Life is a series of choices, and the NFL is no different. For better or worse, those decisions shape outcomes and can have ramifications that go far beyond their intentions, as the New York Giants epitomize.
The Giants are a proud, storied franchise. Since their inception in 1925, they've been on both sides of some of the league's most memorable and defining moments. Naturally, the club and fan base would love some do-overs, yet it's hard to have regrets when the shoe has been on the other foot.
But has anyone actually gone down the rabbit hole of what those alternate Giants realities might look like? For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction, as Newton's third law of motion famously states. Looking back at how differently things could've gone over the years is certainly an interesting thought exercise, so let's dig into it.
Below, we spotlight the 25 biggest "what ifs" in Giants lore. Keep in mind that these are numbered chronologically, not ranked in any particular order.
The 25 biggest sliding door moments in New York Giants history
25. What if the Giants didn't cut Daniel Jones?
Daniel Jones and the Giants agreed to a four-year, 160 million contract extension that many criticized well before the ink was dry in March 2023. We'll touch on that more later, but long story short, the doubters were proven right. The team moved on from the 2019 first-round pick just 20 months later, but not before demoting him from starting quarterback to third-string and scout-team safety.
Big Blue eventually took on nearly $70 million in dead money to grant Jones' request to be released. It would've been easy to see out their deal and maintain the status quo. He tore his ACL the season prior and was clearly struggling to rediscover the pre-injury form the front office thought they were paying for.
Would promising young signal-caller Jaxson Dart and head coach John Harbaugh ever be in East Rutherford? Originally signed through 2026, time was on their side to try to salvage Jones before they ultimately realized the opportunity cost was too steep.
Instead, the organization absorbed a massive sunk cost for a breakup many felt was long overdue, yet the damage was already done (in several ways).
24. What if 'Tommy Cutlets' mania didn't happen?
Remember when we said the G-Men were too little, too late to move on from Jones? Well, Tommy "Cutlets" DeVito's rise was an unforeseen consequence, to say the least.
DeVito became a cult hero and a viral sensation. New York turned to him midway through 2023 when they quite literally had no other choice because Jones and primary backup Tyrod Taylor were hurt. He made headlines as a New Jersey native who still lived with his parents (and had an agent who fully leaned into their Italian-American roots).
Jokes aside, DeVito overachieved to a detrimental degree, winning three of his first four career starts as an undrafted rookie. It was a shocking turn of events, one that pushed them out of range of securing any of the class of 2024's consensus top QBs.
The Giants were 2-8 and firmly in the mix for a top-three draft selection when DeVito took over. All they had to do to land a trajectory-changing passer was stay the course and keep losing. Yet, he helped them beat two squads that came away with Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, respectively: the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders.
To make matters worse, the Giants reportedly tried to trade up for the right to call Maye's name following DeVito's reign of terror. Obviously, they were rejected, and the rest is history.
On the other hand, DeVito's stretch gave way to star wide receiver Malik Nabers arrival, so all's well that ends well.
23. What if the Giants chose Saquon Barkley over Daniel Jones?
New York was in a tricky situation with Jones and star running back Saquon Barkley. Both players were on expiring contracts after serving as the catalysts for snapping the franchise's five-year playoff drought in 2022. There were a few options:
1. Pay Jones and franchise tag Barkley
2. Pay Barkley and franchise tag Jones
3. Pay both Jones and Barkley
4. Pay neither
As the story goes, Jones got the massive extension and Barkley was slapped with the tag. Everything fell apart shortly thereafter, resulting in DeVito's costly 15 minutes of fame. Big Blue Nation's worst nightmare became a reality the ensuing offseason.
Barkley went on to join the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles and rewrote record books. He became the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season (2,005). His otherworldly efforts earned him 2024 Offensive Player of the Year honors, which is somehow burying the lede.
Philadelphia struck gold with Barkley, who proved to be the missing piece for them. They won Super Bowl LIX in Year 1 of his tenure, in triumphant fashion no less, and it was largely because of him.
Do the Eagles hoist the Lombardi trophy if New York makes a long-term commitment to Barkley? Do the Giants' negotiations with Jones stall out to the extent they lose him to free agency if the former's deal took priority? Does DeVito go into 2024 as a starter or face newfound competition, whether it be a veteran or a rookie?
