1990 New York Giants
Super Bowl XXV Champions!
1990 Record: 13-3 (Regular Season), 3-0 (Playoffs)
Head Coach: Bill Parcells
Points Scored: 335 (15th out of 28 NFL teams)
Points Allowed: 211 (1st out of 28 NFL teams)
Home Stadium: Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
Linebacker Lawrence Taylor takes down Buffalo's Thurman Thomas in the first matchup with the Bills, a 17-13 defeat.
Carl Banks had another outstanding season flanking Lawrence Taylor at linebacker. He continued to rack up tackles as teams ran away from Lawrence Taylor's side of the field.
Ottis Anderson applies a stiff arm to the Bills' Darryl Talley in the Super Bowl. His power running was the focal point of a Giant smashmouth attack that kept opposing offenses off the field.
Quarterback Phil Simms was the perfect trigger man for the Giants conservative attack on offense. He threw 15 TD passes and just 3 interceptions in 1990 and he completed 59.2% of his passes during the season.
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Simply Smashing
The 1990 New York Giants entered the season with a chip on their shoulder after their loss in the Divisional Playoff Round to the Rams in 1989 after winning the NFC East title. The Giants defense was already a top-notch unit and they would step their game up even more in 1990. With a linebacking corps of Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Pepper Johnson and Gary Reasons along with linemen Erik Howard and Leonard Marshall, they had the top front seven in the NFL. Mark Collins was given additional help in the secondary with the Plan B free agency addition of Everson Walls from Dallas who would tie Collins for the team lead with 6 interceptions. The Giants starting safeties Myron Guyton and Greg Jackson were young and physical.
The Giants had a stern test in the season opener, a Sunday night affair with the Eagles, a team that defeated the Giants three straight times. The Giants rose up to the challenge and defeated the Eagles 27-20. The Giants continued their winning ways by defeating Dallas twice and an improved Miami squad at home. Following their bye week, the Giants faced another stern test against the Redskins in the Nation's Capital with the Giants prevailing 24-21. The Giants would defeat Phoenix at home the following Sunday and then play the Redskins at home. The Giants won yet again: this time by a score of 21-10. After the second win over the Skins in three weeks, the Giants traveled to Indy for a Monday Night contest vs. the Colts and the Giants won 24-7 to remain unblemished. The Giants exacted their revenge against the Rams in L.A. with a blowout win and returned home to defeat Detroit to go to 10 and 0. Contest number 11 was the most difficult test yet: a trip to Philly to play the Eagles and Eagles would emerge victorious with a 31-13 win.
After getting knocked off their undefeated pedestal, the Giants would travel to San Francisco to play their fellow 10-1 counterparts, the 49ers in a much balleyhooed Monday Night contest. Both defenses proved stingy, but the 49ers would win 7-3.
After two straight losses to eventual playoff teams, the Giants were able to regroup with a 23-15 win over last place Minnesota. The Giants next contest was a Saturday afternoon home game with the AFC leaders, the Buffalo Bills. The Giants lost starting QB Phil Simms in the first half and struggled in his absence. The result was a 17-13 defeat at the hands of the Bills. Simms' replacement Jeff Hostetler started the final two contests: both wins against weak opponents New England and Phoenix to close the regular season.
Even though the Giants had the second best record in the NFC, few experts gave them much of a chance to advance to the Super Bowl since Phil Simms was still not available and Hostetler did not beat any quality opponents. He would get his chance in the playoffs and he would not disappoint. The opening contest was a Div. Playoff showdown with the Bears and the Giants dominated this cold weather contest. The final score was 31-3. Now the Giants would meet the 49ers in San Francisco once again, but this time the stakes were much higher. The winner would go to Tampa and face the Bills and the loser would go home. The contest was played much like their first meeting, where yards and points came at a premium. The 49ers held on for a 13-12 lead deep into the 4th Quarter. The Giants' Leonard Marshall would sack Joe Montana, strip him of the football, and the Giants recovered the fumble. The Giants would drive the ball to set Matt Bahr up for a 46-yard FG attempt. The kick was up and good as time expired the Giants won 15-13 and would go to Tampa to play in Super Bowl XXV!
