Giants–Jets rivalry

New York Giants–New York Jets
New York Giants
New York Jets
First meeting November 1, 1970
NYG 22, NYJ 10
Latest meeting December 6, 2015
NYJ 23, NYG 20 (OT)
Next meeting TBA in 2019, regular season
Statistics
Meetings total 13 meetings[1]
All-time series Giants lead 8-5-0
Largest victory NYJ 26, NYG 7 (1981)
Smallest victory NYG 31, NYJ 28 (2003)
Current win streak Jets 1
(2015–present)

The Giants–Jets rivalry is an American football rivalry in the National Football League (NFL) between the New York Giants and New York Jets. Since 1995, it has been the only intracity rivalry in the NFL, and since 1984 both clubs have been the only teams in the league to share a stadium at the same time.1 Thus, a Giants–Jets game can be referred to as "the shortest road trip in the league".[2]

As the teams play in different conferences, the two teams only meet during the regular season once every four years when all four AFC East clubs play all four NFC East clubs. In addition to annual preseason matchups, the only other way the two teams would meet would be in the Super Bowl.

History

The New York Jets previously maintained a very tense rivalry with their in-town counterparts, the New York Giants, a rivalry that has since diminished due to the infrequency with which the teams meet in the regular season.[3] Its origins can be traced back to the formation of the American Football League in 1960, as a rival to the more established NFL. The upstart league decided to directly compete with the NFL's Giants, and granted a charter franchise to Harry Wismer, who proclaimed that New York was ready for another professional football team.[4] Like the AFL and the NFL, their respective teams in New York fought for publicity, attention and fans. Since the two teams play each other so infrequently in the regular season, some, including players on both teams, have questioned whether the Giants and Jets have a real rivalry.[5][6][7][8]

First preseason games

However, the Jets and Giants did not actually play each other until a preseason game at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, on August 17, 1969, in the lead up to the AFL-NFL merger. The game was viewed as a "turf war" by both opponents.[3] The Giants, considered a mediocre team at the time, were regarded as underdogs and were under much scrutiny by the media and their fans. The Jets on the other hand were coming off a win in Super Bowl III as the first AFL team to win an AFL-NFL Championship Game.[3] Ultimately, the Jets won 37–14,[9] resulting in the firing of Giants coach Allie Sherman.[3] The teams have played in the preseason annually since.[10][11]

Though the annual preseason game still served as a mild opportunity for bragging rights, the fervor of the rivalry had begun to fade by 1979.[12] It weakened even further in 1990, when the Jets fired Joe Walton, a former player and coach for the Giants who had other former Giants on his staff.[11] Another reason is that because the Jets and the Giants are in different conferences, they have only met in the regular season 11 times since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.[1] Under the league's current scheduling formula, in use since 2002, the two New York teams only met every four years, and can only meet in the postseason if they both advance to the Super Bowl.

The Jets join the Giants in the same stadium

When the Jets left Shea Stadium and moved to Giants Stadium for the 1984 NFL season, many Jets fans hoped the name would be changed, however the Giants, who had the authority to approve the change, refused.[13] Many Jets refused to refer to the stadium by its official name, instead calling it "The Meadowlands".[14] The naming of the stadium has played a role in the rivalry, as the Giants overshadowed the Jets.[15]

Critical games

The Jets met the Giants in 1988 during the final game of the regular season.[16] The Jets, with a 7–7–1 record, had little to lose as their hopes for playoff contention had vanished.[16] The Giants, however, were contending for a playoff spot and a victory would have secured their spot and their division title.[16] Although the six point favorites,[16] the Giants were unable to overcome the Jets defense which saw the Jets sack quarterback Phil Simms eight times.[17] With the Jets's victory and victories by the Rams and Eagles, the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention and the Jets gained what many considered respect.[17][18]

Over the twenty six years since the Jets were accepted into their NFC counterpart's homefield; Giants Stadium; the unexpected and time-tested partnership of both teams have only gotten stronger in spite of the big sibling rivalry,[19] resulting in both teams now sharing MetLife Stadium, a joint-venture in which the two franchises own a fifty percent share.[3][20] As part of the naming rights agreement, the preseason matchup between the Giants and Jets has been renamed the "MetLife Bowl/Snoopy Bowl".[21][22]