22. What if the Giants chose neither of Saquon Barkley or Daniel Jones?
Ripping the band-aid off is never fun, but more often than not, it's for the best. You can let the plaster detach naturally, like the Giants did by retaining Jones and Barkley, or let it peel off gently.
Sometimes, it's better to quit while you're ahead. Emotions and recency bias aside, Jones and Barkley's run to the Divisional Round was merely a fun story. The group overachieved, as evidenced by their negative point differential in 2022.
Philly notably acquired tailback D'Andre Swift from the Chicago Bears in the 2023 offseason, though Barkley's available to them in this scenario. Does that change the Eagles' calculus, thus drastically altering the free-agent RB market and triggering a league-wide domino effect?
Perhaps most importantly, however, the Giants would have a blank slate as they embark on the post-Jones/Barkley era.
21. What if the Giants drafted someone other than Evan Neal?
So many right answers were on the board when the G-Men called Evan Neal's name, yet in hindsight, he was clearly the wrong choice. Frankly, the descent from a No. 7 overall selection in 2022 to a fringe roster player throughout his rookie contract has been an eyesore. It's especially dispiriting because so many of the guys who went after him have gone on to thrive as pros.
Wide receivers Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams were all on the board and reach the 1,000-yard mark annually in their sleep. Offensive tackle Charles Cross has blossomed into the anchor of a Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks offensive line. Kyle Hamilton is a multi-time All-Pro (and counting) and is considered by many to be the NFL's best safety. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis has developed into a strong interior disruptor for a perennially contending Eagles squad. Those are the next seven players taken immediately following Neal.
See the problem here? New York needed one of London, Wilson, Olave or Williams as badly as Neal, too, considering their investment in the position wasn't paying off. Cross has been the far better blocker, to put it mildly, and Davis/Hamilton could've eased the eventual departures of Leonard Williams and Xavier McKinney.
At the time, Neal made a ton of sense for the Giants. He was a highly touted prospect fresh off a Consensus All-American campaign and an outstanding career at Alabama. Many praised Joe Schoen's second-ever draft pick as the Giants' general manager, and it was all for naught.
20. What if they didn't empty their pockets for Kenny Golladay?
As previously stated, the Giants made a massive bet on a receiver, and it couldn't have turned out worse. Kenny Golladay's four-year, $72 million deal in the 2021 offseason quickly became an albatross.
Golladay posted 43 receptions for 602 yards and a touchdown in what was an incredibly disappointing two-season stint with the Giants. They made him one of the league's highest-paid pass-catchers at the time and barely got rotational production. He was banged up from the very beginning, and his downfield skill set didn't mesh well with the conservative-throwing Jones.
19. What if the Giants stuck with the No. 11 pick and took Micah Parsons?
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith was the Giants' target in the 2021 draft, and understandably so. He put up video-game numbers at Alabama and desperately needed a wideout — the only problem was the Eagles did too.
Philly traded up from the 12th pick to the No. 10 selection and leapfrogged the Giants for Smith. To add more fuel to the fire, guess who helped the Eagles pull off the move: the Dallas Cowboys.
Everything about one NFC East foe helping another at New York's expense is sickening. However, Big Blue had an easy chance to even the score and derail the Cowboys' plans by choosing Micah Parsons.
Dallas was presumably willing to drop back a couple of spots under the impression that Parsons would fall to them. The Giants could've taken advantage in more ways than one instead of moving down and pivoting from Smith to another WR, Kadarius "Yung Joka" Toney.
Why didn't New York at least threaten to snag Parsons, if not actually pull the trigger? Maybe the Cowboys were willing to cough up assets to get him after the Smith fallout. Or the Giants could've made both Dallas and Philadelphia pay and come away with a transcendent talent and a true game-wrecker.
Full stop, Parsons was one of football's premier players as soon as he landed in Dallas. The former Penn State star emerged as one of the most dominant pass-rushers and all-around defenders in recent memory, and arguably of all time. Imagine adding him to a Giants front seven that was sorely lacking on the edge and at linebacker while simultaneously thwarting the Cowboys.
Intriguingly, Parsons has openly stated that the Giants "told [him]" they'd call his name if he were available at pick No. 11.
