The 1990 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1990...
, as opposed to the normal 12, and took running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Craig Hampton born April 3, 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 215 lbs. running back from the University of Georgia by way of Kashmere High School in...
in the first round with the #24 overall selection. They took defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Mike Fox
Mike Fox (football player)
Michael James Fox is a former American football defensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers...
out of West Virginia University
West Virginia Mountaineers
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming...
in the second round (#51 overall) and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Greg Mark
Greg Mark
Gregory S. Mark is a former American football defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft...
(#79 overall) out of the University of Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
in the third round.
Roster
| New York Giants 1990 final roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Bobby Abrams Robert E. Abrams, Jr. is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played college football for the University of Michigan.... Carl Banks Carl E. Banks is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League from 1984 to 1995 for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. He made the Pro Bowl in 1987, had 39.5 career quarterback sacks, and was a member of the NFL's 1980's All-Decade Team... Johnie Cooks Johnie Earl Cooks is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Baltimore Colts as the second overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. A 6'4", . linebacker from Mississippi State University, Cooks played in ten NFL seasons from 1982-1991 for the Colts, New York Giants, and... Steve DeOssie Steven Leonard DeOssie is a former American football linebacker and long snapper. DeOssie played college football at Boston College, and went on to play in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the New England Patriots... Pepper Johnson Thomas "Pepper" Johnson is a former American football linebacker, and the current defensive line coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.-College:... Larry McGrew Lawrence "Larry" McGrew was a retired American football linebacker in the National Football League.-College career:... Gary Reasons Gary Phillip Reasons is a former American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League, winning Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV as a member of the team.-Biography:... Lawrence Taylor Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League... Defensive Backs
|
Special Teams
Raul Allegre Raul Enrique Allegre is a former football placekicker in the National Football League. In his career he kicked for the Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, and the New York Jets. Although he was not known for a having a strong leg, he was a clutch kicker for the Giants from... K Matt Bahr Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer... K Sean Landeta Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League... P |
|||||
Coaching staff
| New York Giants 1990 coaching staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Source: |
|||||
Regular season
| Week | Date | TV | Time | Opponent | Result | Game site | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1990-09-09 | TNT | 8:15pm | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–20 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 2 | 1990-09-16 | CBS | 1:00pm | at Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 28–7 | Texas Stadium Texas Stadium Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675... |
|
| 3 | 1990-09-23 | NBC | 1:00pm | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20–3 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 4 | 1990-09-30 | CBS | 1:00pm | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 31–17 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 5 | Bye week Bye (sports) A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing... |
||||||
| 6 | 1990-10-14 | CBS | 4:15pm | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
W 24–20 | RFK Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United.... |
|
| 7 | 1990-10-21 | CBS | 4:15pm | Phoenix Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20–19 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 8 | 1990-10-28 | CBS | 4:15pm | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
W 21–10 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 9 | 1990-11-05 | ABC | 9:00pm | at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 24–7 | Hoosier Dome RCA Dome RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons .... |
|
| 10 | 1990-11-11 | CBS | 4:15pm | at Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 31–7 | Anaheim Stadium Angel Stadium of Anaheim Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams... |
|
| 11 | 1990-11-18 | CBS | 1:00pm | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 20–0 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 12 | 1990-11-25 | CBS | 1:00pm | at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 13–31 | Veterans Stadium Veterans Stadium Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex... |
|
| 13 | 1990-12-03 | ABC | 9:00pm | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 3–7 | Candlestick Park | |
| 14 | 1990-12-09 | CBS | 1:00pm | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 23–15 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 15 | 1990-12-15 | NBC | 12:30pm | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 13–17 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 16 | 1990-12-23 | CBS | 4:15pm | at Phoenix Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–21 | Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass... |
|
| 17 | 1990-12-30 | CBS | 1:00pm | at New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
W 13–10 | Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
|
| Postseason NFL playoffs, 1990-91 The NFL playoffs following the 1990 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXV.The league expanded its playoff system from a 10-team to a 12-team tournament... |
|||||||
| 1 | Bye week Bye (sports) A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing... |
||||||
| 2 | 1991-01-13 | CBS | 12:30pm | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31–3 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
|
| 3 | 1991-01-20 | CBS | 4:15pm | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
W 15–13 | Candlestick Park | |
| 4 | 1991-01-27 | ABC | 6:25pm | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20–19 | Tampa Stadium | |
Week 1: Vs Philadelphia Eagles
at Giants StadiumGiants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
, East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford, New Jersey
East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,913. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
The Giants started the season with a 27–20 win against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Despite sitting out training camp and the preseason in a contract dispute, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
started against the Eagles and finished with three sacks and a forced fumble. The Giants defense forced three turnovers
Turnover (football)
In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball loses possession of the ball, which is then gained by the other team. The two events that are officially classified as "turnovers" are fumbles or interceptions In American football, a turnover occurs when the team with the ball...
