Might it probably be 37 years already because the New York Giants received their first Tremendous Bowl?
Imagine it or not, sure. 37 years in the past, nearly to the day (the twenty fifth), the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20, on the Rose Bowl in Tremendous Bowl XXI, their first NFL championship in 30 years.
The star of that recreation was quarterback Phil Simms, who had a document day. He accomplished 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns en route setting Tremendous Bowl information for consecutive completions (10), passing accuracy (88%), and passer ranking (150.9).
The as soon as embattled Simms lastly vindicated himself after six topsy-turvy seasons wherein he fought by way of accidents and inconsistency.
The primary massive hurdle that postseason could be the divisional spherical recreation at dwelling in opposition to the rival San Francisco 49ers. The Giants received simply, 49-3, to advance to their first NFC Championship Sport in opposition to one other heated rival, the Washington Redskins.
It was a chilly, blustery day at Giants Stadium and the group was crammed with hope and anticipation. The Giants didn’t disappoint, profitable convincingly, 17-0, and the followers have been rewarded for his or her many years of persistence.
In a current sit-down with the New York Publish’s Steve Serby, Simms recalled the scene throughout and after the win over Washington.
“All I might say at first was, ‘Oh my God, I lastly get to play in a championship recreation and the wind’s going to blow 40 miles an hour.’ It was so windy that it made me snort after I went on the sphere,” Simms mentioned.
“The gang was superior the entire recreation. They have been on hearth from the time we ran out of the tunnel till we left. … The perfect a part of our workforce that day was (punter) Sean Landeta. It simply drives Lawrence (Taylor) loopy. However Sean Landeta was historic that day. Sean was booming them proper by way of the wind.”
As one who was on the scene for that recreation, I can inform you it was like Mardi Gras, besides half the group was surprised. The Giants are going to the Tremendous Bowl? Nah, that may’t be proper. We had seen a few of the worst soccer any workforce needed to provide prior to now three many years and d now we have been on the apron of a championship.
“It crossed my thoughts on the very finish, type of simply when the sport ended, I went, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to go to the Tremendous Bowl,’” mentioned Simms. “I simply type of thought, ‘Properly, the Tremendous Bowl’s just for guys like Joe Montana and Dan Marino.’”
Not so quick. The perfect was but to return however Simms reminded all that the 12 months didn’t go as easily as their 14-2 document indicated.
“Let’s be sincere right here, that was not a fairy-tale 12 months. I went by way of a interval the place, holy Christ, if I accomplished a move I used to be prepared to leap for pleasure. It was tough. We had so many guys harm. Come on, Jeff Hostetler was taking part in large receiver rather a lot,” Simms mentioned.
The reality was, the Giants’ protection was tops however the offense struggled that 12 months. Simms doubted himself a number of instances all through the season earlier than rediscovering his groove.
“It’s onerous to drag the set off when it’s not going your means,” he recalled. “Guys began getting wholesome, and Invoice (Parcells) simply goes, ‘Man Simms, come on, let it go.’”
Serby requested Simms to check the 1986 workforce to the 1990 membership, which received Tremendous Bowl XXV, however Simms — who broke his foot late within the 12 months and couldn’t play within the postseason — wouldn’t chew.
“I’m not going to do this. That workforce was completely totally different from the ’90 workforce,” Simms mentioned. “The ’90 workforce was predicated on simply smashing individuals and simply actually dominating the workforce in the way in which we performed — time possession, no turnovers, operating it. The ’90 workforce is probably the most orchestrated workforce I ever performed on by far. Right here’s the components, right here’s what we do, and rattling, it really works.”
Simms received a hoop as a member of the 1990 workforce. In any case, he did lead the Giants to a 10-1 begin that 12 months nevertheless it naturally hit in a different way for the Tremendous Bowl XXI MVP.
“It was onerous to not be a part of (Tremendous Bowl XXV), but in addition I performed an enormous half in it too (earlier than the December foot harm),” he mentioned. “I by no means misplaced sleep over it, let’s put it that means.”