Giants Season Recaps - Decade of the 1980s
For the New York Giants, the 1980s were a redemption for a team that had gone through years of losing, pain, suffering and complete frustration. The decade, thanks to the work in the front office by General Manager George Young, turned into the second golden era in the team's illustrious history.
The early years in the decade saw the promise and hope of greater things to come. No fan who witnessed 1981 will ever forget the feeling of returning to the playoffs for the first time in 18 seasons. Posting a win in the first round of the playoffs that year and playing their opponent tough in the second round before bowing out, the Giants faithful finally had something to look forward to. The following two years, however, gave the appearance that 1981 was a fluke. Season 1982 was a turbulent one - a 57 day player strike killed off almost half the season, and it ended with Head Coach Ray Perkins leaving the club to coach the University of Alabama. Defensive coordinator Bill Parcells assumed the Head Coaching role, and season 1983 looked like it might be his last as his team only won three games.
Given a chance to do something about 1983, Parcells took full advantage by turning the Giants into "his" team. Not only did he clean house of the players who didn't belong, he made sure the players left were healthier and stronger by hiring a strength and conditioning coach to toughen them up. This plan succeeded in that not only were the players healthier, but they bonded closer with each other. The end result was the rise of the New York Giants into the elite class of the NFL. A successful 1984 season concluded with a Giants playoff appearance that mirrored 1981. Season 1985 witnessed the Giants growing and maturing some more - by season's end, they were almost ready to contend for the championship. A setback in the playoffs by the Bears not only taught them what it took to go all the way, it planted a seed of committment that would be sown and grow into a dominant 1986 team that captured the New York Metropolitan area by storm. The culmination of the 14-2 season were two dominating playoff games and, at long last, the championship that had alluded them for 30 years. We could now all die in peace, for the Giants had captured the NFL's greatest prize - the Lombardi Trophy!
All glory is fleeting - such was the case of the 1987 team who fell victim to two losses to start the season, a player's strike where replacement players played, and lost, three games. In the end, the Giants went from the penthouse to the outhouse in going from first to last in the NFC East. Fortunately, the Giants recommitted themselves in 1988 and put together a strong effort that yielded 10 wins. In addition to the 10 wins was the frustration of inconsistency where brilliance was overcome with lapses in play that killed them in key contests. The club was denied the divisional title and a playoff berth when they allowed the season finale to slip through their grasp. It was apparent Bill Parcells needed to make some more changes in order to make one final run with the main core of his players still intact.
Season 1989 was a youth movement that saw young and hungry faces in the Giants lineup that played well under the leadership of venerable players Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor. Winning 12 games and recapturing the NFC East, the Giants were back among the elite in the NFL again. Although the final game in the decade of the 1980s was a shocking playoff loss to the Rams in overtime, the Giants made the 1980s a decade us fans will never forget.
Learn about Giants teams of the 1980s by selecting a year on the left where you can view the full story of that Giants team, view statistics and images as well.
|