Super Bowl XXV was arguably the greatest Super Bowl ever. The Bills offense was the most dynamic and most potent in all of football and the Giants had the best defense in football. One of these units would have to give in to the will of the other. The Bills had success early and with Bruce Smith's 2nd quarter safety, the Bills had a 12-3 lead. The Giants did not stray from their character in spite of their early struggles, however. The Giants would erase the final 7-plus minutes of the first half with an 87-yard drive culminating in a 17-yard Stephen Baker TD catch to trim the lead to 2. The Giants got the ball first in the second half and this time they would continue to wear down the Bills defense. It appeared the Giants drive would be short circuited when they faced a 3rd down and 17 scenario. Jeff Hostetler completed a pass 11 yards downfield to Mark Ingram who spun around and then dragged Buffalo defenders just past the first down marker to keep the drive alive. The Giants continued to move the chains methodically downfield using screen and their trademark smashmouth power running game. Finally, Ottis Anderson plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out to give the Giants the lead at 17-12. The 9:29 drive is still the longest drive in Super Bowl history and the Bills offense was off the field for well over an hour. Even though the Bills offense was in hibernation, they would fire back. Once Quarter #4 began, Thurman Thomas would score on a 31-yd. TD run to give the Bills a 19-17 lead. With the Bills defense worn completely ragged, the Giants would go on another time consuming drive that covered 74 yards. The drive would stall at the Bills' 3 yard line and Matt Bahr kicked a 21-yd. chip shot FG to put the Giants back in front 20-19. With 2:16 left on the clock, the Bills would take over at their own 21 yard line. Thurman Thomas broke another long run, this one covering 22 yards to give the Bills a 1st down at their 41. Once the Bills got to the Giants 40 yard line, Thomas would run ahead for 11 more yards. With time running down, Jim Kelly hurried the Bills to the line to spike the ball to set up a game winning field goal attempt by Scott Norwood. The 46 yard FG attempt had the distance but remained wide right of the upright without hooking back. That play would bring Super Bowl XXV to its conclusion and the Giants held on to win their second title in five years.
Inside Linebacker Pepper Johnson slams 49er halfback Roger Craig to the Candlestick Park turf in the Monday Night clash with the 49ers.
Halfback David Meggett led the Giants with 39 receptions for 410 yards in 1990. He was also a breakaway threat as a kickoff and punt returner.
1990 Results
Regular Season
Date Opponent Result
9/ 9/90 Philadelphia W 27-20
9/16/90 at Dallas W 28- 7
9/23/90 Miami W 20- 3
9/30/90 Dallas W 31-17
10/ 7/90 Bye Week
10/14/90 at Washington W 24-20
10/21/90 Phoenix W 20-19
10/28/90 Washington W 21-10
11/ 5/90 at Indianapolis W 24- 7
11/11/90 at L.A. Rams W 31- 7
11/18/90 Detroit W 20- 0
11/25/90 at Philadelphia L 13-31
12/ 3/90 at San Francisco L 3- 7
12/ 9/90 Minnesota W 23-15
12/15/90 Buffalo L 13-17
12/23/90 at Phoenix W 24-21
12/30/90 at New England W 13-10
Playoffs
Round Opponent Result
NFC Div. Playoff Chicago W 31- 3
NFC Championship at San Francisco W 15-13
Super Bowl XXV vs. Buffalo W 20-19
Note: Super Bowl XXV played at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, FL.
