With two shoutouts and three game winning field goals, here’s a look back on all five NFC title games.

 

Championship Blowout

After 20 years, the New York Giants finally earned their elusive trip to the Super Bowl. After 17 seasons of missing the playoffs from 1964-1980, the Giants returned to glory as contenders in the 80’s. After smashing the 49ers 49-3 the week prior, the Giants beat the Redskins 17-0 in the 1986 NFC Championship Game adding another chapter to the heated rivalry. Phil Simms went 7 for 14 with 90 yards and slung an 11-yard touchdown to Lionel Manuel in the opening quarter. Joe Morris scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter while galloping for 87 yards on the ground in the game. The brawny defense held the Redskins to just 40 yards rushing all game. Sean Landeta averaged 42 yards per punt in the gusty winds amongst the swamplands of Jersey. Gary Reasons, Eric Dorsey, Leonard Marshall, and George Martin feasted on the quarterback as all four from that elite front seven had one sack on Jay Schroeder. The Giants shutout their NFC East Division rival 17-0. Harry Carson, the catalyst of the Gatorade shower doused Bill Parcells in a bucket full of lime green flavored electrolytes, and there were millions of fans with smiles on faces amongst Giants Nation after a blissful day in The Meadowlands which propelled the Giants en route to a win over the Broncos in Super Bowl XXI as the Giants won their first NFL championship in 30 years.

Dethroning the Champs

The Giants played the defending back-to-back Super Bowl champion 49ers at Candlestick Park in a hard-nosed smash mouth physical football game for the 1990 Conference championship. There were four lead changes in the game and kickers were a main factor. Mike Cofer kicked an early field goal for San Francisco then Matt Bahr tied the game with a kick of his own for 28 yards. In the waning minute of the second quarter Bahr kicked one through the uprights for 42 yards than with 8 seconds until halftime Cofer notched one for 35 and it was 6-6 at the half. In the third, a 61-yard catch and run from Joe Montana to John Taylor gave the Niners a 13-6 lead. Later, a 46-yarder for Bahr trimmed the lead. In the final quarter on a fake punt, Gary Reasons ran 30 yards up the middle on a special teams play then subsequently another Matt Bahr field goal this time for 38 yards cut the deficit to 13-12 San Francisco. Leonard Marshall pulverized Montana in a colossal hit where Montana suffered a broken hand, cracked ribs, and a concussion on Marshall’s blast removing Montana from the game as Steve Young came in in relief looking to punch the Niners ticket to the Super Bowl. With just over 2 minutes remaining the defense came up huge. Erik Howard forced Roger Craig to fumble and Lawrence Taylor scooped the ball up. The Giants drove down the field as Jeff Hostetler converted first downs to Mark Bavaro and Stephen Baker. With four seconds remaining Matt Bahr kicked a 42-yard field goal to send the Giants to Super Bowl XXV where the Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills. Jeff Hostetler threw for 176 yards, Mark Ingram had 5 catches for 82 yards, Mark Bavaro had 5 catches for 54, Leonard Marshall registered two sacks, and Matt Bahr accounted for all 15 Giants point converting 5 field goals.

Title Game Decimation

The Giants blew out the Minnesota Vikings 41-0 in the 2000 NFC Championship Game. In the first quarter, Kerry Collins launched a 46-yard touchdown pass to Ike Hilliard then an 18-yard touchdown toss to Greg Comella. In the second Collins connected with Joe Jurevicius for an 8-yard pass in the corner of the end zone, then again with Hilliard for a 7-yard touchdown strike. In the third, Collins lobbed a 7-yard pass for a score to Amani Toomer and it was 41-0 Giants. That score upheld as the Giants humiliated the Vikings to win their third NFC championship but fell to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. The defense held 2 Hall of Fame receivers to minimal contributions. Randy Moss 2 catches for 18 yards and Cris Carter 3 catches 24 yards. Collins accumulated 381 passing yards with a Giants record 5 touchdown passes in a playoff game that still holds today, and Ike Hilliard reeled in 10 passes for 155 yards.