and held the Eagles to 83 rushing yards. The Giants offense scored three touchdowns in a 13-minute span in the third and early fourth quarters, but head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
felt its performance was lackluster overall, "Our runners didn't run the way we wanted them to. They were a little impatient. There were five or six vivid examples of cutting back too soon. You just have to give the play a chance and let it go where it's supposed to."
Week 2: At Dallas Cowboys
at Texas StadiumTexas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
, Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
In temperatures reaching 122 degrees on the artificial turf at Texas Stadium, the Giants played the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
on September 16. In a matchup featuring the Giants, who went 12–4 in 1989, and the Cowboys, who went 1–15 in 1989, the Giants dominated from the outset, and used their backup players heavily throughout the game. Lawrence Taylor batted a Troy Aikman pass high into the air that he returned for a touchdown. The Giants defense held the Cowboys to 20 rushing yards and 156 yards of total offense, while their offense gained 369. In addition, the Cowboys totaled only nine first downs, averaged 1.8 yards a rush attempt, and were dominated by the Giants in time of possession; 41 minutes 40 seconds to 18 minutes 20 seconds. Despite the 28–7 victory, Giants center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
Bart Oates
Bart Oates
Bart Steven Oates is a former American football player in the National Football League for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He played center for the Giants from 1985-93 and with the 49ers from 1994-95...
still felt the Giants offense could improve their play, "[w]e missed a lot of assignments. We rushed the ball O.K., but not like we did against Buffalo in preseason. Phil was pressured some. There were plenty of things we didn't do."
Week 3: Vs Miami Dolphins
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyThe Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
held the ball for only 19 minutes and 42 seconds, and totalled only 158 yards of total offense against the Giants defense on September 23. The Giants offense set the tone by holding the ball for 10 minutes and 25 seconds on the opening drive, leading to a field goal by Raul Allegre
Raul Allegre
Raul Enrique Allegre is a former football placekicker in the National Football League. In his career he kicked for the Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, and the New York Jets. Although he was not known for a having a strong leg, he was a clutch kicker for the Giants from...
. They defeated the Dolphins 20–3 in front of 76,483 fans at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
. Parcells was criticized by the local media for playing Taylor in the final moments, despite the lopsided score, after he injured his hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
. The Giants defense held the Dolphins passing game, led by eventual Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
quarterback Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
, to 119 total yards, and 3.6 yards per pass attempt.
Week 4: Vs Dallas Cowboys
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyThe Giants faced the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in week four in front of 75,923 fans at Giants Stadium. The Giants defense held the Cowboys to 51 rushing yards on 20 attempts, and the Giants controlled the ball for 35 minutes and 38 seconds of the game. Giants quarterback Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
threw three touchdowns, and backup Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
ran for a 12-yard score late in the fourth quarter. Although the Giants league-leading defense gave up 284 yards, 84 came on the Cowboys' final possession when the Giants played a prevent defense
Prevent defense
Prevent defense is an American football defensive alignment that uses seven or more defensive backs or players in a defensive back role, the goal of which is to prevent the opposing offense from completing a long pass...
. Simms threw touchdown passes to Mark Ingram, and Rodney Hampton
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Craig Hampton born April 3, 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 215 lbs. running back from the University of Georgia by way of Kashmere High School in...