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1990 New York Giants Depth Chart / Roster
# Player Ht Wt Age Exp College Face Shape Equipment
Quarterbacks
1. 15 Jeff Hostetler 6-3 212 29 6 West Virginia 107 2 brn crop style 2 helmet, 2 bar, wt wristbands, wt sleeves
2. 11 Phil Simms 6-3 214 34 11 Morehead St. 35 2 blo crop style 3 helmet, 2 bar, wt wristbands, tc sleeves (grass), wt sleeves (turf)
3. 6 Matt Cavanaugh 6-2 210 34 12 Pittsburgh 31 1 brn crop 2 bar, wt wristbands
Halfbacks
1. 24 Ottis Anderson 6-2 225 33 11 Miami 145 14 blk fade style 3 helmet, 3 bar qb, tc mouthpiece, wt tc elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves
2. n/a (switch position to WR)
3. 30 David Meggett 5-7 180 24 1 Towson State 182 3 blk fade style 3 helmet, 3 bar, qb wristbands, bk gloves, wt sleeves, wt tc elbowpads (turf)
# 27 Rodney Hampton 5-11 215 21 R Georgia 173 3 blk fade style 3 helmet, 3 bar, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt sleeves
Fullbacks
1. 44 Maurice Carthon 6-1 225 29 5 Arkansas St. 179 13 blk crop style 3 helmet, half cage, wt tc elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt sleeves
2. 22 Lee Rouson 6-1 222 28 5 Colorado 248 5 blk crop 3 bar, wt elbowpads, wt wristbands, wt gloves
3. 34 Lewis Tillman 6-0 195 24 1 Jackson St. 189 2 blk fade 3 bar, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt tc elbowpads (turf), tc wristbands (turf), wt gloves (turf)
Wide Receivers
1. n/a (switch position to HB)
2. 82 Mark Ingram 5-10 188 25 3 Michigan St. 109 5 blk fade style 3 helmet, 3 bar, eye paint, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt wrist double (turf), bk gloves (turf)
3. 85 Stephen Baker 5-8 170 26 3 Fresno State 107 2 blk flat top style 3 helmet, 2 bar, eye paint, bk gloves, wt sleeves, wt elbowpads (turf)
4. 86 Lionel Manuel 5-11 186 28 5 N/A 109 4 blk crop 3 bar, wt wristbands, wt gloves, wt sleeves
5. 83 Odessa Turner 6-3 205 25 3 N’western St. dk skin 154 4 blk fade style 3 helmet, 2 bar, qb wristbands, tc gloves, wt sleeves
# 84 Troy Kyles 6-0 180 22 R Howard style 3 helmet, 2 bar, wt wristbands, wt gloves (grass)
# 81 Stacy Robinson 5-11 186 28 5 North Dakota 166 4 blk buzz style 2 helmet, 3 bar, wt wrist double, tc gloves (grass), wt gloves (turf)
Tight Ends
1. 89 Mark Bavaro 6-4 245 27 5 Notre Dame lt skin 42 13 brn crop style 3 helmet, half cage, eye paint, wt elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves (grass)
2. n/a (switch position to WR)
3. n/a (switch position to SS)
# 87 Howard Cross 6-5 245 23 1 Alabama dk skin 139 9 blk fade style 3 helmet, half cage, wt elbowpads, qb wristbands, wt gloves, wt sleeves
# 80 Bob Mrosko 6-5 270 25 2 Penn State 16 11 brn crop 3 bar qb, wt elbowpads, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Left Tackles
1. 76 Jumbo Elliott 6-7 305 25 2 Michigan 57 18 l.brn crop style 2 helmet, half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. 64 Tom Rehder 6-7 290 25 2 Notre Dame
Left Guards
