Top 10 plays in New York Giants Super Bowl history

It’s officially Super Bowl week, but Big Blue fans don’t have much to cheer for.

New York Giants NFC East rivals the Philadelphia Eagles will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Big Blue fans in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are surrounded by fans of the Big Apple’s greatest rival cities, Boston and Philadelphia.

To add insult to injury, the Empire State Building congratulated the Giants and Jets rivals by lighting up the building with New England and Philadelphia’s colors.

That clearly didn’t sit well with New Yorkers. But at least this week Giants fans can look back proud of their history.

The G-Men have hoisted four Lombardi Trophies during the Super Bowl era. Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, and New York’s dominant pass rush were Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s kryptonite in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.

The Eagles will be making their third Super Bowl appearance this weekend but have yet to win the big game.

Many Big Blue fans may find themselves aligned with New England given the tense rivalry with Philadelphia and their long-lasting ties to Belichick. Giants fans will never forget Belichick’s impact on New York’s defense or the two Lombardi Trophies he helped bring to the Big Apple.

So in a week that’s all about the Patriots and Eagles, let’s take a look back at the greatest plays in Giants Super Bowl history.

#10 – Chase Blackburn’s Interception (Super Bowl XLVI)

Blackburn went from unsigned free agent to Super Bowl hero in less than three months. The Giants former special teams captain wasn’t re-signed to the Big Blue’s roster until late November in 2011, but that didn’t stop him from making a key play in Super Bowl XLVI.

The undrafted linebacker out of Akron picked off Brady at the start of the fourth quarter. What makes the play more impressive is that Blackburn cut in front of All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski to snag the game-changing interception. Here is a link to the video of the play. 

The Giants were trailing 17-15 at the time of the interception. While the turnover didn’t lead to points for Big Blue, it was Brady’s first and only turnover of the game and the start of another fourth quarter comeback.

#9 – Fake Punt Option On 4th-and-1 (Super Bowl XXI)

This may be the gutsiest call in Big Blue’s history. Giants head coach Bill Parcells audibles out of a punt formation on fourth-and-one on New York’s own 46-yard-line.

Backup quarterback Jeff Rutledge fights for a first down on the sneak. The play swung the momentum in New York’s favor for the second half. Phil Sims would go on to throw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mark Bavaro, giving the Giants a 16-10 lead. The play can be seen at the 33:30 mark of the video linked here. 

The Giants would only expand their lead in the third and fourth quarters before claiming their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

#8 – Scott Norwood’s Missed Field Goal (Super Bowl XXV)

This list would not be complete without Norwood’s missed 47-yard field goal.

The only reason it’s not higher on this list is because the Giants didn’t really make the play to win the Super Bowl. Instead, Norwood sealed the victory for Big Blue and their faithful while leaving Bills fans devastated.

Norwood’s missed field is undoubtedly one of the most exciting moments in Giants Super Bowl history. But it’s hard to put it in the top five when so many players actually on New York’s roster had a hand in their four Lombardi Trophies.

#7 – Flea-Flicker To Phil McConkey (Super Bowl XXI)

There are so many things on a micro level that make this play amazing, and on the macro level, the play led to a one-yard touchdown and a 26-10 lead with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.

A flea-flicker in any game, let alone the Super Bowl, can be exciting. But when Super Bowl MVP Phil Simms let go of that pass on Jan. 25, 1987, all Giants fans were holding their breath. He found a wide-open Phil McConkey for 44 yards to set up Big Blue at Denver’s one-yard line. Here’s a link to the video of the play.

McConkey’s flip through the air and his pure passion resonated with Giants fans across the country. In that moment, it felt like the G-Men were destined to win their first Super Bowl title.

#6 – Carl Banks TFL On 3rd-and-Goal (Super Bowl XXI)

Only two defensive plays make this list, and Ron Dixon’s 97-yard kickoff return was not enough despite being New York’s only score in Super Bowl XXXV.

Unless it’s a pick-six, a strip-sack, or Malcolm Bulter’s goal-line interception in Super Bowl XLIX, it’s rare for one defensive play to determine the outcome of a game. Justin Tuck’s strip-sack before the half and Michael Strahan’s sack in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLII are both worthy plays. So is George Martin’s safety sack on John Elway, but New York’s goal-line stand in Super Bowl XXI demoralized the Denver Broncos and their offensive line.