One for the Ice Ages

The “Road Warriors” shocked the world in frigid Lambeau Field in the 2007 NFC Championship Game against the great Brett Favre and the Packers. It was -1 degrees at kickoff with a wind chill of -23. The opening drive, which took 14 plays and 8 minutes concluded in a Lawrence Tynes field goal. Another Tynes field goal in the second quarter made it 6-0. Later, Favre flung a short pass caught by Donald Driver, who stampeded 90 yards for a touchdown and Green Bay took a 7-6 lead. It was then 10-6 at halftime. The third quarter consisted of three lead changes. The Giants went ahead 13-10 after a rushing touchdown by Brandon Jacobs, Green Bay took the lead back after a Donald Lee touchdown, then Ahmad Bradshaw ran into the end zone and the Giants led 20-17. In the fourth, Mason Crosby kicked a field goal and the game was deadlocked at 20. With under 7 minutes to go Lawrence Tynes missed a golden opportunity to give the Giants a lead kicking a 43-yard field goal attempt wide left. With 4 seconds left and a chance to put the game on ice literally and figuratively, Tynes missed again on a 36-yard field goal attempt sending the game into overtime. On the opening overtime possession, Corey Webster intercepted a pass by Favre in Packers territory and Lawrence Tynes had a chance for redemption with a 47-yard field goal attempt; longer than any of his prior kicks that evening. Lawrence Tynes kicked it through the uprights and the jubilant Giants waltzed off the field ecstatic to win 23-20 when no one gave them a chance. The Road Warriors utterly flabbergasted the whole world two weeks later defeating the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Eli Manning threw for 251 yards, the duo of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw defined toughness as Jacobs ran for 67 yards and a touchdown and Bradshaw rushed for 63 with a TD, and Plaxico Burress made 11 receptions for 151 receiving yards; a Giants all-time record for most catches in a playoff game.

Deja Blue

In rainy Candlestick Park, the Giants played the 49ers in another very physical Conference Championship Game once again as heavy underdogs. The 49ers drew first blood after Alex Smith threw a 73-yard touchdown toss to Vernon Davis. In the second quarter, the Giants tied the game on a 6-yard touchdown reception by Bear Pascoe. Just prior to halftime Lawrence Tynes notched a field goal and the Giants led 10-7. In the third, Vernon Davis caught another touchdown strike and San Fran led 14-10. In the fourth quarter, the Giants capitalized on a San Francisco special teams miscue to get the ball back then Eli Manning’s postseason heroics continued. On 3rd and 15, Manning launched a pass into the end zone and Mario Manningham leapt in the air to haul in the score as New York took the lead. David Akers booted a field goal to tie the game and the contest required an overtime session. The Giants special teams continued to revel under the spotlight. After Steve Weatherford punted, rookie Jacquian Williams knocked the ball out of punt returner Kyle Williams’ hands recovered by Devin Thomas. After a few runs by Ahmad Bradshaw the Giants inched closer in 49ers territory. Lawrence Tynes sent the Giants to their fourth Super Bowl in 4 years with a 31-yard field goal as the Giants once again defied all the odds to beat the 49ers 20-17. Subsequently, New York proved everyone wrong to again outlast the heavily favored New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. Eli Manning once again had ice water in his veins under pressure completing 32 passes for 316 yards with two touchdown tosses. Manning’s solidity and grit was on full display as he got brutalized by the top ranked defense in the NFC getting sacked 6 times. He repeatedly got his bell rung but got right back up as if he was Rocky Marciano. Eli’s uniform was drenched in mud, his jersey halfway ripped off his shoulder pads, and his chin strap was on his nostrils but he was completely unfazed as he led his team to victory. Victor Cruz tied a Giants playoff record for second place all-time with 10 catches in a postseason game accumulating 142 yards.