1. 66 William Roberts 6-5 280 28 5 Ohio State 205 15 blk buzz half cage, tc extended, bk tc elbowpads, tc gloves, wt elbowpads (turf), wt gloves (turf)
2. n/a (switch position to LE)
Centers
1. 65 Bart Oates 6-3 265 32 5 BYU 67 11 brn crop style 3 helmet, half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves, right wt elbowpad (turf)
2. 59 Brian Williams 6-5 300 24 1 Minnesota 50 6 brn crop full cage, wt elbowpads, wt wristbands
Right Guards
1. 60 Eric Moore 6-5 290 26 2 Indiana 98 14 blk crop full cage, tc extended, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. n/a (switch position to DT)
3. 61 Bob Kratch 6-3 288 24 1 Iowa 32 17 brn crop half cage, tc extended, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Right Tackles
1. 72 Doug Riesenberg 6-5 275 30 3 California 62 17 blk crop style 3 helmet, half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. n/a (switch position to RE)
Left Defensive Ends
1. 77 Eric Dorsey 6-5 280 26 4 Notre Dame 133 8 blk crop full cage, neck roll, wt gloves, bk sleeves
2. n/a (switch position to TE)
# 93 Mike Fox 6-6 275 23 R West Virginia 107 14 brn crop full cage, wt elbowpads, wt wristbands, bk gloves
Right Defensive Ends
1. 56 Lawrence Taylor 6-3 243 31 9 N. Carolina 127 14 blk flat top style 3 helmet, full cage, wt elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt sleeves
2. n/a (switch position to TE)
# 54 Dwayne Jiles 6-4 242 28 5 Texas Tech dk skin 199 6 blk crop
Nose Tackles
1. 74 Erik Howard 6-4 268 26 4 Wash. St. 83 12 brn crop style 3 helmet, half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. 70 Leonard Marshall 6-3 285 29 7 LSU 57 12 blk flat top full cage, wt wristbands, tc gloves (grass), wt gloves (turf)
3. 73 John Washington 6-4 275 27 4 Oklahoma St. dk skin 185 17 blk crop style 3 helmet, half cage, neck roll, wt wristbands, wt gloves
# 95 Kent Wells 6-4 295 25 R Nebraska 46 20 brn crop half cage, bk tc elbowpads,
Left Outside Linebackers
1. 58 Carl Banks 6-4 235 28 6 Michigan St. 66 11 blk buzz style 3 helmet, half cage, tc extended, tc wristbands, tc gloves
2. 98 Johnie Cooks 6-5 250 33 9 Miss. State 274 14 blk buzz style 3 helmet, half cage, tc extended, tc wristbands, tc rb gloves, wt elbowpads (turf)
Inside Linebackers
1. 52 Pepper Johnson 6-3 248 26 4 Ohio State dk skin 205 10 blk buzz full cage, bk tc elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves
2. 99 Steve DeOssie 6-4 234 28 6 Boston Coll. lt skin 37 7 blo crop style 3 helmet, full cage, dk visor, tc extended, wt wrist double (grass), tc half sleeves (turf)
3. n/a (switch position to SS)
4. 51 Bobby Abrams 6-3 230 23 R Michigan dk skin 182 9 blk crop half cage, tc extended, wt wrist double, wt gloves (grass), tc gloves (turf)
Right Outside Linebackers
1. 55 Gary Reasons 6-2 248 28 6 N/A lt skin 83 13 brn crop style 3 helmet, half cage, tc extended, bk tc elbowpads, wt wristbands, tc gloves
2. 57 Larry McGrew 6-4 251 32 8 USC 5 4 blk crop full cage, wt gloves, wt sleeves
Cornerbacks
