Predicting every national TV game for the NY Giants this season
By Zak Musso
3. Giants at 49ers for Monday Night Football
This one seems destined for primetime. These two teams were both in the NFC's final four in 2022. The Giants-Niner rivalry is one of the most historic non-divisional rivalries in the NFL. These two teams also have two of the biggest fanbases in football.
In 2021, the Giants played at Tampa Bay (Tom Brady) and Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes) on Monday Night Football. Putting the New York Brand against the 49ers on historic Monday Night Football is right up the NFL's alley.
The history is ridiculous. Nobody will forget the 2011 NFC Championship Game when the Giants stunned the 49ers in San Francisco, thanks to Lawrence Tynes's game-winning field goal. What about 1990?
The Giants stunned the heavily favorite 49ers led by Joe Montana in the NFC Championship Game. The Niners had won the last two Super Bowls. Legendary announcer Pat Summerall famously said "There will be no three-peat" as Matt Bahr's field goal sailed through the uprights to seal a Giant victory.
In 1986, "The Massacre in the Meadowlands" took place, as the Giants romped the 49ers 49-3 en route to the NFC Divisional playoffs. The Giants beat the 49ers in the playoffs in 1986, 1990, and 2011, and also won the Super Bowl in those seasons.
The 49ers had their fair share of famous victories against the Giants. They will undoubtedly have the upper hand talent-wise in this one. It will be interesting to see if the Giants pull another upset in the Bay Area. Wink Martindale's defense will have their hands full going up against an offense that features George Kittle, Christian McCaffery, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel.
Mike Kafka's offense will have their hands full against arguably the NFL's best defense, a defense that added Javon Hargrave, one of the best defensive tackles in football (thankfully he's no longer an Eagle).