, and the Giants built a 31–10 early in the fourth quarter, before pulling their starters and allowing a Dallas touchdown.
Week 6: At Washington Redskins
at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The Giants used their bye week to allow injured players such as linebacker Carl Banks
Carl Banks
Carl E. Banks is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League from 1984 to 1995 for the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. He made the Pro Bowl in 1987, had 39.5 career quarterback sacks, and was a member of the NFL's 1980's All-Decade Team...
, running back Rodney Hampton
Rodney Hampton
Rodney Craig Hampton born April 3, 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 215 lbs. running back from the University of Georgia by way of Kashmere High School in...
, special team
Special team
Special team may refer to:*American football positions*Özel tim-Özel Harekat Timi...
er Reyna Thompson
Reyna Thompson
Reyna Onald Thompson is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1990 season as a special teams player. He played college football at Baylor University and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1986 NFL...
, defensive lineman Erik Howard
Erik Howard
Erik Matthew Howard is a former professional American football defensive tackle who played eleven seasons in the National Football League...
and offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott to recover from their injuries. They played the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in Washington D.C. the following week. The Giants forced four turnovers and won despite losing the time of possession battle to the Redskins 35 minutes 28 seconds to 24 minutes 32 seconds. Defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
singled out free safety Greg Jackson
Greg Jackson (American football)
Gregory Allen Jackson is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft...
, who had two interceptions, after the 24–20 win. "Jackson must have had 10 interceptions in practice, and if ever the cliche held true about a player playing the way he practices, it was so this week."
Week 7: Vs Phoenix Cardinals
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyIn week seven, the Giants faced the Phoenix Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in front of 76,518 fans at Giants Stadium. They rushed for 151 yards on 31 carries, and committed only four penalties for 24 yards. Their defense held the Cardinals to 96 passing yards and 221 yards of total offense. With 5 minutes 38 seconds left in the game, the Cardinals—13-point underdogs going into the game—extended their lead over the Giants to 19–10. However, the Giants came back with a 38-yard touchdown from Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
to Stephen Baker, and a game-winning 40-yard field goal by Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
to win 20–19. The Giants responses were subdued in their locker room after the win. "It wasn't pretty," said Taylor. "But you don't ask how to win, you just win."
Week 8: Vs Washington Redskins
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyAt home in front of 75,321 fans, the Giants played the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
in week eight. Each team totaled 16 first downs, four punts, five penalties, and the margin in time of possession was less than a minute. However, the Giants committed zero turnovers and forced the Redskins into three. Giants cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Everson Walls
Everson Walls
Everson Collins Walls is a former American football cornerback in the NFL, having played for the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the Cleveland Browns. During his 14 seasons, he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He was also a 3-time All-Pro selection...
intercepted two passes—including one that he returned for his first career touchdown—and free safety Greg Jackson
Greg Jackson (American football)
Gregory Allen Jackson is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft...
intercepted another. The first interception, by Walls, set up a Giants touchdown to give them a 14–0 lead in the second quarter. Jackson then intercepted a pass to set up another Giants touchdown in the third quarter, and Walls returned his second interception 28 yards for a touchdown that made the score 21–10 and put the game of reach in the fourth quarter.
Week 9: At Indianapolis Colts
at Hooiser DomeRCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
, Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
The Giants improved to 8–0 with a 24–7 win over the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in front of 56,688 in the Hoosier Dome
RCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
. The Giants defense held the Colts to 11 first downs, 181 total yards, and 55 rushing yards. Simms completed 17 of 21 for 172 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception. Simms' interception ended a streak of 150 passes without an interception. Defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Leonard Marshall
Leonard Marshall
Leonard Allen Marshall Jr. is a former American football defensive lineman who played twelve seasons in the National Football League . Marshall played defensive end for the New York Giants for ten seasons, then played a season each as a defensive tackle for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins...
sacked Colts quarterback Jeff George
Jeff George
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" George is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft...
twice, Dave Duerson returned a fumble for a touchdown, and the Giants defense held George to 160 yards passing on 37 pass attempts. The Giants controlled the game from the start, ending the first half leading 17–0, and ahead of the Colts 206 to 45 in total yards, 13 to 1 in first downs, and 20:57 to 9:03 in time of possession.