Giants linebackers Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, and Carl Banks all made key stops for Big Blue in the red zone. But Banks’ tackle for a loss on third down was the start of a momentum shift for New York. Here is a link to the video of the play.

Broncos kicker Rich Karlis would go on to miss a 23-yard field goal after opening the game with a Super Bowl record-tying 48-yard kick. Parcells and the Giants would get the second half started with Rutledge’s fourth-and-one conversion and Bavaro’s touchdown and the rest is history.

#5 – Hostetler To Baker At The Half (Super Bowl XXV)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is looking to follow in Jeff Hostetler’s footsteps as the latest backup quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl victory.

Hostetler took over for Simms after New York’s starter suffered a broken foot during the 1990 season and never looked back. He would lead Big Blue to a perfect 5-0 record, which of course included a Super Bowl win over the Buffalo Bills. A team which New York had lost to earlier that season

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Hostetler didn’t exactly light up Buffalo’s defense in Super Bowl XXV, but his touchdown pass to Stephen Baker on third-and-10 before the half was perfection. The G-Men had started at their own 13-yard line with under four minutes in the second quarter. That drive proved New York could win the big game with their “backup” under center.

#4 -Plaxico Burress’ Game-Winning TD (Super Bowl XLII)

It may not have been the flashiest or most athletic play in Giants Super Bowl history, but there’s no questioning Burress’ place on this list.

The 13-yard go-ahead score put the Giants up 17-14 with 35 seconds left in the game. It was the dagger that ended New England’s perfect season while simultaneously handing Manning and Coughlin their first Super Bowl victory together.

Giants running back Brandon Jacobs’ fourth-and-one conversion earlier in the drive has to be mentioned alongside this play. As does one other play, but we’ll get to that a bit later.

#3 – Mark Ingram Breaking Tackles On 3rd-and-13 (XXV)

While Hostetler’s touchdown pass to Baker solidified his place in Giants history, Super Bowl XXV might have had a different outcome if not for Mark Ingram’s incredible play on 3rd-and-13.

The Giants former first-round pick made at least three tacklers miss and would not give up until he reached the marker. The Giants would move the chains, and running back Ottis Anderson would go on to score a one-yard touchdown, giving New York a 17-12 lead. Here is a link to the video of the play.

Hostetler’s third-and-seven 17-yard completion to Bavaro early in the fourth quarter also clearly helped New York win its second Lombardi Trophy. But without Ingram’s first down on Big Blue’s opening drive in the second half, Buffalo might be kneeling instead of attempting a field goal.

#2 – Manning’s Pass To Manningham (Super Bowl XLVI)

For all those that thought Manning and the Giants first Super Bowl was a fluke, No. 10 put those notions to rest in Super Bowl XLVI.

Manning hit wide receiver Mario Manningham with a perfect 38-yard pass down the sideline. The Giants veteran quarterback threw a flawless breadbasket pass to New York’s third receiver, placing it just in between Patriots defensive backs Patrick Chung and Sterling Moore.

The play not only led to Ahmad Bradshaw’s go-ahead touchdown but solidified Manning as the greatest quarterback in Giants history.

#1 – David Tyree’s Helmet Catch  (Super Bowl XLII)

Forget greatest plays in Giants Super Bowl history, Tyree’s helmet catch is arguably the greatest play in the biggest upset of all-time.

Manning, who is not known for his mobility, somehow escapes the reaches of three separate defensive linemen only to hit Tyree 32 yards downfield as the clock ticks under one minute. Manning’s ability to escape the pressure is enough to make this list, but Tyree’s catch puts this play in a different stratosphere.

All the little details, from Tyree landing on Rodney Harrison to him getting his second hand back on the ball, led to the most unbelievable play in Big Blue’s history. And to be the only team to beat the Patriots during the 2007 season, makes it that much sweeter.

So in a week where all the talk is about New England and Philadelphia, it only feels right to reminisce about some of New York’s greatest plays in Super Bowl history.

Next: Why Big Blue's Defense Will Thrive Under Bettcher