18. What if the Giants hired Don 'Wink' Martindale over Joe Judge?
Martindale was among the reported list of seven head coaching candidates to replace Pat Shurmur in 2020, who was fired roughly 10 days earlier. Joe Judge was hired, though, and Martindale became the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator — before holding the same title in New York in 2023.
Simply put, things couldn't have gone much worse under Judge's guidance. The team's shortcomings during his watch make it easy to envision how they would fare with someone else, namely Martindale.
There's a world where Martindale is the shot-caller in New York, which is fascinating for several reasons. It's fair to wonder whether his future boss, Brian Daboll, ever enters the picture. Do the roles reverse in this parallel universe?
Does Daboll serve as Martindale's top lieutenant? Does their relationship sour as it infamously did toward the end of their partnership? Do the Giants still sneak into the 2022 playoffs?
17. What if the Giants prepared for life after Eli Manning instead of selecting Saquon Barkley?
Eli Manning's illustrious career was nearing the end, and the Giants held the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft. They internally debated whether to select an heir apparent or maximize his final years. Barkley was at the center of it all as a generational running back out of Penn State.
Barkley's profile was undeniable. Few possess his combination of athleticism, size, strength and speed. He was a surefire top-five pick, even drawing comparisons to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders. But positional value (or lack thereof) complicated matters, specifically for a Giants squad with roster holes and probably should've been transitioning away from Manning.
New York had a prime opportunity to prepare for the future but instead went all-in on Manning, who went 3-12 in 15 starts the year prior. They then saw 3 QBs go over the next eight picks, including 2024 MVP Josh Allen and Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold. Meanwhile, Barkley experienced one winning season across six campaigns with Big Blue before flourishing in Philadelphia.
16. What if Ben McAdoo didn't bench Eli Manning?
December 3, 2017, officially became a date of infamy in the annals of Big Blue. Amid a lost campaign, head coach Ben McAdoo benched franchise icon Eli Manning, snapping the QB's remarkable streak of 210 consecutive regular-season starts. From there, all hell broke loose.
Former Giants and fans alike publicly bashed McAdoo, who was quite literally fired the next day. His short-sighted decision was (and is still) widely seen as a major sign of disrespect toward a member of the organization's Mount Rushmore. Even though Manning was struggling, the two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP earned the right to go out how he wanted.
Turning to backup signal-caller Geno Smith was never changing anything for a G-Men squad that was 2-9 entering his one-off appearance. It stirred up chaos and was the straw that broke the camel's back, essentially costing McAdoo his job after only 28 games.
If there's any saving grace for McAdoo, it's that the Manning family doesn't seem to hold a grudge. Nevertheless, that doesn't necessarily impact how everyone else feels about what happened, and there's no turning back.
15. What if the Giants didn't let the boat picture become a distraction?
It's amazing how one photo could be eternally and vividly engraved in a fan base's mind. Yes, that one.
Star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and several Giants players notoriously took a trip to Miami to celebrate. They were riding high off a playoff-clinching win and ringing in the new year (2017) in style. Naturally, the group commemorated the achievement with a picture, which was the unofficial downturn for this iteration of the team.
New York got shellacked by the Green Bay Packers in an ugly 38-13 Wild Card defeat, and from there, it was all downhill. The Giants relieved McAdoo of his duties roughly 11 months later, after a disastrous 2-10 record in the ensuing campaign.
14. What if the Giants drafted Todd Gurley over Ereck Flowers?
Ereck Flowers walked so the aforementioned Neal could run — in the worst way possible. They have eerily similar stories, including the costly opportunity cost of choosing them over other talented players, like running back Toddy Gurley back in 2015.
The Los Angeles Rams selected Gurley immediately after Flowers landed in New York. Coming off a major knee injury in college, taking the Georgia RB was risky (which sadly proved true). Yet, the upside made for an appealing dice roll, one that turned out much better than the Giants' gamble.
Injuries derailed Gurley, leaving him with a short peak, but man, was it fun. He was one of football's best backs as soon as he entered the NFL, earning Second Team All-Pro honors as a rookie. His 2017 season was special, eclipsing 2,000 scrimmage yards (2,093) with 19 touchdowns en route to Offensive Player of the Year and MVP runner-up status.
While Gurley was out of the league by 27 and retired in 2022, he was utterly dominant in his prime. Replacing 2014 fourth-rounder Andre Williams and uninspiring veteran Rashad Jennings with him in the ground game could've really helped the Giants.