Week 10: At Los Angeles Rams
at Anaheim Stadium
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...
, Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
The Giants traveled to California to face the Los Angeles Rams on November 11. They defeated the Rams 31–7 in front of 64,632 fans in Anaheim Stadium, led by Simm's efficient passing. Going into the game the Rams had beaten the Giants three times in two years, including eliminating the Giants in the 1989 playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1989-90
The NFL playoffs following the 1989 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXIV.This was the last season in which the NFL used a 10-team playoff format. The league would expand the playoffs to 12 teams next season....
. Although the Giants defense was only able to sack Rams quarterback Jim Everett
Jim Everett
James Samuel Everett III is a retired professional American football quarterback who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League ....
twice, they forced him into 17 of 36 passing for 186 yards, zero touchowns, and three interceptions. "It's hard to sack him," Belichick said. "But we kept the pressure on. We had the same coverage we used the last eight years. Nothing radically different."
Week 11: Vs Detroit Lions
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyThe Giants defeated the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
20–0 in week 11 to improve their record to 10–0, and set a franchise record for wins to start to a season. Simms threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mark Ingram in the second quarter to run the score to 17–0. After the Giants kicked a field goal to make the score 20–0, the teams played a scoreless second half. The shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
was the Giants defense first of the season, and coach Parcells commented, "[t]he defense played very well. The offense played well when I let them. We played conservatively in the second half. We played pretty much error-free. We didn't do anything stupid."
Week 12: At Philadelphia Eagles
at Veterans StadiumVeterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
The Giants were dealt their first 1990 regular season loss in a 31–13 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 25 to set their record at 10–1. The Eagles broke open a close game by scoring two touchdowns in 22 seconds in the fourth quarter. The game was marked by several scuffles and after the game some of the Giants players complained of the tactics used by the Eagles. The Eagles amassed 179 rushing yards and 405 total yards, and punted the ball just twice in the victory. Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
rushed for 66 yards while completing 17 of 31 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Taylor, who recorded three sacks and seven tackles in the Giants season opening victory over the Eagles, was held to one tackle in the loss.
Week 13: At San Francisco 49ers
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
The San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
matched the Giants with their own 10–0 start in the 1990 season. Although both teams lost in week 12 to stand at 10–1, their week 13 matchup was still highly anticipated. The game took place in front of 66,092 fans at Candlestick Park. The 49ers scored the only touchdown of the game in the second quarter on a 23-yard pass from Joe Montana
Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford "Joe" Montana, Jr. , nicknamed Joe Cool, Golden Joe, The Golden Great and Comeback Joe, is a retired American football player. Montana started his NFL career in 1979 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played quarterback for the next 14 seasons...
to John Taylor. With four minutes left, they stopped the Giants on four passes from the 49ers' 9-yard line and went on to win, 7–3, after which 49ers safety Ronnie Lott and Simms had a heated verbal exchange. The Giants defense performed well in the loss. They held the 49ers to 152 passing yards, 88 rushing yards, and limited All-Pro Wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
to one reception for 13 yards. 49ers defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Charles Haley
Charles Haley
Charles Lewis Haley is a former American football linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys . He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL Draft out of James Madison University...
recorded five tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles in the victory.
Week 14: Vs Minnesota Vikings
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyThe Giants hosted the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in week 14. Led Taylor, who recorded 12 tackles and two sacks, the Giants defense held the Vikings to 132 passing yards. Taylor also forced a fumble by Vikings quarterback Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
and pressured Gannon into an interception by Gary Reasons
Gary Reasons
Gary Phillip Reasons is a former American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League, winning Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV as a member of the team.-Biography:...
at the Viking 17-yard line, which positioned Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
for the game-clinching 18-yard field goal. In addition, Taylor gave several inspirational speeches to his teammates. "He told us: 'I'm going to start playing the way we're supposed to play. If anybody wants to come along, fine,' " inside linebacker Steve DeOssie
Steve DeOssie
Steven Leonard DeOssie is a former American football linebacker and long snapper. DeOssie played college football at Boston College, and went on to play in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the New England Patriots...
said. "He changed our attitude." The Giants won 23–15 to improve to 11–2.