On December 6, 2015, Jets and Giants played in MetLife Stadium with Giants as the official home team. Jets entered 6-5 and desperately chasing an AFC wildcard spot while the Giants entered 5-6 and were fighting for the top seed in the NFC East. Giants had won the last five meetings between the clubs, and the last two were critical for the Giants' championship runs. After each teams started with one failed possession the Jets led a 78-yard drive with several strong runs by Chris Ivory and finished with a field goal. A couple of possessions later in the second quarter as both teams were stagnant on offense Dwayne Harris returned a Jets punt for an 80-yard touchdown. Jets next possession Chris Ivory fumbled the ball in the Jets red zone but Giants failed to capitalize and only got a field goal out of the opportunity. Jets had another strong drive that ended with a 25-yard pass touchdown pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Bilal Powell. Giants star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught an 72-yard touchdown pass on the next Giants drive to take a 17-10 lead. Giants got another field goal before the end of the half and entered the locker room up by 10. Giants led an 11-minute drive in the 3rd-4th quarter. On fourth down 2 on the Jets' 4 yard line the Giants controversially attempted to go for the touchdown rather than take a short field goal and threw an interception. Jets marched down to the Giants' redzone but settled for a field goal. Jets got the ball back again with two minutes and all of their timeouts remaining, and marched efficiently down the field until Fitzpatrick threw a TD to Brandon Marshall to tie the game. The teams squared off in overtime for the first time in their history against each other. The Jets got the ball first and continued their stellar offensive play from the fourth quarter and scored a short field goal. Giants got within field goal range to the Jets 30 yard line on their drive,and Josh Brown missed the 48 yarder, his first missed field goal of the year. Jets beat the Giants for the first time since 1993.

Super Bowl wins by the Giants in 2008 and 2012

During the victory parade for the Giants, celebrating their win in Super Bowl XLII over the Jets division rivals, the New England Patriots, New Jersey government officials took jabs. State Senate President Richard J. Codey took a jab at the Patriots when he referred to their videotaping scandal at Giants Stadium against the Jets in September. "If the Patriots were here today, they could film all they want," Codey said.[23]

Jets coach Rex Ryan made an effort to fuel the flames of the rivalry. The 2011 season matchup was hyped up by trash talking from both teams including comments by Ryan.[24][25] Just before their December 24, 2011 meeting, the "host" Jets covered up the "visiting" Giants' Super Bowl logos in front of their locker room, angering Giants players.[26] After the Giants defeated the Jets 29-14, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs taunted Ryan, saying, "Time to shut up, fat boy!"[27] The two reportedly came close to blows in a tense post game meeting.[28] The Giants win over the Jets helped them to secure the NFC East title and a spot in the playoffs, where they would go on to win Super Bowl XLVI, once again by defeating the New England Patriots.[29] Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes called the win over the Jets the turning point of the season that spurred them onto their Super Bowl run.[30] Despite a Super Bowl that was described as a "lose-lose situation" for the Jets as their cross-town rivals played against their division rivals, Jets owner Woody Johnson congratulated both the Giants and Patriots in a post-game statement.[31]

Full list of results

Date Score Winner Competition Venue
November 1, 1970 22–10 Giants Regular season Shea Stadium
November 10, 1974 26–20 Jets Regular season Yale Bowl
November 1, 1981 26–7 Jets Regular season Giants Stadium
December 2, 1984 20–10 Giants Regular season The Meadowlands
December 27, 1987 20–7 Giants Regular season Giants Stadium
December 18, 1988 27–21 Jets Regular season The Meadowlands
October 31, 1993 10–6 Jets Regular season Giants Stadium
September 22, 1996 13–6 Giants Regular season The Meadowlands
December 5, 1999 41–28Giants Regular season Giants Stadium
November 2, 2003 31–28 (OT) Giants Regular season The Meadowlands
October 7, 2007 35–24 Giants Regular season Giants Stadium
December 24, 2011 29–14 Giants Regular season MetLife Stadium
December 6, 2015 23-20 (OT) Jets Regular season MetLife Stadium

From 1984 to 2010 the Jets were tenants at Giants Stadium but referred to it as "The Meadowlands"