Flowers was a bust in every sense of the word for New York. He was a true liability in pass protection, so much so that they tried moving him from left tackle to the right side. That didn't work either, leading to his unceremonious departure (waived) in 2018.
13. What if Ahmad Bradshaw's accidental TD backfired?
Every Giants fan remembers that sinking feeling in their gut when Ahmad Bradshaw tried stopping short of the end zone in Super Bowl XLVI. He accidentally fell into the scoring area, giving Big Blue a 21-17 late fourth-quarter lead — and too much time for Tom Brady's Patriots.
Bradshaw wanted to go down at the one-yard line and force the Pats to use their third and final timeout. The Giants could've then let the clock run and set up a short, game-winning field goal. His paydirt trip opened up a dangerous can of worms.
Brady, the greatest player of all time, and New England were an offensive juggernaut annually during his illustrious tenure and were no strangers to comebacks. They had roughly 50 seconds to march down the field, yet it seemed like an eternity to folks across the Tri-State Area. New York ultimately prevailed, topping the Patriots in the championship for a second time in five seasons and saving Bradshaw from an all-time blunder.
For what it's worth, Manning and Coughlin publicly stood by Bradshaw's score-first mindset after the fact.
12. What if the Miracle at the Meadowlands Pt. 2 didn't happen?
This one hurts. The Giants hosted the Eagles in a battle for sole possession of the NFC East in Week 15 of the 2010 campaign. New York was cruising, leading 31-10 with nearly eight minutes in the fourth quarter after a Manning touchdown pass, but Philly stormed back.
Before you know it, the Eagles cut the deficit to seven. They needed just seven plays (and an onside kick recovery) to score twice, then made another stop before punching in another to tie the game. With all momentum stripped, the Giants got the last chance to win in regulation ... or so we thought.
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson shook past several Giants for a 65-yard punt-return touchdown as time expired, completing an improbable, bizarre rally. He muffed the kick before making the house call and looked dead to rights, too. Philadelphia stunningly came out on top and went on to take the division crown, thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage.
Regardless, the Packers, who defeated the Eagles in a triumphant run to Super Bowl XLV, crushed the Giants 45-17 the next game. Perhaps that answers our question. However, New York notably got the last laugh with an emphatic 37-20 statement victory in their Divisional Round meeting the following season.
11. What if the Giants rested their starters in the 2008 preseason?
Fresh off an improbable Super Bowl XLII win, the G-Men were among the betting favorites to win the Big Game the following campaign. They brought back several of the guys who just capped off a truly special run, and the vibes were sky-high. The wheels were in motion ... then reality hit like a truck when star pass rusher Osi Umenyiora suffered a devastating preseason injury.
An MRI revealed a tear in Umenyiora's left lateral meniscus, and he underwent season-ending surgery. New York now had to move forward without its reigning sack leader, and to their credit, they did. Impressively, the team finished with a better record than in 2007 (12-4) on the road to divisional supremacy.
Alas, despite earning the NFC's No. 1 seed and a bye, Umenyiora's absence proved insurmountable. The Giants fell to the Eagles, who barely snuck into the playoffs as the second Wild Card, in the Divisional Round.
10. What if Plaxico Burress didn't accidentally shoot himself in the leg?
Umenyiora wasn't the only crushing loss the Giants encountered in 2008. Their top wide receiver, Plaxico Burress, accidentally shot himself in the right thigh on Nov. 28 of that year. The latter landed on the reserve non-football injury list as a result, sidelining him for the rest of the season — including the playoffs.
The Giants were 10-1 before Burress' incident occurred. And this group wasn't just beating their opponents; they were blowing them out to the tune of a league-best +11.8 average scoring margin. For context, the Tennessee Titans were the next-closest squad at +8.4.
Things quickly went south when Burress was removed from the equation. New York stumbled into the postseason, dropping three of their last five contests, only to get upset by their heated foe, the Eagles. We could legitimately be talking about the G-Men being the ninth franchise in league history to go back-to-back if Burress (and Umenyiora) were available.
9. What if David Tyree didn't come down with the 'Helmet Catch?'
It was 3rd-and-5 with slightly over a minute left in the fourth quarter. The Giants trailed 14-10 and were in their own territory. All signs pointed to the Patriots capping off a historic campaign with a Super Bowl XLII victory ... then Manning and David Tyree happened.