Week 15: Vs Buffalo Bills
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyThe Giants lost at home to the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
17–13 in week 15. The game was played in inclement weather, which caused 10,295 no-shows at Giants Stadium. They led the Bills in total yards (313 to 264), rushing yards (157 to 65), first downs (20 to 13) and time of possession (37 minutes 59 seconds to 22:01), but lost nonetheless. Simms broke his foot during the game, causing him to miss the remainder of the season, and was replaced by inexperienced backup Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
The Bills built a 14–10 second quarter lead behind 74 and 78 yard touchdown drives. The teams alternated field goals to make the score 17–13. However, the Giants could not score in the fourth quarter despite mounting drives to the Bills' 18 and 23 yard lines.
Week 16: At Phoenix Cardinals
at Sun Devil StadiumSun Devil Stadium
Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass...
, Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
The Giants played the Phoenix Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
in week 16. Their defense allowed 452 yards, and Cardinals quarterback Timm Rosenbach
Timm Rosenbach
Timm Lane Rosenbach is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League . Rosenbach was selected in 1st round of the 1989 NFL Supplemental Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals...
threw for three touchdowns and set a new career high with 381 yards passing. The Giants noticed in the week leading up to the game that teams had success running with their fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
against the Cardinals, and in the game, Giants' fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Maurice Carthon
Maurice Carthon
Maurice Carthon is a National Football League coach as well as a former professional football running back.Carthon is currently an assistant head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs...
set a career high with 67 rushing yards on 12 carries. They also installed several plays to take advantage of quarterback Jeff Hostetler's
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
scrambling ability. Hostetler threw for 191 yards and ran for 31 in his first start of the season. The Giants held on to win 24–21 when two of the Cardinals fourth quarter drives resulted in interceptions and their final drive was ended by a Taylor sack.
Week 17: At New England Patriots
at Foxboro StadiumFoxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
, Foxboro, Massachusetts
The Giants travelled to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to face the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
at Foxboro Stadium in week 17. The game was a de facto home game, as many Giants fans made the trip up to Foxborough
Foxborough, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,246 people, 6,141 households, and 4,396 families residing in the town. The population density was 809.1 people per square mile . There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 313.7 per square mile...
to sell the stadium out. The game had no playoff implications for the Giants, who had clinched the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs the week before. The Giants rushed for a season high yards 213 yards, led by Hostetler's 82 yards on 10 carries. The Patriots' Jason Staurovsky
Jason Staurovsky
Jason Charles Staurovsky is a former American football placekicker from 1987 to 1992. He attended Bishop Kelley High School and the University of Tulsa, for whom he is the all-time leading scorer. He played for the St Louis Cardinals in 1987, the New England Patriots from 1988 to 1991, and the New...
missed a potential game-tying 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, and Hostetler then ran a 30-yard bootleg
Bootleg play
In American football, a bootleg play is a play in which the quarterback runs with the ball in the direction of either sideline behind the line of scrimmage...
on a key third down play to allow the Giants to run out the clock and secure the victory 13–10.
Playoffs
The Giants finished the regular season having committed an NFL record low 14 turnovers, and their defense led the league in fewest points allowed (211). Following the season, six Giants—defensive lineman Erik HowardErik Howard
Erik Matthew Howard is a former professional American football defensive tackle who played eleven seasons in the National Football League...
, center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
Bart Oates
Bart Oates
Bart Steven Oates is a former American football player in the National Football League for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He played center for the Giants from 1985-93 and with the 49ers from 1994-95...
, offensive guard William Roberts
William Roberts (American football)
William Harold Roberts is a former American football guard who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League. He played in three Super Bowls, winning two of them, each with the New York Giants . He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1990 season...
, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
s Pepper Johnson
Pepper Johnson
Thomas "Pepper" Johnson is a former American football linebacker, and the current defensive line coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.-College:...
and Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
, and special team
Special team
Special team may refer to:*American football positions*Özel tim-Özel Harekat Timi...
er Reyna Thompson
Reyna Thompson
Reyna Onald Thompson is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Giants. He went to the Pro Bowl after the 1990 season as a special teams player. He played college football at Baylor University and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1986 NFL...
—were selected to the Pro Bowl
1991 Pro Bowl
The 1991 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 3, 1991 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 23, NFC 21. There were 50,345 people in attendance. Jim Kelly of the Buffalo Bills was the game's MVP. The referee was Gordon McCarter....
.
NFC Divisional playoff: Vs Chicago Bears
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyThe Giants defeated the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
31–3 at home in the NFC Divisional playoff game on January 13, 1991. Ottis Anderson
Ottis Anderson
Ottis Jerome "O.J." Anderson is a former American football running back. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXV in 1991 when playing with the New York Giants...
rushed for 80 yards on 21 carries, and the Giants rushed for 194 yards overall, and dominated the Bears in time of possession; 38 minutes and 22 seconds to 21 minutes and 38 seconds. Parcells at the suggestion of Belichick used a four-man defensive line most of the game—as opposed to their traditional 3-4 defense
3-4 defense
In American football, the 3–4 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers.The 3–4 defense declined in popularity over the years, but has found renewed use by modern professional and college football teams. The 3–4 defense is so named because it involves 3...
—confusing the unprepared Bears who had trouble with their blocking assignments. The Giants were 4 for 4 on fourth down plays and converted 6 of 14 third downs. The Giants defense stopped the Bears on the goal line on a fourth down attempt in the second quarter,and held Bears quarterback Mike Tomczak
Mike Tomczak
Michael John "Mike" Tomczak is a former American football player. Tomczak played quarterback for several NFL teams including the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers....
to 17 of 36 passing for 205 yards, and two interceptions, and running back Neal Anderson to a season-low 19 yards on 12 carries.
NFC Championship Game: At San Francisco 49ers
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
The Giants advanced to face the two-time defending champion San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the NFC Championship game on January 20, 1991 in front of 65,750 fans at Candlestick Park. The game was a rematch of the 7–3 49ers win one month earlier. The teams alternated field goals in the first and second quarter to make the score 6–6 at halftime. Less than five minutes into the third quarter 49ers Joe Montana threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to receiver John Taylor to give the 49ers a 13–6 lead. A Giants' field goal made the score 13–9 at the end of the third quarter. With 9:42 remaining in the game, Leonard Marshall
Leonard Marshall
Leonard Allen Marshall Jr. is a former American football defensive lineman who played twelve seasons in the National Football League . Marshall played defensive end for the New York Giants for ten seasons, then played a season each as a defensive tackle for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins...
sacked Montana and knocked him from the game due to several injuries. The Giants got the ball back, but were stopped on a key third down and one. On fourth down, Parcells called a fake punt, which resulted in a long run by Gary Reasons
Gary Reasons
Gary Phillip Reasons is a former American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League, winning Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV as a member of the team.-Biography:...
to set up another Giants' field goal, making the score 13–12. The 49ers gained possession of the ball and attempted to run out the clock, but nose tackle Erik Howard
Erik Howard
Erik Matthew Howard is a former professional American football defensive tackle who played eleven seasons in the National Football League...
made a key play, fighting through a double-team to knock the ball out of running back Roger Craig's possession. Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
caught the fumble in mid-air, which gave the ball to the Giants at their own 43-yard line. Hostetler complted passes to Bavaro and Baker which took them to the San Francisco 24-yard line. Matt Bahr
Matt Bahr
Matthew David Bahr is a former professional American football placekicker in the National Football League. He attended Neshaminy High School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania where he excelled in both football and soccer...
then made his fifth field goal from the 25-yard line a few plays later as time expired, giving the Giants a 15–13 victory.
