2000 season-in-review team reports —
NFC East
As published in print Jan. 31, 2001
|
| Overview |
| The Giants started the season believing they could be a playoff team.
While most of the focus in the NFC East centered around the Redskins, the Giants vowed not
to roll over and concede anything. The Giants backed up their talk by pushing through a
season in which they were often doubted but were rarely denied victory. Their only
regular-season losses came during a pair of two-game losing streaks. Ultimately, the
Giants proved their critics wrong and stormed through the playoffs, earning the
franchise’s third Super Bowl berth. |
| Turning point |
| Some would say it was head coach Jim Fassel’s famed playoff
guarantee before the Week 13 game vs. the Cardinals. But DE Michael Strahan points to a
9-7 win over the Redskins in Week 14 as the moment when the team came together and
believed it could beat anyone. "If they made that field goal at the end of the game,
it probably would have set us back 2-3 years," said Strahan, referring to the missed
49-yard FG attempt by Eddie Murray with 56 seconds left in the game. "I don’t
know if any of us ever would have recovered from that. And I think that was the catalyst
for us — that was the point where we said that as long as we play together,
we’ve got a chance." |
| Offensive MVP |
| After the Giants drafted Ron Dayne in the first round, few predicted that
Tiki Barber would be the one running back on this team to top 1,000 yards rushing. The
smallish-but-speedy Barber was a huge part of the offense, leading the team in rushing and
serving as a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. Barber caught 70 passes, second-most
on the team, for 719 yards and a score. He also was the Giants’ top punt returner. |
| Defensive MVP |
| There are three worthy candidates — Jessie Armstead, Michael Strahan
and Keith Hamilton. We give the edge to Hamilton, who was a consistent force all season
long. He worked hard in the offseason to get himself in the best shape of his career, and
it paid off. Hamilton was great against the run, and he helped tutor rookie DT Cornelius
Griffin. |
| Biggest surprise |
| That the Giants made it to the Super Bowl with a team considered by most
to be only above-average. Even though there were plenty of doubters, the Giants ignored
them and recorded a 12-4 regular-season record en route to the NFC’s No. 1 playoff
seed. Even heading into the conference title game, the critics said the Giants
couldn’t keep up with the Vikings. Yet, the Giants stunned Minnesota 41-0. |
| Biggest disappointment |
| If making the Super Bowl was the biggest surprise, then losing the Super
Bowl has to be the biggest disappointment. The Giants truly believed they would win the
contest. They displayed a quiet confidence all week, preferring to let the Ravens play the
cocky role. But in the end, Baltimore prevailed 34-7, as the Giants’ offensive unit
was held scoreless. |
| Rookie recap |
| Ron Dayne was effective early in the season, teaming with Tiki Barber to
earn the "Thunder and Lightning" nickname. But Dayne tailed off down the stretch
and didn’t even get a carry in the Super Bowl. The Giants are expecting big things
from Dayne in the offseason so he can make more of an impact in 2001. DT Cornelius Griffin
was a steal in the second round. He had an outstanding rookie year and will be starting
next season. WR-KR Ron Dixon (third round) certainly has some growing up to do, but he
also showed he has a ton of talent. Dixon made two huge plays in the postseason, returning
a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns. |
| Free-agent/trade review |
| OT Lomas Brown, C Dusty Zeigler and OG Glenn Parker were signed as new
starters on the offensive line, and each performed very well. Mike Barrow was a good
addition at middle linebacker, finishing second on the team in tackles. CB Dave Thomas was
solid and did more than the Giants had expected. Backup QB Jason Garrett hardly played but
was good to have around. |
Top of page
|
Regular-season record: 12-4
|
| Team leaders |
|
Rushing — Tiki
Barber, 1,006 yards on 213 carries, 4.7 avg., 8 TDs.
Passing — Kerry
Collins, 311-529 attempts for 3,610 yards, 22 TDs, 13 interceptions, 83.1 rating.
Receiving — Amani
Toomer, 78 receptions for 1,094 yards, 14.0 avg., 7 TDs.
Scoring — Brad
Daluiso, 85 points 34 PATs and 17 FGs.
Kickoff returns — Ron
Dixon, 31 for 658 yards, 21.2 avg., 0 TDs.
Punt returns — Tiki
Barber, 39 for 332 yards, 8.5 avg., 0 TDs.
Punting — Brad
Maynard, 79 for 40.6 avg., 33.7 net, 8 TB, 26 inside 20, 1 blk., 64L.
Interceptions — Emanuel
McDaniel, 6 for 30 yards, 5.0 avg., 0 TDs.
Sacks — Keith
Hamilton, 10. |
| Results |
|
| Pointspread Shown Refers to New York. |
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 3 |
Arizona |
(-7) |
21-16 |
| Sept. 10 |
At Philadelphia |
(+3) |
33-18 |
| Sept. 17 |
At Chicago |
(+2) |
14-7 |
| Sept. 24 |
Washington |
(-2) |
6-16 |
| Oct. 1 |
At Tennessee |
(+4) |
14-28 |
| Oct. 8 |
At Atlanta |
(-2) |
13-6 |
| Oct. 15 |
Dallas |
(-3.5) |
19-14 |
| Oct. 22 |
BYE |
|
|
| Oct. 29 |
Philadelphia |
(-3.5) |
24-7 |
| Nov. 5 |
At Cleveland |
(-10) |
24-3 |
| Nov. 12 |
St. Louis |
(0) |
24-38 |
| Nov. 19 |
Detroit |
(-6.5) |
21-31 |
| Nov. 26 |
At Arizona |
(-7) |
31-7 |
| Dec. 3 |
At Washington |
(+5.5) |
9-7 |
| Dec. 10 |
Pittsburgh |
(-3.5) |
30-10 |
| Dec. 17 |
At Dallas |
(-6.5) |
17-13 |
| Dec. 23 |
Jacksonville |
(-3.5) |
28-25 |
|
| POSTSEASON |
| Jan. 7 |
Philadelphia |
(-4) |
20-10 |
| Jan. 14 |
Minnesota |
(+3) |
41-0 |
| Jan. 28 |
Baltimore (SB) |
(+3) |
7-34 |
|
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