Giants Best Post-Super Bowl Era Wins

February 5th, 2012. That’s the date of the New York Giants’ last playoff victory. It was undoubtedly a big one, as Big Blue knocked off the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI for their second championship in five seasons and fourth Super Bowl as a franchise. Since then, however, there’s been nine long years of frustration, disappointment, and ultimately, failure. New York has made the playoffs just once since that last Super Bowl, and has finished .500 or better just twice.

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While there’s no denying Big Blue’s futility over the past near-decade, Giants fans have had their moments worth celebrating. From one-handed catches, to breathtaking debuts, to heartwarming farewells, New York has delivered indelible memories, even in losing seasons. With the Giants looking to snap their playoff winless streak this year, let’s look back at the top five Giants victories since Super Bowl XLVI.

5. Week 6 of 2016: 27-23 vs. Baltimore Ravens

Any search for happy Giants moments over the past nine years should start with 2016, the only season in which Big Blue made the playoffs in that span. New York came in to this matchup against a good Ravens team with a 2-3 record after having lost three straight, needing a victory to prevent a tailspin. The game was a back-and-forth affair which featured a Giants goal-line stand and a 403-yard passing performance by Eli Manning.

But what really makes it memorable is that it showcased Odell Beckham Jr. at the peak of his powers. After appearing to hurt himself early on, the flashy wideout exploded for 222 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Beckham caught a 75-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to give New York it’s first lead. Then, losing 23-20 with under two minutes left, Beckham took a slant on a fourth-and-1 66 yards for the game winning score. If anyone tries to argue that Beckham wasn’t a winning player for New York, point to this game as a rebuttal.

4. Week 17 of 2020: 23-19 vs. Dallas Cowboys

Truly meaningful games have been hard to come by for Big Blue the last nine years. And while last year’s season finale against division rival Dallas wound up not mattering, it had win-or-go-home stakes at the time. Despite being just 5-10 heading into the final week, the Giants could still win the NFC East by beating the Cowboys and having the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Football Team that evening.

The game itself was no work of art, as New York’s offense managed only three points in the second half. And who could forget Wayne Gallman nearly fumbling away the victory when the Giants were just trying to run out the clock. But three first-half touchdowns, including two from Sterling Shepard, and a 50-yard Graham Gano fourth quarter field goal was enough to hold off Dallas and keep playoff hopes alive. Unfortunaley for New York, Philadelphia decided to tank the fourth quarter against Washington and lose, so their victory went for naught.

3. Week 15 of 2019: 36-20 vs. Miami Dolphins

On the face of it, the 2-11 Giants hosting the 3-10 Dolphins shouldn’t be a game worth remembering. But with rookie starting quarterback Daniel Jones set to return from injury the next week, writing was on the wall that this would likely be Eli Manning’s final start in blue. Everyone wanted to give the two-time Super Bowl MVP a proper sendoff with a victory. Manning, in his own right, delivered a quintessential performance. He threw three interceptions, but made a number of big-time throws, especially in the second half, to give New York one of their best offensive outputs of the year. Manning completed 20 of 28 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns. That Big Blue was able to get this win for Manning at home made it all the more special. Manning would retire at the end of the season, putting to bed his legendary 16-year career.

2. Week 3 of 2019: 32-31 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The selection of Jones at sixth overall in 2019 was one of the least favorably received draft picks of all time. Most media experts projected him as a late-first or even second round prospect, so New York taking him in the top ten was met with boos and anger by nearly all Giants fans. But strong training camp reviews and an impressive preseason had people warm up to the Duke product, and by the time Jones was announced as the starter for Week 3, there was palpable excitement for his first game.

Jones delivered with one of the greatest debuts in NFL history. The rookie completed 23 of 36 passes for 336 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions to lead Big Blue back from an 18-point deficit. Jones made a number of brilliant throws in this game, causing his “Danny Dimes” nickname to proliferate even more. Frankly, two years later and Jones has yet to match the high of this first start in Tampa, but it will be a game fans remember for a long time.

1. Week 14 of 2016: 10-7 vs. Dallas Cowboys

Tense, late-season, intra-divisional games with high stakes have been hard to come by for the Giants the last nine years. In fact, 2016’s December matchup against Dallas might be the only one that truly qualifies. The Cowboys were riding high this year, capitalizing on quarterback Dak Prescott‘s stellar rookie season and a dominant offensive line to have an 11-1 record heading into Week 14 against New York. Dallas’ only loss at the time was to Big Blue in Week 1, so they were trying to avoid the sweep a the hands of their divison rivals. The Giants were having a srong year in their own right, riding a revamped defense and explosive offense from Beckham to a 8-4 record at the time.

The game itself, played in primetime on Sunday Night Football, was a nail-biting, defensive slugfest. Each team turned the ball over three times, and neither offense was able to gain much traction in a frigid New Jersey evening. The game turned in Big Blue’s favor when Beckham took slant pass late in the third quarter 61 yards for a touchdown, giving New York the 10-7 lead they’d cling to for the rest of the game. Janoris Jenkins sealed the game by forcing a Dez Bryant fumble with just over two minutes left. This one stands out not only because it was an important late-season win against a high-powered divisional opponent, but because it best represented the Giants identity that year: hard-nosed, playmaking defense, combined with the electrifying talent of Beckham.

– Ryan Cuneo is the Managing Editor of Full Press Giants. He covers the New York Giants. Like and follow on Follow @ryan_cuneo Follow @FullPressGiants and Facebook.

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