The New York Giants have been in existence for 95 years, so when the NFL revealed their Top 100 Plays of All-Time it only makes sense that they were featured — on both ends — of some these classic moments.
To date, the NFL Network has unveiled Nos. 100-31 with the Top 30 still to be revealed in the coming weeks. Here’s a list of the plays involving the Giants thus far:
No. 93
November 9, 1952
Hugh McElhenny no helmet TD scamper
NFL.com: “In front of over 50,000 fans at New York City’s Polo Grounds in November of 1952, 49ers rookie halfback and future Hall of Famer Hugh McElhenny made a leaping catch and long run – and shed some key equipment in the process. The 49ers entered this game against the Giants with a 5-1 record, and in the first quarter found themselves pushed deep into their own territory. After receiving a snap, Y.A. Little, the future Hall of Fame quarterback, dropped back and threw a long pass from the end zone. Its intended receiver, McElhenny – who had been the ninth overall pick in that year’s draft – was well-covered by two New York defenders. But McElhenny out-jumped the two Giants and made the grab as he fell. He rolled around a few times on the grass and – now with his helmet still laying on the field – got up and began chugging downfield with three Giants in pursuit. Eventually, McElhenny was knocked out of bounds inside the Giants’ 20-yard line by Hall of Fame defensive back Emlen Tunnell. Despite that big play, McElhenny was held to a season-low four rushing yards, and the Giants won, 23-14.”
Fennelly: McElhenny was one of the greatest and most exciting players of his era and actually played for the Giants in 1963 when they made it to the NFL Championship game that year against the Bears (which they lost).
No. 82
October 10, 1988
Randall Cunningham’s balancing act
NFL.com: “A brilliant play on Monday Night Football in October 1988 showcased the versatility and athleticism of Randall Cunningham, the Eagles’ Pro Bowl quarterback. The Eagles were underdogs against their divisional rival, the defensive-oriented, Bill Parcells-coached Giants at Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium. In the second quarter, the Eagles had a third goal from the Giants’ 4. Cunningham took the snap, faked a handoff, and rolled to the right, looking to throw. Giants Pro Bowl linebacker Carl Banks dove into Cunningham’s legs at the 10, tripping Cunningham off his feet and appearing to tackle him for a loss. Incredibly, the 6-foot-4 Cunningham – bracing the turf with his left hand – managed to keep his knees off the ground and sprung back to his feet. With another Giant defender charging at him, Cunningham threw the ball into the end zone to veteran tight end Jimmie Giles for a touchdown. For the game, which the Eagles won 24-13, Cunningham completed 31 of 41 throws for 369 yards and three touchdowns.”
Fennelly: This play occurred right in front of me at Giants Stadium. To this day, I can’t believe Cunningham was able to maintain his balance. Carl hit him pretty hard, but Randall was so athletic and flexible, he was able to fend him off and throw a TD. Both players should be in the Hall of Fame in my opinion. They battled each other for years, but Cunningham clearly won this one.
No. 81
December 1, 1986
Mark Bavaro takes 49ers defense for a ride
NFL.com: “On the first evening of December in 1986, in a Monday Night Football game versus the 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Giants tight end Mark Bavaro provided a highlight that Giants fans would recall fondly for years. The Giants, whose record was 10-2, trailed 17-0 at halftime against the 7-4-1 49ers. But near the outset of the second half, on a second down and 10 from the 50, Giants QB Phil Simms dropped back and threw a ball into the middle of the field, which Bavaro – the second-year tight end from Notre Dame – caught at the 49ers 40. He headed upfield and was hit and then surrounded at the San Francisco 35. Bavaro plowed through two defenders, dragged Ronnie Lott, the 49ers’ Hall of Famer, for 10 more yards, and then fought a scrum of defenders for several more yards before being forced down inside the 20. The Giants would score 21 unanswered points to win; for the game, Bavaro caught seven passes for 98 yards. He’d go on to catch 66 passes for 1,001 yards and make the Pro Bowl in a dominant Giants season that ended with a 14-2 record and a Super Bowl championship.”
Fennelly: I was in a bar in Queens which was filled with gamblers and old Giant fans. They all loved Bavaro for several reasons — his toughness, his Italian roots, etc. This play got a rise out of everyone and sent a message to the 49ers that the Giants were the team to beat in 1986. I always said, the Niners’ offense was always great, but they only won the Super Bowl — or even got there — when their defense excelled.
No. 73
January 27, 1991
Mark Ingram Catch in Super Bowl XXV
NFL.com: “The Giants’ nail-biting upset win over the Bills at Super Bowl 25 in Tampa on January 27, 1991 might not have occurred had it not been for one spectacular play in the opening drive of the second half. On a tense third down and 13 from the Buffalo 32 and the score 12-10 Bills, the Giants snapped the ball to QB Jeff Hostetler out of the shotgun. Hostetler completed a short pass to wide receiver Mark Ingram Sr., who, in order to achieve a first down, would need to reach the 19. The 5-11 Ingram broke one tackle, then spun free of another. Just shy of the 20, he faked out a defender, then got wrapped up by another, but spun free, remained on his feet and willed himself a few more yards to earn a first down. The extraordinary display of athleticism and effort helped make possible a subsequent Giants touchdown that was crucial, as the Giants would win 20-19 after the Bills missed a last-second, 47-yard field goal.”
Fennelly: Truly a turning point in the game. Third-and-13 in game where every inch counted. It was by far Ingram’s greatest contribution as a Giant since they drafted him in the first round in 1987. It was an amazing play in a game full of them and just demonstrates what it takes to win a championship.