Multiple New England defenders got their hands on Manning in a pocket that quickly collapsed. He miraculously stayed upright, dropped back even more, reloaded and launched a deep pass to Tyree near midfield, and the rest is history. With safety Rodney Harrison draped all over him, the unheralded receiver pressed the ball up to his helmet and came down with a one-of-a-kind highlight.
The Patriots would've joined exclusive company — a list of one — and were only 75 seconds away. Joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only two teams to achieve a perfect season (go undefeated through the regular season and playoffs) was within reach. Manning and Tyree unimaginably pulled the biggest rabbit out of their hat anyone has ever seen.
If not for Manning and Tyree's heroics, the 2007 Patriots would've cemented their status as NFL royalty.
8. What if Tiki Barber played one more season?
Tiki Barber announcing that he was "leaning toward" retiring after the 2006 campaign remains one of the more mystifying moments in Giants memory. Major networks pursued him as a broadcaster, so life after football became a real possibility (and a reality). The three-time Pro Bowler was fresh off a 2,390-yard season and a fourth-place finish in MVP voting in 2005 and was still at his peak.
Barber, Big Blue's all-time leading rusher (by far), went from being universally loved to burning bridges. Word of his decision to walk away came as the club was firmly in playoff contention. It sent them into a tailspin, frankly, one they never recovered from.
In fairness to Barber, he wasn't trying to drop a bombshell on the locker room with a mid-October announcement. A reporter who tagged along on a book tour put the pieces together, and the rest is history. However, that didn't make the news any easier to swallow or understand.
Physical and mental fatigue, falling out of love with the game, a souring relationship with Tom Coughlin and a budding post-playing career were all factors. Barber had no shortage of reasons for hanging up his cleats, as he has openly discussed. Nonetheless, the bell cow's unceremonious exit presents a fascinating thought exercise.
Remember, New York won the title in 2007 — without Barber. Instead, Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Bradshaw formed the famous "Earth, Wind and Fire" backfield trio that helped propel the Giants to Super Bowl XLII.
What happens if Barber doesn't ride off into the sunset? He eclipsed 2,000 scrimmage yards again in 2006, averaging a healthy 5.1 yards per carry on 327 totes.
It's worth noting Barber doesn't think the G-Men would've won the title if he continued playing.
7. What if the Eli Manning-Philip Rivers trade never happened?
The well-chronicled Manning-for-Philip Rivers 2004 draft trade is easily the most franchise-altering trade in Giants history. In hindsight, New York benefited greatly from the dysfunction of the Los Angeles (then San Diego) Chargers.
Manning, the consensus top prospect, didn't want to play for the Chargers, who held the No. 1 overall pick. They took the QB anyway, but eventually traded him to the G-Men in a blockbuster swap that sent Rivers to San Diego.
Rivers, the fourth overall selection, headlined an outgoing package that included the Giants' 2004 third-round pick and first- and fifth-rounders in 2005. The Chargers netted a significant haul, considering one of those assets became dominant pass rusher Shawne Merriman. Two-time All-Pro kicker Nate Kaeding also enjoyed a productive nine-year run with the organization.
We know how this story ended, though. New York won two championships with Manning at the helm, while the Rivers-led Chargers routinely fell short despite consistently contending for a decade-plus. Do the roles reverse if their careers play out with the team that selected them? Probably not, but hey, crazier things have happened.
6. What if the Giants didn't collapse in the 2002 Wild Card game?
The Jim Fassel-led Giants snuck into Wild Card Weekend after rattling off four straight wins to finish 10-6. Their reward was a trip to the Bay Area for a playoff matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco drew first blood early in the first quarter on a 76-yard touchdown catch by star receiver Terrell Owens. It felt like a sign that Fassel and Co. had a long day ahead, but they had other plans and eventually opened up a 38-14 second-half lead. From there, alas, everything went downhill.
In roughly five minutes of game time, the 49ers cut the deficit to eight points, then scored in the final minute to go up 39-38. New York pulled it together on the last drive and got in position for a game-winning 41-yard field goal with six seconds left. A botched snap resulted in a last-gasp heave from the holder that went nowhere, and San Francisco advanced dramatically.
