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The Giants and 49ers have a long and storied rivalry. The peak of the rivalry came in the decade between 1981 and 1990. In those ten seasons, these two teams would combine to win six Super Bowls between them. They met many times, including five times in the postseason. Of those five meetings, the winner went on to win the Super Bowl four times.
The final meeting between these two teams in this era came following the 1990-91 season, when the two teams met in the NFC Championship Game, with the winner going on to play the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl the following weekend. San Francisco was aiming for a third straight Super Bowl title, and a fifth overall since their first title in 1981. The Giants had enjoyed a very successful season, yet entered that game as fairly heavy underdogs. After all, they had lost the highly anticipated regular season game just a month and a half before. But they corrected those mistakes, and the game wound up being very well played by both teams. It was a very tight contest, but in the end, the Giants just edged San Francisco, effectively ending the dynasty that had earned “Team of the Decade” honors with four titles in the eighties.
Since then, the two teams have met in three other postseason contests. That included one of the biggest comeback wins in playoff history by the 49ers in the 2002-03 season, and another tight NFC title game win by the Giants in the 2011-12 season, when they ended up winning the Super Bowl again.
Eight playoff meetings between these two teams since 1981. Only one other rivalry can boast that during that stretch, and it would be the Packers and the 49ers. Much like the Giants and 49ers rivalry, the two teams are split. But there is one major, glaringly obvious difference. While the winner of the playoff meeting between the Giants and 49ers went on to win the Super Bowl five times after the meeting, only once did the winner of the 49ers and Packers playoff rivalry go on to win the Super Bowl.
So, indeed, you can see that this rivalry was very serious and intense. I personally still feel that the NFC Championship Game in January of 1991 was the very best NFL game that I have ever seen, before or since. Some things were just part of that time and perhaps a bit of luck. The fact that those two teams met in that particular season, that the sun was shining brightly, making it feel a bit like an early Super Bowl of sorts. The game had what likely was the best broadcasting duo in the NFL, with Pat Summerall and John Madden. But beyond that, it was just so incredibly intense and well-played, becoming almost like the NFL equivalent to a chess match. It was also an incredibly intense and physical game. And despite being low-scoring, it was a very exciting game from beginning to end. Who knew that, as a Giants fan, my favorite game would be one where Big Blue did not even score a touchdown? But they did not manage to get into the end zone, instead relying on the leg of Matt Bahr, who kicked his final of five field goals as time expired, lifting the Giants past the 49ers and into Super Bowl XXV in Tampa.
In recent seasons, this rivalry has not been nearly as huge, although it has been entertaining often times. Just two seasons ago, the Giants managed to squeak by the 49ers on a Monday Night Football game, with Eli Manning enjoying a solid game. And in 2015, the two teams were engaged in a very exciting Sunday Night Football game, with the Giants just scraping past a tough 49ers team for a last minute comeback win.
Right now, the 49ers are, once again, a very tough and competitive team. They almost won the Super Bowl in February, and entered this season ranked among the favorites to get back to the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Giants have suffered through some horrible and humbling seasons in recent years. An 0-2 start to this season, coupled with the loss of Saquon Barkley, has done nothing to help people feel better about the Giants chances to recover and enjoy success this season.
Yet, the Giants might have a better chance than they otherwise would normally have, as the 49ers suffered some serious injuries. It remains uncertain whether quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will start, and tight end George Kittle will likely be out, as well. Running backs Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert are questionable, and it is not certain if either may play or not. On defense, the Niners have lost some real talent as well, with Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas both being out for the duration of the season with torn ACL’s. Richard Sherman and D.J. Jones are also on the injured reserve list.
Still, the 49ers enter the game as favorites, although they are also frustrated, due to the injuries. A promising season two years ago fell apart for them due to the number of injuries.
So, it is possible that the Giants could benefit from the misfortune of the 49ers. Certainly, the Giants are hardly one of the elite teams in the league right now, but they could possibly pull off a surprise against the 49ers, if the injuries prove to take their toll on the Niners. Then again, the Giants have their own injuries to overcome, and they have hardly managed to put together a solid enough game to actually win even once yet this season. So it remains an open question at the moment.
I already officially predicted that the 49ers would win. But I will tell you something: I actually hope that my own prediction is wrong.
Go Giants!
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