It's pretty easy for the Giants: beat the Patriots and they can proclaim 2007 the greatest run in playoff history.
Here's another potential football feather in the cap of the 2007 Giants:
Should they beat New England, they'll join the 2005 Steelers as the teams that overcame the most difficult schedules in postseason history (based upon the cumulative record of their playoff opponents).
New York's 2007 playoff opponents (including the Patriots) were a combined 51-13 (.797) in the regular season (the same record the Super Bowl champion 2005 Steelers faced).
Only one Super Bowl champion faced a more difficult postseason schedule: New England's 2004 playoff opponents were a combined 40-8 (.833) in the regular season.
But those Patriots played just three postseason games. The 2005 Steelers and 2007 Giants played four, including three on the road before the Super Bowl.
Coupled with a victory over the 18-0 Patriots, the Giants could then rightfully proclaim the greatest postseason run in history.
The 2007 Patriots, for their part, are facing postseason opponents who were a combined 32-16 (.667) in the regular season. It's clearly the easiest slate of postseason opponents the organization has faced during its dynastic 21st-century run.
Note that two of the past three Super Bowl winners faced the toughest postseason schedules in modern NFL history. It's further proof that parity is dead, folks.
|
Year |
Team |
Opponents’ Record |
Opponents’ Win % |
|
2004 |
New England |
40-8 |
.833 |
|
2005 |
Pittsburgh |
51-13 |
.797 |
|
1990 |
N.Y. Giants |
38-10 |
.792 |
|
1976 |
Oakland |
32-9-1 |
.774 |
|
2001 |
New England |
37-11 |
.771 |
|
1972 |
Miami |
32-10 |
.762 |
|
1973 |
Miami |
31-10-1 |
.750 |
|
2000 |
Baltimore |
48-16 |
.750 |
|
1992 |
Dallas |
36-12 |
.750 |
|
1997 |
Denver |
48-16 |
.750 |
|
1998 |
Denver |
36-12 |
.750 |
|
1974 |
Pittsburgh |
31-11 |
.738 |
|
1975 |
Pittsburgh |
31-11 |
.738 |
|
2006 |
Indy |
47-17 |
.734 |
|
1996 |
Green Bay |
35-13 |
.729 |
|
2003 |
New England |
35-13 |
.729 |
|
1988 |
San Francisco |
35-13 |
.729 |
|
1991 |
Washington |
35-13 |
.729 |
|
1971 |
Dallas |
30-11-1 |
.726 |
|
1977 |
Dallas |
30-12 |
.714 |
|
1999 |
St. Louis |
34-14 |
.708 |
|
1980 |
Oakland |
45-19 |
.703 |
|
1986 |
N.Y. Giants |
33-14-1 |
.698 |
|
1983 |
L.A. Raiders |
33-15 |
.688 |
|
1981 |
San Francisco |
33-15 |
.688 |
|
1984 |
San Francisco |
33-15 |
.688 |
|
2002 |
Tampa Bay |
33-15 |
.688 |
|
1985 |
Chicago |
32-16 |
.667 |
|
1995 |
Dallas |
32-16 |
.667 |
|
1978 |
Pittsburgh |
32-16 |
.667 |
|
1989 |
San Francisco |
32-16 |
.667 |
|
1994 |
San Francisco |
32-16 |
.667 |
|
1987 |
Washington |
29-15-1 |
.656 |
|
1970 |
Baltimore |
26-14 |
.650 |
|
1993 |
Dallas |
31-17 |
.646 |
|
1979 |
Pittsburgh |
30-18 |
.625 |
|
1982 |
Washington |
22-14 |
.611 |
