’86 Giants

[CSKreager]

This might sound dumb, but I think the 1986 Giants 'greatness' was affected by their 1987 opener against the Bears. I remember the buildup for the game was tremendous, a "Clash of Champions" or something along those lines. The Bears had to start Mike Tomczak at QB, the Giants scored TDs on a blocked punt and an INT return...and the Giants still lost 34-19. Phil Simms and the Giants offense couldn't do anything until a garbage TD drive in the 4th quarter.

Ironically, the 86 Giants also lost their MNF week 1 opener on the road (albeit they were more competitive vs Dallas)

[74_75_78_79_]

I can’t disagree

Here's where I ranked the 1986 Giants as far as best '80s Lombardi winners are concerned...

https://profootballresearchers.com/foru ... 903#p46903

I read the post and you were nicer than others who made lists in that topic

A powerhouse? It seemed that way especially on Defense but in hindsight the passing game was definitely not a powerhouse. I do think a healthy Manuel would have improved that maybe significantly.

I can understand some of the others who listed them 7th mainly because they collapsed so badly in 1987. But I think they forget how actually good the 1985 team was when they accuse the 86 team of being a “flash in the pan.” 1985, 6 losses by 20 points.

There was no "flash-in-the-pan" such thing during Parcells' time with the Giants. Just the opposite of one which was...1987 itself. You mention '85, but what about '84 as well (winning one playoff game in each case)? So this makes it three post-seasons to the left of '87 consummating with 1986, and three post-seasons to the right consummating with 1990. Yes '88. but I simply 'treat' that 10-6/finale-win-away-from-2nd-seed campaign as a playoff one.

Most here seem to opine that Parcells 'jumped off a sinking ship' following Scott Norwood's miss. My take leans on had Tuna stayed just one more year in '91 - especially with his staff in tow, of course not just Belichick - and would have learned his lesson from '87; keeping the players motivated/hungry, not assuming they'd do it themselves - those close losses under Handley likely turn to close wins. And Parcells won his last six over Gibbs to close the '90 campaign (threeping him in '86 as well), so as superior as Washington was, I'd say at least the G-men split with them en route to a WC berth, likely top-WC/4th-seed.

In fairness to Handley, he did take over late heading into '91 (along with '92 being injury-riddled, especially after the 5-4 start), but a HOFer Bill Parcells still onboard all along, no late start, he being "all-in" for '91 along with firing things up...I like his chances for another big run even if coming up just short, possibly, in the NFCCG at RFK.

[Raptorfan]

Here's where I ranked the 1986 Giants as far as best '80s Lombardi winners are concerned...

https://profootballresearchers.com/foru ... 903#p46903

I read the post and you were nicer than others who made lists in that topic

A powerhouse? It seemed that way especially on Defense but in hindsight the passing game was definitely not a powerhouse. I do think a healthy Manuel would have improved that maybe significantly.

I can understand some of the others who listed them 7th mainly because they collapsed so badly in 1987. But I think they forget how actually good the 1985 team was when they accuse the 86 team of being a “flash in the pan.” 1985, 6 losses by 20 points.

Most here seem to opine that Parcells 'jumped off a sinking ship' following Scott Norwood's miss. My take leans on had Tuna stayed just one more year in '91 - especially with his staff in tow, of course not just Belichick - and would have learned his lesson from '87; keeping the players motivated/hungry, not assuming they'd do it themselves - those close losses under Handley likely turn to close wins. And Parcells won his last six over Gibbs to close the '90 campaign (threeping him in '86 as well), so as superior as Washington was, I'd say at least the G-men split with them en route to a WC berth, likely top-WC/4th-seed.

In fairness to Handley, he did take over late heading into '91 (along with '92 being injury-riddled, especially after the 5-4 start), but a HOFer Bill Parcells still onboard all along, no late start, he being "all-in" for '91 along with firing things up...I like his chances for another big run even if coming up just short, possibly, in the NFCCG at RFK.

Iirc, Chuck Mercein’s Giants Extra wrote that Parcells saw not too much participation in the 1991 off season training program and was less than thrilled at the 1991 Draft. Belichick left early, Coughlin not much later. The 1989/90 Giants offensive “concepts” were not viable long term (Rodney Hampton did have his best 2 seasons with Handley) and LT was more Lt. Parcells was also close with Tim Mara and Tim selling his share was another for him.
So combined with his health worries, looks like Bill decided the gettin was good.

If he had stayed would 1991 have gone better? Most likely.

The head coaching situation was handled top to bottom and by all involved as badly as possible. Lots of blame to go around. The 1991 preseason was absolute chaos. No fukkin way should Handley have been the HC and his professional ego I think made him accept a job that his intellect was screaming “NO” at.