Rivalries

Dallas Cowboys

This rivalry runs deep, from the very first game ever played between the Giants and Cowboys, a 31–31 tie on December 4, 1960. Tom Landry had a large part to play, having at one point or another been a fixture in both franchises, as a defensive coordinator with the Giants, to being head coach of the Cowboys. Of all the Giants rivals, while the Eagles are the most maligned, the Cowboys have been the most troublesome to Big Blue. The Cowboys dominated the Giants in the 60's into the 70's, getting off to a 26-9-2 start against New York in their first 37 meetings. While Dallas dominated early the Giants did strike back in the 80's and since then the rivalry has been very even handed with the Giants leading the series 31-30 in games played since 1980. It should be noted that the Giants' defeated Dallas in the only playoff meeting between the two teams in the 2007 playoffs en route to their victory in Super Bowl XLII. Dallas currently leads the all-time series 56–40–2, the only divisional opponent the Giants do not lead the series against, including their former divisional foe the Arizona Cardinals.

[edit] Philadelphia Eagles

The rivalry between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles is the oldest rivalry in the NFC East and one of the oldest in the NFL, dating all the way back to 1933. While the Giants have dominated this rivalry for most of their history the Eagles have been in control for the last 20 years or so, winning the series through the 90’s and 2000’s. The Giants currently lead the series 80-70-2.

[edit] Washington Redskins

The Redskins have an old and storied rivalry with the Giants^[66]. While this rivalry is typically put on the back burner when compared to the Eagles and Cowboys rivalries, there have been periods of great competition between the two. In the 1980's the Giants and Redskins clashed as both struggled against each other for division titles and even Super Bowl Championships. Most notable among these is the 1986 NFC Championship game in which the Big Blue Wrecking Crew defeated the Redskins 17-0 to earn their first ever trip to the Super Bowl. Wellington Mara always felt this was the Giants oldest and truest rival and after passing away in 2005 the Giants honored their long time owner by defeating the Redskins 36-0 at home. The Giants lead this series 91-64-4.

[edit] San Francisco 49ers

The rivalry between the Giants and 49ers is rooted in the 1980’s when both teams were on the rise. The Giants and 49ers have met in the playoffs 7 times in the last 25 years, the 49ers leading the playoff series 4-3. The Giants beat the Montana led 49ers 49-3 in the divisional round of the 1986 playoffs enrout to winning the first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history. They would again meet in the playoffs in the 1990 NFC Championship game. In one of the most physical football games ever played the Giants upset the 49ers 15-13, ruining their hopes of winning three Super Bowls in a row. The 49ers would exact revenge in 1993 when they would soundly defeat the Giants in the divisional round of the playoffs 44-3 in the last game of Lawrence Taylor’s and Phil Simms’ careers. The series is currently tied at 13-13.^[67]

[edit] New York Jets (intracity rivalry)

While in recent years the rivalry between these two franchises has been docile (although this seems destined to change in the immediate future), this has not always been the case. In 1969 these two franchises faced off for the first time in history the Jets beating the Giants 37-14. Wellington Mara was so upset he fired head coach Allie Sherman on the spot. In 1988 the Giants faced off against the Jets in the last game of the season, needing a victory to make the playoffs. The Jets played spoiler however, beating the Giants 27-21 ruining Big Blues playoff hopes. Since then the rivalry has been somewhat quiet but the rise of the Jets in recent years sets up a potentially gruesome match up in the upcoming 2011 season. The Giants lead the series 7-4.

Dallas Cowboys

This rivalry runs deep, from the very first game ever played between the Giants and Cowboys, a 31–31 tie on December 4, 1960. Tom Landry had a large part to play, having at one point or another been a fixture in both franchises, as a defensive coordinator with the Giants, to being head coach of the Cowboys. Of all the Giants rivals, while the Eagles are the most maligned, the Cowboys have been the most troublesome to Big Blue. The Cowboys dominated the Giants in the 60's into the 70's, getting off to a 26-9-2 start against New York in their first 37 meetings. While Dallas dominated early the Giants did strike back in the 80's and since then the rivalry has been very even handed with the Giants leading the series 31-30 in games played since 1980. It should be noted that the Giants' defeated Dallas in the only playoff meeting between the two teams in the 2007 playoffs en route to their victory in Super Bowl XLII. Dallas currently leads the all-time series 56–40–2, the only divisional opponent the Giants do not lead the series against, including their former divisional foe the Arizona Cardinals.

[edit] Philadelphia Eagles

The rivalry between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles is the oldest rivalry in the NFC East and one of the oldest in the NFL, dating all the way back to 1933. While the Giants have dominated this rivalry for most of their history the Eagles have been in control for the last 20 years or so, winning the series through the 90’s and 2000’s. The Giants currently lead the series 80-70-2.

[edit] Washington Redskins

The Redskins have an old and storied rivalry with the Giants^[66]. While this rivalry is typically put on the back burner when compared to the Eagles and Cowboys rivalries, there have been periods of great competition between the two. In the 1980's the Giants and Redskins clashed as both struggled against each other for division titles and even Super Bowl Championships. Most notable among these is the 1986 NFC Championship game in which the Big Blue Wrecking Crew defeated the Redskins 17-0 to earn their first ever trip to the Super Bowl. Wellington Mara always felt this was the Giants oldest and truest rival and after passing away in 2005 the Giants honored their long time owner by defeating the Redskins 36-0 at home. The Giants lead this series 91-64-4.

[edit] San Francisco 49ers

The rivalry between the Giants and 49ers is rooted in the 1980’s when both teams were on the rise. The Giants and 49ers have met in the playoffs 7 times in the last 25 years, the 49ers leading the playoff series 4-3. The Giants beat the Montana led 49ers 49-3 in the divisional round of the 1986 playoffs enrout to winning the first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history. They would again meet in the playoffs in the 1990 NFC Championship game. In one of the most physical football games ever played the Giants upset the 49ers 15-13, ruining their hopes of winning three Super Bowls in a row. The 49ers would exact revenge in 1993 when they would soundly defeat the Giants in the divisional round of the playoffs 44-3 in the last game of Lawrence Taylor’s and Phil Simms’ careers. The series is currently tied at 13-13.^[67]

[edit] New York Jets (intracity rivalry)

While in recent years the rivalry between these two franchises has been docile (although this seems destined to change in the immediate future), this has not always been the case. In 1969 these two franchises faced off for the first time in history the Jets beating the Giants 37-14. Wellington Mara was so upset he fired head coach Allie Sherman on the spot. In 1988 the Giants faced off against the Jets in the last game of the season, needing a victory to make the playoffs. The Jets played spoiler however, beating the Giants 27-21 ruining Big Blues playoff hopes. Since then the rivalry has been somewhat quiet but the rise of the Jets in recent years sets up a potentially gruesome match up in the upcoming 2011 season. The Giants lead the series 7-4.