Copr. Stadiums of Pro Football 2024
In its first 15 years of existence, MetLife Stadium has asserted itself as one of the premier sporting destinations across the world. Despite its questionable layout from an architectural standpoint, the Meadowlands colosseum has played host to some of the NFL’s most jaw dropping performances in recent memory with the New York Giants at the centerpiece. As the stadium completes its 15th year in the league, Giants Fare looks back at some of the most memorable games the Big Blue faithful have ever witnessed in East Rutherford.
HM: Panthers vs. Giants- September 12th, 2010
Copr. Getty Images 2010
While not an overly competitive contest, it’s worth mentioning that, besides this being the first game in what was then known as the ‘New Meadowlands Stadium,’ was an important revenge game for New York, who were looking to avenge their blowout loss to Carolina the season prior in what would be the final Giants game ever played at the old Giants Stadium. The goal was accomplished, as wide receiver Hakeem Nicks ended the day with three touchdowns off of four catches for 75 yards in the Giants 31-18 victory.
5. Odell Beckham’s Best Game as a Giant: Ravens vs. Giants- October 16th, 2016
Copr. NJ.Com 2016
2016 is considered one of the best regular seasons the Giants have had since the turn of the century. This was due in no small part to this all-time MetLife classic. The Giants entered the day at 2-3, coming off of three straight losses after starting the season 2-0. A victory was needed to ensure the prevention of a total collapse, and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. showed up when the team needed him most. Despite losing a fumble early and briefly getting taken out of the game after getting the wind knocked out of him in the 2nd quarter, Beckham was able to bounce back and accrue 222 yards off of eight catches with two touchdowns, the latter of which was a 75 yarder with less than 2 minutes to go which gave New York a lead they would never surrender. (Note: the Giants’ goal line stand at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth was a vastly underrated moment in the Stadium’s history.)
4. Beckham vs. Norman: Panthers vs. Giants- December 20th, 2015
Copr. USA Today’s FTW 2015
Sadly, the title of this article is memorable games, not memorable victories. Luckily we’re biased so this list will have a happy ending, we promise. In this author’s first ever live football game, the G-men were clawing and grasping for any chance to stay alive in the NFC playoff race, sitting at 6-7 due to a defense that became infamous for costing the Giants at least 5 wins for surrendering late points despite one of Eli Manning’s best ever statistical seasons. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers had been steamrolling their way through the NFL, coming in with a 13-0 which could be put solely on the shoulders of star quarterback Cam Newton, who was well on his way to his first and only Most Valuable Player award. There had been minor stirrings all week of back and forth trash talk in the media between Odell Beckham and the Panthers’ star cornerback Josh Norman. After Beckham dropped an early 50 yard bomb from Manning that would have given New York a statement 7-0 lead, the fireworks began.
Over the next 55 minutes, the two gladiators would cause multiple penalties and game stoppages with facemasks, thrown punches, and even an attempted targeting of the head as Beckham launched the crown of his helmet right at Norman’s facemask. For the first time, Giants fans had to watch uncomfortably as Beckham gradually lost control of his temper, as all these distractions culminated in the Giants trailing 35-7 with 5:32 left in the third quarter. But as the temperatures dropped, Big Blue heated up. After scoring 3 straight touchdowns in no small part to a miraculous blocked field goal and a fumble recovery later on, the Giants brought the score to within seven with a little under two minutes remaining. On fourth and goal, Manning would find Beckham in the left corner of the endzone to tie the game with 1:46 left on the clock. Unfortunately, the combination of Cam Newton’s poise and the Giants’ failures on the defensive end to prevent late points led to a Graham Gano field goal at the end of regulation to give Carolina a 38-35 victory in a brutal loss but an undeniably entertaining battle.
3. ‘The Miracle at the New Meadowlands:’ Eagles vs. Giants- December 19th, 2010
Copr. Getty Images 2010
We’ll make this one quick since it’s been 15 years and we still can’t stomach thinking about this. New York was in prime position to earn themselves a playoff spot as the NFC East champions as the Cowboys and Redskins were already floundering with QB issues and the Eagles were the only competition in town with the two squads sitting at 9-4. The Giants accrued a 31-10 lead and squandered it all away in less than 8 minutes to go into the final play of the game, a New York punt attempt, tied at 31. What would happen next gave us Giants fans recurring nightmares for years. Giants punter Matt Dodge inexplicably punted the ball right down the line into the waiting arms of Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, who dropped the ball at first, picked it up, and slashed through New York’s special teams for a walk-off touchdown to end regulation in one of if not the worst loss in Giants franchise history. Needless to say, Dodge was canned soon afterwards.
2. 2011 NFC East Championship: Cowboys vs. Giants- January 1st, 2012
Copr. NJ.com 2012
Both teams entered this game with vastly different mindsets. The Cowboys were on the verge of a complete season collapse. After starting the season at a comfortable 7-4, Dallas was now 8-7 with one final chance to right the ship after brutal losses to the Cardinals, Giants, and Eagles late in the year. The Giants meanwhile, were surging after a 6-6 start and had won two of their last three to put themselves in a position to squeeze themselves into the postseason at the 4 seed. It was almost never close. Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw rumbled into the endzone on two occasions while second year star receiver Victor Cruz added his own 74 yard score to the stat sheet for a comfy 35-14 Giants victory. Simply put, this was the greatest regular season game the Giants ever played at MetLife Stadium.
1. The Only Playoff Game MetLife Has Ever Seen: Falcons vs. Giants- January 8th, 2012
Copr. Giants Wire-USA Today 2012
Note: We’re perfectly aware that Super Bowl XLVIII was played in MetLife Stadium. The Super Bowl isn’t really a playoff game in essence. It’s the Super Bowl, and that one was terrible anyway.
After crawling their way into the postseason, the Meadowlands roared to life on an overcast January day on Wildcard weekend to see Big Blue host the Atlanta Falcons. After only one first down in the games first 5 drives, Atlanta began to drive the ball down field before Matt Ryan was stuffed for no gain on a 4th & inches at the start of the second quarter. After forcing a safety on New York’s ensuing possesion, the Giants returned the favor by hitting the gas pedal. New York would go on to score 24 unanswered points, including one of the most underrated scores in Giants history, a 72 yard catch and run from Manning to receiver Hakeem Nicks, which ended with Nicks performing the ‘Dirty Bird’ dance while white rally towels waved all around. There wasn’t a single New Yorker without a smile on their face as they left MetLife Satdium that day unaware that they were all witnesses to one of the key chapters in the Giants’ storybook road to Super Bowl XLVI.
Work Cited
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201009120nyg.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201610160nyg.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201201010nyg.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201512200nyg.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/2010.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201201010nyg.htm https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201201080nyg.htm#all_vis_drives
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