No. 56
December 30, 1956
Ed Brown passes to Harlan Hill for TD
NFL.com: “At Yankee Stadium on November 25, 1956, Harlon Hill, a Pro Bowl receiver for the Chicago Bears, made one of the most incredible catches of that era. The Giants, in first place in the Eastern Conference, were aiming to snap a seven-game Bears’ winning streak – and were in good shape, leading 17-3 entering the fourth quarter. After a 79-yard touchdown pass from receiver Bill McColl to Hill cut the Giants’ lead in half, the Bears had another shot from deep in their own territory with under two minutes left. QB Ed Brown took a snap from under center, went back, and – after an exaggerated pump fake – threw one deep down the left sideline. Inside the 10, a well-covered Hill got his left hand on the ball, which was tipped up into the air. Still running at full speed, near the goal line Hill bobbled the ball again and – while falling forward and with the defender still all over him – made a diving catch in the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown. The game ended in a 17-17 tie, but in the championship later that season, the Giants beat Chicago in a rematch, 47-7.”
Fennelly: We’ll have to take the NFL’s word on this one since their is no surviving footage of the play. Giant fans should recognize Hill’s name as he it had been revived recently when Odell Beckham Jr. caught eight touchdown receptions of 60+ yards in his first three seasons. It was the second-most by an NFL player through his first three seasons behind Hill (10).
No. 44
November 20, 1960
Chuck Bednarik hit on Frank Gifford
NFL.com: “Yankee Stadium in November 1960 was the scene of one of the NFL’s most infamous and devastating hits of all time. The Giants trailed the Eagles 17-10 in the fourth quarter of a showdown for first place in the Eastern Conference. Giants QB George Shaw threw a ball across the middle to Hall of Fame halfback Frank Gifford, who caught the ball and started running with it toward the right sideline. Lurking in Gifford’s path was Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik, a feared 6-foot-3 linebacker known as Concrete Charlie. With his shoulder, Bednarik leveled Gifford, who fell immediately and violently to the frozen grass, knocked unconscious. The Eagles recovered Gifford’s fumble and won the game – and later, the NFL Championship. Gifford, meanwhile, was removed on a stretcher and transported to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a “deep brain concussion” and rested for several days. Gifford didn’t return to the field that season – or the next one.”
Fennelly: I broached the subject with Gifford once and he handled it like he handled everything — with class. Not sure if he remembered exactly what happened but spoke eloquently about the moment that changed his career. After his death in 2015, it was revealed that Gifford suffered from CTE. This play surely played into that condition.
No. 36
December 19, 2010
DeSean Jackson’s Miracle at the Meadowlands II
NFL.com: “At New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010, an exhilarating special teams play capped a 31-10 fourth quarter comeback and lifted the Eagles to first place in the NFC East. The Giants and Eagles both had 9-4 records and, with 12 seconds left in the game, the score was tied at 31 and likely headed towards overtime after 21 unanswered Eagles points in the fourth. But first, the Giants had to punt the ball from their own territory. New York’s punter, Matt Dodge, lined a kick to the Philadelphia return man, DeSean Jackson, at the Giant 35. Jackson muffed it, went backward to pick it up off the turf, and was in trouble at the 30 with Giants on each side. But Jackson needled through an opening and jetted toward the right sideline, getting a block and then coasting into New York territory and ahead of the field as time expired. Inside the 5, Jackson, being trailed by a Giant, prolonged the moment by – in an act of showboating – racing horizontally across the field before finally veering off into the end zone and chucking the ball into the dumbstruck crowd. The result: a 65-yard return and a 38-31 Eagles victory – and the first time in NFL history that a game had ended on a walk-off punt return.”
Fennelly: I was in the press box covering this game for SNY and as you can imagine, was shocked by the unfolding of events along with the rest of the Giants’ beat pool. What compounded my frustration was the reaction by the Eagles’ media, who acted like five year-olds at a parade jumping up and down. So much for putting your fandom in your back pocket.
No. 31
February 5, 2012
Mario Manningham’s catch in Super Bowl XLVI
NFL.com: “The first play of the New York Giants’ final possession in Super Bowl XLVI against the Patriots was also its most magnificent – and difficult – and set the tone for their game-winning drive. Losing 17-15 to the Patriots with just 3:46 left in the game, held in Indianapolis in early February 2012, the Giants were snapping from their own 12. Eli Manning went back to pass and lofted a throw down the left sideline intended for wide receiver Mario Manningham, who had a half-step on his defender, Sterling Moore. But Patriots safety Patrick Chung was right there, closing fast – and the ball was now headed over Manningham’s shoulder. Manning’s pass threaded the needle between the two defenders and landed softly into the hands of Manningham, who was immediately knocked out of bounds at the 50, still holding the ball. New England challenged the ruling that the pass had been complete, but the call – that Manningham had gotten both feet down and maintained possession for a 38-yard catch – was upheld. The QB and receiver hooked up for two more receptions on the drive, which culminated in a game-winning Ahmad Bradshaw rushing TD with 1:04 to go.”
Fennelly: Manningham’s Giants’ career was somewhat underwhelming, but this play puts him up on the pantheon of great moments in franchise history. Manning’s perfect throw combined with Mario’s footwork and field presence made for an indefensible play. New England could do nothing but watch. This was after Bill Belichick told his secondary that it was a “Cruz and Nicks game” and not to worry about the Giants’ other receivers. It is one of the many great plays in Eli’s career that gets glossed over by his ignorant haters.
