Description
The 1990 New York Giants season was one of the most successful seasons in the professional football franchise's history. The Giants, who play in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the National Football League (NFL), won their sixth championship ¡ª and second Super Bowl ¡ª in franchise history during the season. Led by linebacker Lawrence Taylor and quarterback Jeff Hostetler, the Giants posted a 13¨C3 record and defeated the Chicago Bears and the two time defending Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers in the NFC playoffs. In Super Bowl XXV they defeated the Buffalo Bills 20¨C19 in Tampa Stadium, against a patriotic backdrop inspired by the recently started Gulf War. The story of the season is the subject of a recent book, When the Cheering Stops, by defensive end Leonard Marshall and CBSsports.com co-writer William Bendetson. After making the playoffs in 1989, the Giants entered the 1990 season as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl, although most believed they stood little chance of preventing a threepeat by the 49ers. They began the season with a 27¨C20 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, then won their next nine games before losing a rematch to Philadelphia 31¨C13 in week 12. The Giants also lost close games to the 49ers on the road and Bills at home in the regular season, before defeating both teams in playoff rematches. In Week 15 during the game against Buffalo, starting quarterback Phil Simms was injured and ultimately lost for the season with a broken foot. He was replaced by Hostetler, who won the final two regular season games prior to the playoffs. The Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed (211), and the team set an NFL record by committing only 14 turnovers in the regular season. After the season, six Giants were selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2007, ESPN.com ranked the 1990 Giants' defense as the sixth-greatest in NFL history, noting that the team allowed only 13.2 points a game against a very tough schedule ¨C they played against seven playoff teams during the regular season. Led by Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, New York's defense also came through in the playoffs, holding the Bears to just three points in the divisional playoff game. Then they allowed a tough 49ers offense just two field goals and one TD, and set up the game-winning score by forcing a late fumble to win the NFC title 15¨C13. In Super Bowl XXV, the Giant defense held its own against the Bills' no-huddle offense, and New York won 20¨C19.