4 best NY Giants-NY Jets games in crosstown rivalry history
The NY Giants returned to East Rutherford this past Sunday and were able to take down Washington after suffering back-to-back losses on the road to Miami and Buffalo. Big Blue's Week 7 win over Washington showed plenty of reasons to smile for head coach Brian Daboll and will motivate the G-Men even more as they shift gears for this week's Battle for MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets.
This will be the 15th meeting between both teams dating back to 1970. The Giants currently occupy an 8-6-0 series lead. The G-Men will look to add another win to their total and, of course, bragging rights over their crosstown rival.
New York fans have been treated to many close and competitive contests over the years, making this matchup always exciting. With that being said, let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit the four best meetings in the Giants-Jets crosstown rivalry history:
4. Giants 20, Jets 10: Dec. 2, 1984
The Jets moved into Giants Stadium on Sept. 6, 1984, losing their first game 23-17 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but not too long after, they would have to face Big Blue for the first time since agreeing to share the venue. This would be the fourth meeting ever between both teams, and this time around, there was more meaning behind this matchup.
After they left Shea Stadium to join the Giants in East Rutherford, many Jets fans assumed the stadium's name would change; however, the G-Men vetoed any name change they received. The Jets refused to refer to the venue as its given name and instead called it "The Meadowlands." The naming of the stadium has always played a role in series history.
On Dec. 2, the Jets would play host to the rivalry; however, that did not stop the Giants from dominating from kickoff in front of their home fans. Big Blue led 10-0 at halftime and stayed in front due to an outstanding performance from the Giants defense. The defense let up 10 points in the second half but forced three total turnovers, eventually allowing the Giants to win 20-10.
While there wasn't much scoring in this matchup, comments made on the sideline by Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor made this one memorable for Giants fans. Courtesy of NFL Films, which had LT mic'd up, we got two gems. Taylor told his teammates: "Let's go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs," and the three-time Defensive Player of the Year also told Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien: "Son, you got to do better than this."