Super Bowl XXV
at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
took place amidst a background of war and patriotism in front of 73,813 fans at Tampa Stadium, in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
had begun less than two weeks previous and the nation rallied around the Super Bowl as a symbol of America. Adding to the patriotism was Whitney Houston's
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
stirring rendition of the National Anthem, which became known as one of the greatest renditions in Super Bowl history. The game lived up to the stirring Anthem, as it went down as the most competitive Super Bowl in history. The Giants got off to a quick 3–0 lead. However, the Bills scored the next 12 points, on a field goal, a touchdown by backup running back Don Smith
Don Smith
Donald John Smith was a Canadian professional hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Shamrocks, Montreal Wanderers and the Renfrew Creamery Kings.-Playing career:...
, and a safety after Jeff Hostetler
Jeff Hostetler
William Jeffrey Hostetler is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants, Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. His nickname is "Hoss".-Penn State:...
was sacked in the end zone by Bruce Smith, to give the Bills a 12–3 lead. The Giants then ran a drive that took nearly 8 minutes, and culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Hostetler to Stephen Baker making the score 12–10 at halftime.
The Giants received the second half kickoff and mounted a record-setting drive, during which they converted on five third down plays. The opening drive ran for over 9 minutes (a Super Bowl record) and culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Ottis Anderson, giving the Giants a 17–12 lead. The signature play of the drive came on a third down play, when Giants receiver Mark Ingram appeared about to be tackled well short of a first down. However, Ingram evaded several tacklers, and dragged one defender just enough to get the Giants the first down, and kept the drive alive. By this time, the Giants strategy to handle the Bills offense had become clear: keep them off the field. Indeed, the Giants two touchdown drives consumed over 17 minutes.
The Bills struck back quickly. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Thurman Thomas ran for a 31-yard touchdown that put the Bills back in front, 19–17. A few possessions later, the Giants drove down to the Bills 4 yard line, but were unable to score a touchdown and had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Matt Bahr that gave the Giants a 20–19 lead. Both teams exchanged possessions before the Bills began one final drive. The Bills drove down to the Giants 30-yard line to set up what would be a potentially game-winning 47-yard field goal attempt by Scott Norwood
Scott Norwood
Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...
. Just before the kick, ABC
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
showed a graphic indicating that, on grass that season, Norwood had only made 3–of–7 field goals from at least 40 yards, and that the 47-yarder would be Norwood's longest ever on grass. A few moments later, in what became the game's signature moment, Norwood's attempt missed wide right
Wide Right (Buffalo Bills)
Wide Right or 47 Wide Right describes kicker Scott Norwood's missed 47-yard field goal attempt at the end of Super Bowl XXV on January 27, 1991.-The field goal attempt:...
, and the Giants won their second Super Bowl in five years, 20–19.
The Giants set a Super Bowl record for time of possession with a mark of 40:33, and Ottis Anderson was named MVP of the game after rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Awards and honors
- Ottis Anderson, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player
- Reyna Thompson, 1990 All-Madden Team
- Reyna Thompson, 1990 NFC Pro Bowl selection
- Eric Howard, 1990 All-Madden Team
- Matt Bahr, 1990 All-Madden Team
See also
- History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)
- List of New York Giants seasons
Sources
- Neft, David S., Cohen, Richard M., and Korch, Rick. The Complete History of Professional Football from 1892 to the Present. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1994 ISBN 0-312-11435-4
- Pervin, Lawrence A. Football's New York Giants: A History. McFarland 2009 ISBN 0-7864-4268-9
- Schwartz, John. Tales from the New York Giants Sideline, Sports Publishing LLC, 2004 ISBN 1-58261-758-9
- Sprechman, Jordan and Shannon, Bill. This Day in New York Sports, Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 1998 ISBN 1-57167-254-0
External links
- New York Giants official website—history section
- 1990 New York Giants season stats and box scores at databasefootball.com
- 1991 – The Giants Win the Super Bowl A report from Jared Max of WCBS Newsradio 880 (WCBS-AM New York) Part of WCBS 880's celebration of 40 years of newsradio.