The 1990 Giants vs. the 2007 Giants

The New York Giants have been around since 1925, and have won seven league titles. However, the more recent Giants teams in the Super Bowl era have caught the imagination of not only New York fans, but global fans as well. Two such Giants teams we'll feature have won the Super Bowl: the 1990 Giants and the 2007 Giants. Both won the Super Bowl in close fashion, though in opposite ways, and were recognized as one of the best Giants teams in recent memory.

1990 New York Giants

Record: 13-3 (1st in NFC East)

Head Coach: Bill Parcells

Starting QB: Phil Simms (Wk 1-15), Jeff Hostelier

Key Figures: Lawrence Taylor (LB), Ottis Anderson (RB)

Won Super Bowl XXV vs. Buffalo 20-19

Jeff Hostelier started the
remaining five games,
including Super Bowl XXV,
after Phil Simms broke his
foot against the Bills.

Phil Simms started at quarterback for the first 15 weeks before breaking his foot against their future Super Bowl opponents. Jeff Hostelier would take over the rest of the way. The Giants finished 13-3 and won the NFC East in what eventually became Bill Parcells' final season. After defeating the Chicago Bears 31-3 in an dominating divisional playoff game, they face the defending Super Bowl champions San Francisco 49ers in yet another chapter in their storied rivalry. After trailing 13-6 in the 3rd on a John Taylor TD, the Giants rallied with a pair of field goals, before kicker Matt Bahr nailed the game-winning field goal for a 15-13 score and sent them into Super Bowl XXV in Tampa. 

At Super Bowl XXV, they face the Bills, who were starting a string of four straight Super Bowl berths. Led by quarterback Jim Kelly and wide receiver Andre Reed, the Bills also finished 13-3 to lead the AFC East, then defeated the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders to advance. 

Kicker Scott Norwood's missed
field goal won the Super Bowl
for the Giants. 

Before the game, singer Whitney Houston sang a memorable rendition of 'The Star Spangled Banner', in honor of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War. The game would live up to its billing, as it became one of the NFL's greatest games ever. The final moment of the game saw Bills kicker Scott Norwood attempting a game-winning field goal. However, the ball sailed out of the post, and as Norwood bowed his head in disappointment, the Giants were celebrating yet another Super Bowl win, a 20-19 score. Ottis Anderson would be named the MVP, after which Bill Parcells retired. However, Parcells would later coach the New England Patriots, the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys, but was unable to replicate his success with the Giants. 

2007 New York Giants

Record: 10-6 (2nd in NFC East, 1st in NFC Wildcard)

Head Coach: Tom Coughlin

Starting QB: Eli Manning

Key Figures: Brandon Jacobs (RB), Plaxico Burress (WR), David Tyree (WR)

Won Super Bowl XLII vs. New England 17-14

Eli Manning won MVP for
his Super Bowl XLII
performance.

One of Bill Parcells' proteges, Tom Coughlin, took over the Giants in 2004, while the team was still in a rebuilding process. Coughlin then brought Eli Manning to his wing and in their fourth season together, led the team to a 10-6 season and a place in the Wildcard playoff, despite starting 0-2. After wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys, they faced Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Tied 20-20 in overtime, and following some stops by the Giants defense, kicker Lawrence Tynes nailed the game-winning field goal for a 23-20 score and sent the Giants to Super Bowl XLII, where another Parcells protege awaits.

The Giants faced a juggernaut in the Bill Belichick-led New England Patriots, who had been unbeaten in 18 contests. Their Week 17 meeting would see a sign of things to come, even though the Patriots won 38-35 while setting new offensive records during the game. 

David Tyree's 'helmet catch'
for a touchdown started a myriad
of lead changes before Plaxico
Burress scored the game-winning
touchdown in Super Bowl XLII.

Super Bowl XLII was held in the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. The Patriots seek to become the first team to go undefeated all season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, while the Giants look to spoil the moment. After a Tynes field goal and a Laurence Maroney TD, they head into the fourth quarter with the Pats up 7-3. The scoring began with the now-famous 'helmet catch' by David Tyree to put the Giants up 10-7. After Randy Moss responded with a TD, Plaxico Burress then scored a touchdown of his own late to put the Giants up 17-14. The Giants defense then choked the Patriots offense to preserve the win. Eli Manning would win the game's MVP, while adding a third Super Bowl for the Giants franchise.

If you'll ask me, which Giants team played better in a Super Bowl: the 1990 Giants or the 2007 Giants? The 2007 Giants would be a better choice, because while the 1990 Giants relied on luck to win Super Bowl XXV, the 2007 Giants won because of scoring opportunities,  and some instincts too. So my verdict goes to the: 2007 Giants.

Check out the prelude to Super Bowl XLVI in tomorrow's post.