HISTORY -- NYG vs. Philadelphia Eagles -- Part TWO

[Giant Obsession]

1981 -- After "The Fumble" the Giants took on a massive overhaul.  George Young was hired after Pete Roselle mediated the feud between Wellington and Tim Mara which had become very divisive in the organization.  For me, George Young deserves the modern day throne in the Ring of Honor.  He was given enough power in his hiring that he did not have to serve two masters.  His belief was that successful football was achieved through imposing your will via the offensive and defensive lines.  He hired Ray Perkins as head coach.  His first draft choice was Phil Simms from tiny Morehead State in Kentucky, a team he lead to 4 wins his senior year.  Simms was the 7th pick of the draft, a fact not to pleasing to the Giant faithful.

But Young and Perkins set out on a "true" rebuilding the next 3 years.  There were no "patchwork" trades.  And there were not a lot of victories.

The Eagles won their next 6 games against the Giants, putting their streak against them at 12.  Then on a late November day in '81 at the Vet the Giants turned the tables on the Eagles in a game they had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.  it was a game where a now youthful Giant defense, lead by Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson and George Martin imposed their will and punished the Eagles at every turn in a 20-10 victory.
One month later the Giants faced the Eagles as a wildcard team, again in Philadelphia.  Again, it was the defense with a big assist from special teams and an efficient running attack lead by Rob Carpenter that wrested control of the game early.  Backup QB Scott Brunner, playing in place of Phil Simms the last month (broken collarbone) threw 3 TD passes on only 9 completions and the D held the Eagles to 226 yards of total offense for a 27-21 victory.  This game signified for me the start of the modern era of Giant football.  The "Dark Ages" were finally gone.

1984 -- The early career of Phil Simms was marked with glimpses of great play generously spiced with bad injuries....broken collarbone, torn knee ligament, compound thumb fracture....and the most ignominious of all, Bill Parcells decision in 1983 to install Scott Brunner as starting QB.  An outraged Simms demanded to be traded.  The Giants offense was floundering and Parcells first year (1983) threatened to be his last also.  But Parcells survived the rumor of Howard Schnellenburger of National Champion Miami taking over the reins and vowed to mold the team in his image.
Thus the starting QB in Week 1 against the Eagles was a now healthy and semi seasoned Phil Simms.  All Simms would do that day in his first start for Parcells was go 23 of 30 for 409 yards and 4 TD's leading the Giants to a 28-27 victory at Giants Stadium.  The beautiful marriage Giants' fans had been praying for the past 20 years was born.

1988 -- The Giants and Eagles have played 7 OT games in their regular season history.  The Eagles have won only 1 of them, but it was that 1 win in this year that ultimately kept the Giants from winning their Division, and subsequently even qualifying for the playoffs despite a 10-6 record.  it occurred the weekend before Thanksgiving at Giants Stadium.  The 7-4 Giants stood to basically nail the division shut in this matchup against the 6-5 Eagles.  The Eagles were coached by Buddy Ryan who was assisted by Wade Phillips and Jeff Fisher.
Leading 17-10 in the 3rd period Phil Simms injured his groin and was relieved by Jeff Hostetler who had not quite developed the magic he would have 2 years later.  The Eagles tied the game at 17 and forced overtime.
In OT the Eagles drove into FG range for the kicker Luis Zendejas.  Lawrence Taylor charged up the middle, leapt and blocked the kick.  The ball bounced right  into the hands of Clyde Simmons, who had been blocking on the end.  Simmons lumbered 15 yards and fell into the end zone for the winning score.  Because the kick had not crossed the line of scrimmage, the offense was allowed to advance the ball only by running it.  They did.  The Stadium was stunned.  LT remained a solitary figure on the bench after the teams left the field.
Both teams finished with identical 10-6 records, but the Eagles won the NFC East due to their head-to-head victory, while the Giants lost the wild card tiebreaker to the Los Angeles Rams and missed the playoffs.

2000 -- On an improbable "all in " march to the Super Bowl the Giants first round opponent was the Eagles. The highlights of this game was Ron Dixon's return of the opening kickoff for a TD and a miraculous interception and TD return of an interception by Jason Sehorn.  If you want to know where the Giants developed this trait of small college receiver prospects, Dixon was a 3rd round draft choice from tiny Lambuth College.  He was a developing talent until a knee injury derailed his career.  Next to Homer Jones, the fastest WR we have ever had in my opinion.
Follow the link to the complete game video.  I still get chills watching that opening kickoff.
Giants VS Eagles 2000 Divisional Playoffs

2002 and 2003 -- After that 2000 playoff victory, the Giants would win only 1 of 8 games against the Eagles in the next 4 years. But that win in Dec. '02 at Giants Stadium would propel them into the playoffs.
it was the last game of the season, a win and you're in game for the Blue.  The Eagles lead 7-0 midway through the 4th quarter on a 1st quarter end around by WR James Thrash.  The Giants, who were to outgain the Eagles that day 461-209 were thwarted by 3 Tiki fumbles, a 36 yd missed FG, and an end zone interception in the 2nd quarter from in close.  With just under 7 minutes to go Kerry Collins drove the Giants to the tying score tossing a "get it" ball to Jeremy Shockey who outfought Brian Dawkins.
With 2 minutes left Tiki lost his 3rd fumble of the game in Giants territory threatening to spoil a 200 yard effort on his part.   But always reliable David Akers missed from 36 to the left and on to OT.
In overtime, the Giants finally mounted a drive to the Philly 22 with around 5 minutes left.  Rookie PK Matt Bryant then nailed a 39 yarder to send the Blue into the playoffs.
The 2003 game in week 7 was another last minute dagger in the heart.  Leading 10 - 7 with less than 90 seconds to go in the Meadowlands, and the Eagles out of timeouts and having only amassed 134 yards of offense, Jeff Feagles directional punt didn't directional quite enough and was fielded by Brian Westbrook at his own 16.  The first cover Giant overshot Westbrook, who then proceeded to outrun the entire special teams unit walking the sideline tightrope.....84 yards to pay dirt.  As sad as that was, an even worse sidebar to the game was the injury incurred by Rich Seubert, a promising 2nd year free agent guard for the Gmen.  it would require almost 2 years of surgeries and rehabilitation before he could resume his career.
See 2 links below......................
Westbrook TD Vs Giants

Rich Seubert Injury-Giants vs. Eagles 10/19/03

[vette5573]

This is a nice job you did with these threads. When they have run their course, bump them up and remind us to move them to the history board. They should not be lost.

[bighitterdalama]

How about this one:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsSudY5beaE

[Giant Obsession]

How about this one:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsSudY5beaE

Thank you Sir...no way I should have overlooked that one   I appreciate any and all additions or even corrections anyone has.  History is meant to be shared and trust me my knowledge is not that extensive and i always love to learn new things or hear others memories.

Thank you again bighitter.

[tomeee]

Nice job!

From 1997 (Diamond Jim's first year) through 2000 the Giants were 9 and 0 against the Eagles winning 3 in 2000.