Footnotes

  1. ^ Although the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders share the San Francisco Bay Area media market, both have different home stadiums in different cities. And although the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Raiders once played at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, they never played there at the same time.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "New York Jets vs. New York Giants Results". The Football Database. August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  2. ↑ King, Peter (November 3, 2003). "Par for the course". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Branch, John (October 7, 2007), "A Rivalry That Everyone Has Forgotten to Remember", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on January 17, 2011, retrieved July 25, 2010
  4. ↑ "Minutes of the First Organizational Meeting of the American Football League". Pro Football Hall of Fame. August 14, 1959. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 15, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ Sphigel, Ben. "The Jets' Players Are Asking Themselves: Is This a Rivalry Game?". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  6. ↑ Samuel, Ebenezer. "Giants' Weatherford: Beating Jets is 'sweet'". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  7. ↑ B, John. "Jets vs. Giants: How Big of a Rivalry Is It?". SB Nation. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  8. ↑ DelVecchio, Steve. "Bart Scott: Jets-Giants Not a Rivalry Because You Don’t Have to Fight Over Strippers in New York". Larry Brown Sports. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Wallace, William M. (August 18, 1969). "Jets Beat Giants, 37–14; Namath Completes 14 of 16 Passes, 3 for Scores; BATTLE RETURNS PUNT FOR 86 YARDS 70,874 Fans See Jet Rookie Score in Yale Bowl – Mathis Tallies Two Touchdowns". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  10. ↑ "The Associated Press: Jets, Giants prepare for annual preseason tilt". Google.com. 2011-08-26. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  11. 1 2 Harvin, Al (August 25, 1990). "FOOTBALL; Jets-Giants Rivalry a Subject for the Scrapbooks". The New York Times. p. A9. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  12. ↑ "Giants-Jets preseason rivalry has faded over the years". Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA). August 25, 1979. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  13. ↑ Chastain, Bill (2010). 100 Things Jets Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. Chicago, IL: Triumph Books. pp. 72–73. ISBN 978-1-60078-522-1.
  14. ↑ Cimini, Rich (August 25, 2011). "New York Jets - Game against New York Giants is for bragging rights". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  15. ↑ Youngmisuk, Ohm (January 2, 2010). "Tuck: It's "Giants Stadium"". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Litsky, Frank (December 18, 1988), "Pro Football; Giants Go for the Title", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on March 21, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011
  17. 1 2 Eskenazi, Gerald (December 19, 1988), "Jets stagger Giants and Rams knock them out; Lyons helps Jet defense win Respect", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on March 21, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011
  18. ↑ Litsky, Frank (December 19, 1988), "Jets stagger Giants and Rams knock them out; Errors crucial in 27–21 Defeat", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on March 21, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011
  19. ↑ Rhoden, William C. (August 15, 2010), "It’s a Battle for the Soul of New ... Stadium", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on March 21, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011
  20. ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (September 29, 2005), "Jets and Giants Agree to Share New Stadium", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on March 21, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011
  21. ↑ LeRay, Andrew (August 26, 2011). "Stakes Raised: Jets, Giants Vie for MetLife Bowl". New York Jets. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  22. ↑ "New York Jets: Mark Sanchez & Co. have a long way to go before they can talk Super Bowl". ESPN.com. August 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  23. ↑ Dobnik, Verena (February 5, 2008). "New York Hails Giants With Super Parade". FOXNews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  24. ↑ Vaccaro, Mike (September 6, 2011). "Rise of Rex's Jets finally adds some spice to Giants rivalry". New York Post. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  25. ↑ Dyer, Kristian (August 25, 2011). "Jets-Giants fanning the flames of rivalry". Metro International. Retrieved 2011-09-12.
  26. ↑ "Jets miff Giants with cover-up of Super Bowl logos at stadium". NFL.com. December 24, 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  27. ↑ Davis, Nate (December 25, 2011). "Brandon Jacobs to Rex Ryan: 'Time to shut up, fat boy!'". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-01-04.
  28. ↑ Perlman, William (December 24, 2011). "Jacobs, giddy Giants not done chewing the fat with Jets". US Presswire (The National Football League).
  29. ↑ "Super Bowl-champion Giants return home from Super Bowl win over Patriots". Washington Post. February 6, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  30. ↑ Baumbach, Jim (February 6, 2012). "Tynes: Sorry, Jets, we're 'kings' of NY". Newsday. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
  31. ↑ Walker, James (February 6, 2012). "Jets owner offers congrats to Giants, Pats". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-02-06.
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