1. 25 Mark Collins 6-0 190 26 4 N/A dk skin 196 4 blk flat top style 3 helmet, half cage, wt wrist double, wt gloves
2. 28 Everson Walls 6-1 194 31 9 Grambling St. 69 4 blk fade 3 bar, tc gloves, wt half sleeves, wt gloves (turf)
3. 23 Perry Williams 6-2 203 29 6 N.C. State 261 2 blk crop style 3 helmet, 3 bar, wt wrist double, tc gloves, tc sleeves, wt gloves (turf), wt sleeves (turf)
4. 21 Reyna Thompson 6-0 193 27 4 Baylor 116 2 blk fade 3 bar, wt wristbands, tc gloves, wt sleeves
Free Safeties
1. 29 Myron Guyton 6-1 205 23 1 E. Kentucky 135 2 blk fade half cage, tc wristbands (grass), tc gloves (grass), wt wristbands (turf), tc rb gloves (turf)
2. 43 David Whitmore 6-0 235 23 R S. F. Austin 91 8 blk fade 3 bar rb, tc gloves, wt sleeves
Strong Safeties
1. 47 Greg Jackson 6-1 200 24 1 LSU 72 6 blk fade style 3 helmet, full cage, wt elbowpads, bk gloves, wt sleeves, wt gloves (turf)
2. 26 Dave Duerson 6-1 208 29 7 Notre Dame 50 4 blk crop half cage, tc wristbands, bk gloves (grass), tc sleeves (grass), wt sleeves (turf)
# 46 Roger Brown 6-0 196 23 R Virginia Tech dk skin 73 2 blk fade 3 bar, eye paint, right wt elbowpad, tc wristbands, tc gloves
# 36 Adrian White 6-0 205 31 3 Florida 33 11 brn fade style 3 helmet, 3 bar qb, fingers taped, wt half sleeves
Kicker
1. 9 Matt Bahr 5-10 175 34 12 Penn State 17 3 brn crop 1 bar, wt sleeves
Punter
1. 5 Sean Landeta 6-0 200 28 5 Towson St. 37 6 brn crop 1 bar, tc sleeves
Player Ratings spd-str-awr-agi-acl-cth-car-jmp-bkt-tak-thp-tha-pbk-rbk-kpr-kac-ret-stm-inj-tgh
P. Simms 12 51-53-97-62-67-32-41-41-46-18-91-92-23-30-23-19-0-87-71-82
Hostetler 78 60-65-79-79-66-22-49-59-50-19-90-87-24-28-22-21-0-81-75-73
Cavanaugh 56-48-94-63-60-24-42-56-35-18-85-72-22-26-24-21-0-72-71-74
O. Anderson 200 92-79-95-90-97-75-80-59-83-26-35-29-42-47-26-23-10-91-78-71
R. Hampton 95-63-62-95-93-81-80-50-69-19-33-24-27-27-22-21-77-80-74-81
Meggett 305 95-59-64-96-89-87-85-70-61-18-37-30-34-33-23-17-94-85-75-65
Carthon 313 64-75-88-67-69-63-74-48-67-28-38-24-74-73-25-20-10-84-84-91
Rouson 75-70-78-70-80-70-70-51-60-22-26-24-52-50-27-20-10-74-78-85
L. Tillman 221 87-57-55-86-94-67-86-74-64-21-22-24-38-34-23-22-55-81-80-72
M. Ingram 19 92-57-77-92-96-84-79-84-73-19-38-26-37-49-24-22-66-90-85-78
S. Baker 43 96-55-83-94-95-69-70-88-62-17-21-21-26-30-22-21-52-86-75-72
L. Manuel 218 82-52-82-81-83-76-68-77-64-18-23-21-27-34-24-21-37-82-76-80
O. Turner 145 93-54-74-88-91-71-74-87-54-17-27-24-24-31-25-22-25-78-83-65
Kyles 90-54-54-88-91-71-74-80-54-16-27-24-24-28-26-22-25-80-75-77
S. Robinson 260 86-47-66-86-85-71-46-84-43-17-23-22-19-22-21-20-10-78-65-53
Bavaro 111 71-72-83-67-74-84-73-52-72-27-27-24-62-68-22-21-8-79-72-87
H. Cross 78 66-69-65-57-70-62-53-48-63-25-17-17-72-69-26-29-8-76-86-68
Mrosko 85 60-62-76-51-70-48-37-53-43-24-24-21-62-52-23-18-8-74-81-66
J. Elliott 127 55-92-79-62-61-35-23-48-30-25-18-11-91-91-20-14-0-74-61-79
Rehder 47-81-63-53-45-21-18-55-27-24-25-22-81-70-24-20-0-69-75-84
W. Roberts 59-94 -92-61-60-27-20-55-37-29-28-21-92-94-28-20-0-74-90-79
