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NY Giants Schedule: Top-10 season openers of all-time

By Connor McJunkin

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 08: The reflection of the New York Giants practice facility is seen on the helmet of Matt Dodge #6 of the New York Giants during practice at New Meadowlands Sports Complex on August 8, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 08: The reflection of the New York Giants practice facility is seen on the helmet of Matt Dodge #6 of the New York Giants during practice at New Meadowlands Sports Complex on August 8, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Robert Green #22 of the Chicago Bears carries the ball against the New York Giants (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

2. September 5, 1993 – NY Giants 26, Chicago Bears 20

The opening game of the 1993 season for the NY Giants and Chicago Bears signaled the start of new head coaching eras for both squads. The Giants were beginning the Dan Reeves era while the Bears were in their first season of the post-Ditka era with Dave Wannstedt leading the way.

Like the 49ers rivalry, these two teams went head-to-head in some intense battles throughout the 80s and early 90s. With both being hard-nosed NFC teams being lead by hard-nosed coaches, it resulted in some intense playoff clashes at Soldier Field and the Meadowlands.

Even with Parcells and Ditka gone, the atmosphere surrounding the game didn’t change.

New York controlled the game for the most part, especially early on. Big Blue went up 9-0 after three field goals by David Treadwell before a score right before halftime cut the lead to 9-7. A blocked punt recovered for a touchdown and field goal gave the Bears a 17-9 lead over halfway through the third quarter.

Phil Simms responded just before the start of the fourth quarter with a 40-yard touchdown to Mark Jackson to make it a 17-16 game. After both teams traded field goals, Chicago found themselves up 20-19 with just over three minutes left in the game.

Simms would go on to lead an 80-yard drive, completing a 24-yard pass to Chris Calloway on 3rd-and-18 and a 38-yarder to Mike Sherrard to set up the go-ahead touchdown. After a pass-interference call set the G-Men up at the 1-yard line, Simms connected with Jarrod Bunch with 1:07 left to give New York a 26-20 lead.

On the very first play of the next drive for Chicago, Lawrence Taylor decided to call game and strip-sacked Jim Harbaugh to secure the week one victory.

Simms was an efficient 24-34 for 277 yards and two scores while the Giants defense picked off Harbaugh once, sacked him four times, and held him to just 178 yards through the air.

After a disappointing two year stretch, the win was a great start to the Reeves era and the first step of an 11-5 season and return to the playoffs.

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