1990 New York Giants season

"at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey"

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.Litsky, Frank. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3DF173CF937A1575AC0A966958260 Giants Smother Dolphins] , "The New York Times", September 24, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] Coach Bill Parcells drew criticism from the local media following the game after linebacker Lawrence Taylor played in the final moments, despite the lopsided score, and injured his hamstring.Anderson, Dave. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD6163CF937A1575AC0A966958260Sports of the Times; Why Was L. T. Playing?] , "The New York Times", September 24, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] 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. [http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/gamedata.htm?dy=23&mth=9&yr=1990&tm=NYG&lg=NFL Box Score Dolphins Vs Giants 9/23/1990] , databasefootball.com, accessed May 23, 2007. ]

Week 4: Vs Dallas Cowboys

"at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey"

In week seven, the Giants faced the Phoenix Cardinals in front of 76,518 fans at Giants Stadium.Litsky, Frank. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE5D61731F931A15753C1A966958260 Giants Find a Way to Win, 20-19] , "The New York Times", October 22, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] They rushed for 151 yards on 31 carries, and committed only four penalties for 24 yards. [http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/gamedata.htm?dy=21&mth=10&yr=1990&tm=NYG&lg=NFL Box Score Cardinals Vs Giants 10/21/1990] , databasefootball.com, accessed May 23, 2007. ] 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," commented linebacker Lawrence Taylor. "But you don't ask how to win, you just win."

Week 8: Vs Washington Redskins

"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 efficient passing from Phil Simms.Litsky,Frank. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3DF173EF931A25752C1A966958260 Giants Brush Rams Aside] , "The New York Times", November 12, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] 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.Stevenson, Samantha. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DD163EF931A25752C1A966958260 Giants' Pressure Foils Everett] , "The New York Times", November 12, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] "It's hard to sack him," Giants defensive coordinator Bill 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 Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

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.Litsky, Frank [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE0DE1238F937A35751C1A966958260 PRO FOOTBALL; Showdown Becomes Shutdown as 49ers Win] , "The New York Times", December 4, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] 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 Giants QB Phil Simms had a heated verbal exchange. [ Smith, Timothy W. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5DD1139F93AA15753C1A965958260 Pro Football; Players Try to Minimize Lott's and Simms's Brief Encounter] , "The New York Times", October 29, 1993, accessed October 29, 2007. ] The Giants defense performed well in the loss. They held the 49ers to 152 passing yards, 88 rushing yards, [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/gamedata.htm?dy=3&mth=12&yr=1990&tm=SFO&lg=NFL Box Score Giants Vs 49ers 12/3/1990] , databasefootball.com, accessed May 29, 2007. ] 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.Martinez, Mike. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD91238F937A35751C1A966958260 PRO FOOTBALL; Haley's Recovery Disables The Giants] , "The New York Times", December 4, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ]

Week 14: Vs Minnesota Vikings

"at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona"

The Giants played the Phoenix Cardinals in Tempe, Arizona in week 16. Their defense allowed 452 yards, [http://www.databasefootball.com/boxscores/gamedata.htm?dy=23&mth=12&yr=1990&tm=PHO&lg=NFL Box Score Giants Vs Cardinals 12/23/1990] , databasefootball.com, accessed May 23, 2007. ] and Cardinals quarterback Timm Rosenbach threw for three touchdowns and set a new career high with 381 yards passing.Litsky, Frank. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7D81039F936A15751C1A966958260 PRO FOOTBALL; Hostetler Is Solid; Defense Has Holes] , "The New York Times", December 25, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] 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.Martinez, Michael. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD81430F937A15751C1A966958260 Hostetler Pleased After Fine Day's Work] , "The New York Times", December 24, 1990, accessed March 25, 2008. ] The Giants held on to win 24–21 when two of the Cardinals fourth quarter drives resulted in interceptions and their final drive was stopped on a sack by Lawrence Taylor.

Week 17: At New England Patriots

"at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California"

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. Neft, Cohen, and Korch. 934 ] The game was a rematch of the contest won 7–3 by the 49ers 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 quarterback Joe Montana threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to wide 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 a flushed-out Montana with a square blow between his shoulders and knocked him out of the game (Montana would miss the next season and a half due to injuries sustained from the hit] . Another Giants' field goal -- which was set up by a fake punt direct snap to upback Gary Reasons for a first down -- brought the Giants to within 13–12, but the 49ers got a big first-down pass from Steve Young to Brent Jones and seemed primed to run out the clock. However, a Roger Craig fumble forced by the helmet of Erik Howard and recovered by Lawrence Taylor returned possession to the Giants. Sparked by a nifty rollout pass from Jeff Hostetler to Mark Bavaro, the Giants drove to the 49ers 25-yard line, where Matt Bahr made his fifth field goal at the gun to give the Giants a dramatic 15-13 victory. [ Schwartz. pg. 174 ]

uper Bowl XXV

"at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida"

Super Bowl XXV took place amidst a background of war and patriotism in front of 73,813 fans at Tampa Stadium, in Tampa, Florida. [http://www.giants.com/history/ChampionshipGames1950present.asp Championship Games 1950-present] , giants.com, accessed May 20, 2007. ] 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. [Harris, Elliot. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20030902/ai_n12515964 Noteworthy] , "Chicago Sun-Times", September 2, 2003, accessed May 27, 2007. ] The game lived up to the stirring Anthem, as it went down as the most competitive Super Bowl in history. [ By definition, as the result of the game was a one point difference, it was the most competitive Super Bowl in history. ] The Giants got off to a quick 3–0 lead. Neft, Cohen, and Korch. pg. 935 ] 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. [http://www.superbowl.com/history/recaps/game/sbxxv Super Bowl XXV] , NFL.com/history, accessed May 23, 2007. ]

The Giants received the second half kickoff and mounted a record-setting drive. 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. 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, 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

See also

* History of the New York Giants (1979-1993)
* New York Giants seasons

Notes

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 0312114354
* Schwartz, John. "Tales from the New York Giants Sideline", Sports Publishing LLC, 2004 ISBN 1582617589
* Sprechman, Jordan and Shannon, Bill. "This Day in New York Sports", Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 1998 ISBN 1571672540

External links

* [http://giants.com/history/ New York Giants official website—history section]
* [http://databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=NYG&lg=nfl&yr=1990 1990 New York Giants season stats and box scores at databasefootball.com]
* [http://www.wcbs880.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=906587 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.

succession box
title = Super Bowl champion
years = 1990
before = San Francisco 49ers
1989
after = Washington Redskins
1991