B. Oates 48 60-90-95-61-58-17-18-42-33-26-27-23-92-92-30-17-0-86-88-86
B. Williams 54-94-62-61-53-18-23-51-33-23-24-21-74-86-25-18-0-79-73-80
E. Moore 144 58-91-78-61-57-18-22-43-26-23-23-17-88-88-23-17-0-69-73-77
Kratch 8 50-82-62-60-49-21-22-46-32-28-29-21-77-84-26-15-0-77-67-72
Riesenberg 57-90-81-61-58-19-16-54-27-25-22-19-84-88-24-16-0-71-75-79
E. Dorsey 79 70-82-80-68-69-26-27-57-27-79-22-21-26-36-24-20-0-81-67-77
M. Fox 87 66-74-58-75-63-26-28-50-33-79-26-19-31-44-33-18-0-72-80-74
L. Taylor 232 91-84-92-90-99-45-44-51-25-96-25-22-26-37-25-21-0-94-84-85
Jiles 280 76-72-69-75-79-39-42-57-22-78-25-23-25-36-29-22-0-75-70-68
E. Howard 133 70-91-93-72-69-22-27-42-28-83-26-22-26-36-26-21-0-81-77-76
L. Marshall 285 72-87-85-74-78-26-25-47-31-86-26-21-26-37-27-21-0-81-85-84
J. Washington 322 71-85-81-69-68-24-30-41-24-82-27-22-26-37-28-17-0-79-80-81
K. Wells 51 57-87-53-55-61-24-27-46-34-77-29-22-26-39-27-18-0-72-70-76
C. Banks 58 84-81-93-83-79-41-36-51-27-94-22-21-22-28-24-21-0-86-72-70
J. Cooks 231 71-74-82-75-73-43-37-49-28-76-25-21-24-33-29-24-0-82-86-80
P. Johnson 79-75-90-81-75-46-40-56-29-96-25-20-24-42-31-19-0-87-78-76
S. DeOssie 71-72-80-67-69-38-33-48-26-73-22-21-23-32-26-23-0-73-72-72
B. Abrams 77-76-54-76-78-40-36-57-27-86-26-24-22-35-26-21-0-78-82-71
Reasons 24 66-70-83-65-72-43-46-45-30-86-23-21-23-29-26-23-0-73-76-68
McGrew 235 70-72-87-75-73-38-35-57-24-76-26-21-27-38-24-21-0-74-71-74
M. Collins 21 95-54-88-94-95-63-48-72-23-71-19-23-16-29-21-16-65-87-70-67
E. Walls 301 88-55-94-91-85-77-53-69-25-64-22-20-19-24-25-21-10-78-78-83
P. Williams 92-54-86-92-89-68-56-73-23-73-27-22-20-27-25-21-10-83-83-79
R. Thompson 234 88-49-66-88-97-53-46-76-25-62-22-21-16-21-21-18-10-85-83-61
Guyton 9 88-59-77-90-88-55-47-64-30-89-26-21-17-26-26-20-10-78-84-78
Whitmore 300 81-70-61-79-85-52-38-76-32-96-31-18-31-48-33-21-10-79-72-74
G. Jackson 90-56-68-94-92-72-53-77-28-89-28-23-18-25-26-24-10-91-72-84
Duerson 179 85-66-88-83-83-60-57-72-28-78-22-20-16-21-23-20-10-82-81-82
R. Brown 87-53-54-88-86-51-48-76-28-73-24-21-17-23-23-21-10-78-74-62
A. White 24 80-62-74-79-78-48-50-74-23-64-22-22-17-26-24-22-10-71-61-66
M. Bahr 54 41-25-91-40-41-30-32-48-15-17-23-22-13-16-87-87-0-52-72-46
Landeta 49 40-45-84-44-48-32-32-59-14-21-25-20-13-15-92-89-0-48-84-43
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1990 New York Giants Individual Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Phil Simms, 2284 yds., 59.2 comp. pct, 15 TDs, 92.7 rating
Rushing: Ottis Anderson, 784 yds., 11 TDs, 3.5 yds./carry
Receiving: David Meggett, 39 rec., 410 yds., 1 TD
Touchdowns: Ottis Anderson, 11 (11 rush., 0 rec.)
QB Sacks: Lawrence Taylor, 10.5
Tackles: David Whitmore, 123
Interceptions: Everson Walls, 6 int., 80 yds., 1 TD
Scoring: Matt Bahr, 80 pts. (17 FG’s, 29 PAT’s)
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1990 NFC EAST STANDINGS
1st Place – N.Y. Giants (13-3)
2nd Place – Philadelphia (10-6)
3rd Place – Washington (10-6)
4th Place – Dallas (7-9)
5th Place – Phoenix (5-11)