A meltdown this bad rightfully leaves an everlasting bad taste in Big Blue Nation's mouth. To make matters worse, the G-Men would've faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round, who went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII.
5. What if Brett Favre didn't let Michael Strahan break the single-season sack record?
Hall of Fame pass rusher Michael Strahan enjoyed one of the most dominant campaigns of all time in 2001. He set the all-time single-season sack mark (22.5), a feat that stood unchallenged for nearly two decades, since New York Jets legend Mark Gastineau did it in 1984.
However, there's controversy surrounding Strahan's record-setting sack, to say the least, because it was far from his best play. Then-Packers QB Brett Favre let that season's Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) surpass Gastineau.
Does Strahan eclipse Gastineau's total without Favre's help? That was the Packers' final offensive drive of a low-stakes regular-season finale, and it was already out of reach. Green Bay ran the ball on the next two plays, then they punted.
Gastineau has made his feelings about the incident well known. He personally confronted Favre about it in 2023, expressing how it "hurt" him. Fair or not, many also put an asterisk next to Strahan's name in the history books because of the context.
Whether one play should take away from a truly special effort is debatable. But "If you don't like it, then break [the record]," as Strahan has said.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but it's all moot now, as four players have since tied/beat Gastineau's number. Two-time DPOY Myles Garrett was the most recent addition to the list, setting a new high with the Cleveland Browns in 2025 (23).
4. What if the Giants didn't roll the dice on Dave Brown?
The Giants have made three selections in the NFL's supplemental draft since its inception in 1977, with Dave Brown being the first in 1992. They forfeited their 1993 first-round selection to select him No. 1 overall in the secondary market.
Brown didn't make his first start until 1994, and he wasn't particularly effective when called upon, as evidenced by a losing record in New York (23-30). They won with him on the bench, too, including an 11-5 campaign in 1993. Imagine if the front office managed assets better and added a difference-making talent with the premium pick it cost to land the New Jersey native.
3. What if Scott Norwood made the field goal?
Buffalo Bills fans are still haunted by Scott Norwood's missed game-winning 47-yard field goal that handed the Giants Super Bowl XXV. He admittedly got a good snap and hold, but the kick went wide right and, frankly, never looked like it had a chance.
The G-Men were incredibly fortunate to escape with a victory. They went another decade without reaching the Big Game, and their next banner was raised in 2007. We're talking about a potential 20-plus-year title drought if not for Norwood, who kicked off what feels like a never-ending curse on the Bills (pun intended).
Buffalo went on to lose the next three Super Bowls and is still chasing that elusive first one to this day. They've taken so much heartbreak throughout what can only be described as an utterly painful drought. As the beneficiary of Norwood's career-defining blunder, New York can't relate.
2. What if Jim Burt never doused Bill Parcels with Gatorade?
One of football's (and America's) greatest traditions began with the Giants in 1984. Nose tackle Jim Burt's lighthearted decision to douse legendary head coach Bill Parcells with Gatorade is a cultural marvel. It's how every team that hoists the Lombardi Trophy kicks off its celebration since Big Blue won Super Bowl XXI a couple of years later.
Honestly, a championship victory without the immediate Gatorade shower is unimaginable nowadays. Quite literally, millions of dollars are at stake depending on the color of the sports drink a coach gets covered in. The phenomenon has become such a spectacle that you can legally bet on it, and that all began with Burt and Parcells' pioneering work.
1. What if the original Miracle at the Meadowlands didn't happen?
Without quarterback Joe Pisarcik's infamous botched handoff to fullback Larry Csonka against the Eagles, there would definitely be even more colossal game-ending collapses than there already are. So, the rest of the NFL can thank the 1978 Giants for the kneel-down rule change.
Leading 17-12 with less than a minute remaining, the G-Men just had to let the clock run out. Philly had no timeouts; they needed a miracle to escape with a win, and that's exactly what happened.
Pisarcik tried feeding Csonka rather than dropping back, going to the ground and waiting for a defender to touch him, since victory formation wasn't allowed yet. There was clearly some miscommunication, and the ball came loose on the ground. Eagles defensive back Herm Edwards recovered the fumble and returned it for a 26-yard touchdown to complete the comeback and steal a stunning road win.
From there, it was a tale of two stories. Philly ultimately made the playoffs, while New York fizzled out, finished 6-10, and fired head coach John McVay after the season.
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