EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Phil Simms had many triumphant moments in his storied 15-year Giants career, most notably his nearly flawless MVP performance in the Super Bowl XXI victory against Denver.
But anyone who plays that long bears his share of disappointment and Simms was no exception. Some of the most enduring defeats were not the most significant games or lopsided losses, but those in which the Giants sabotaged their chance to win with turnovers, mental lapses or missed opportunities. It happened often enough that Simms developed a phrase for it.
"We would refuse to win," Simms said.
One of those games occurred on Oct. 13, 1985, in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. The Giants outgained the Bengals, 470-199, finished with more than twice as many first downs (34-16) and outscored them in the second half by 13 points. But they lost, 35-30.
The Giants fell behind, 21-0, rallied to within a point and later trailed by 15 before scoring the game's final 10 points. But they came up short in Cincinnati, a city that has treated them harshly. They are 0-6 in Southwestern Ohio, a streak they will try to end when the teams meet Sunday in Paul Brown Stadium.
Perhaps the most frustrating of those defeats occurred when most of the Giants' offensive output was generated by Simms, who threw for 513 yards; 35 years later, it remains the franchise's single-game record.
In a recent phone conversation, Simms vividly recalled details of that game.
"It was a hot, steamy day in Cincy, I remember that," Simms said. "My uniform was a different color when the game was over because the heat, the turf, whatever. We threw it because we got behind. I threw two picks, if I remember. But physically, it was probably one of my top two or three games ever throwing the ball. We just made so many good throws and catches in the game, it was ridiculous. But we never could get into the end zone."
Not often enough. Simms threw one touchdown pass, a 24-yarder to running back George Adams, the team's first-round draft choice that year, with 1:28 remaining. Joe Morris, who rushed for 1,336 yards that season, netted minus-6 yards on five carries, but scored one of his team-record 21 touchdowns on a one-yard run. Kicker Jess Atkinson scored on a 14-yard run on a fake field goal and kicked three-pointers from 33, 37 and 46 yards.
But in addition to the two interceptions, Simms and Adams each lost fumbles, and the QB was sacked seven times for losses totaling 70 yards.
"I don't remember the sacks being a big part of why we couldn't get it done," Simms said. "It was just one of those days where the turnovers, I don't know what else, maybe the sacks, but we moved the ball, of course, with 500 yards, we moved it well. That's what I remember."
View photos of Super Bowl XXI MVP and Ring of Honor inductee Phil Simms through the years.
Phil Simms embraces Lawrence Taylor after the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20, to win Super Bowl XXI.
Former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms lifts his arms to the crowd after his number was retired by Giants President Wellington Mara, center, during halftime ceremonies in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Sept. 4, 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 1987, file photo, New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to Mark Bavaro to put the Giants ahead 15-10 in third quarter of Super Bowl XXI game against the Denver Broncos in Pasadena, Calif. Simms was about as close to perfect as a QB can be, going 22 of 25 for 268 yards, three TD passes and zero interceptions in the 1987 Super Bowl, leading the New York Giants past the Broncos 39-20 and earning MVP honors. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) shown in action in Super Bowl XXI game in Pasadena, Ca., Sunday, Jan. 25, 1987. The Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20. (AP Photo)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) poses with the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player trophy and an automobile presented to him by Sports Magazine in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 26, 1987. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
With temperatures below freezing, New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells gets a confetti shower from quarterback Phil Simms during a celebration with fans at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Jan. 27, 1987. The Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI Sunday, Jan. 25, for their first Super Bowl victory and first NFL championship in 30 years. Coach Parcells holds the Vince Lombardi trophy aloft. (AP Photo/Mike Derer)
New York Giants coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Phil Simms (11) take the field with the team at the Meadowlands. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) drops back to pass during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) scrambles for yardage against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 22, 1992. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), who led the team to the 1987 Super Bowl XXI victory over the Denver Broncos, is the talk of "The Tonight Show" as he and guest-host Garry Shandling share a laugh in Burbank, Calif., Jan. 29, 1987. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith)
Ex-New York Giants Phil Simms, right, Michael Strahan, center, and Otis Anderson stand next to four Vince Lombardi trophy during a ceremony before the NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., Sept. 9, 1984. (AP Photo)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) throws during a practice session in 1987. (AP Photo)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) sets to pass during the Giants 17-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game on January 9, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), left, uses a fourth quarter time out to talk to coach Ray Perkins on the sidelines during 26-7 loss to the New York Jets at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Nov. 1, 1981. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms circa 1992. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) acknowledges fans after he ledt the game in the fourth quarter at Washington's RFK Stadium, Oct. 10, 1993. (AP Photo/Marcy Nighswander)
Former New York Giants players (left to right) Otis Anderson, Michael Strahan and Phil Simms pose with the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophies prior to a week 1 NFL football game between the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 5, 2012. The Cowboys defeated the giants 24-17. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) unleashes a pass during a workout in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 23, 1987. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) talks about his team's 39-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI at a news conference in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 26, 1987. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
New York Giants Phil Simms (11) during a game from his 1993 season with the New York Giants. Phil Simms played for 14 years, all with the Giants and was a 2-time Pro Bowler. (David Durochik via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) gets instructions from the Giants head coach Bill Parcells during second half action against the Vikings in Minneapolis, Nov. 17, 1986. (AP Photo/Larry Salzman)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), left, talks with Giants offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt during training camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, N.J., July 22, 1988. (AP Photo/Hal Brown)
Phil Simms being recognized as a former NFL Super Bowl MVP during pre game ceremonies prior to kickoff against the Carolina Panthers in the NFL Super Bowl 50 at Santa Clara, Calif. February 7, 2016 (Eric Bakke via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., Sept. 9, 1984. (AP Photo)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Eric Curry (75) pressures New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) during the first quarter of their match up at Giants Stadium, Sept. 12, 1993. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Ex-New York Giant Phil Simms holds up a Vince Lombardi trophy during a ceremony before the NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants coach and players get together in New York for a pre-season luncheon, Aug. 29, 1980. From left to right are: linebacker Harry Carson, coach Ray Perkins, quarterback Phil Simms and linebacker Ray Van Pelt. (AP Photo/Ray Howard)
New York Giants coach Bill Parcells, left, and quarterback Phil Simms meet the press during picture day in Costa Mesa, Calif., Jan. 21, 1987. (AP Photo/Steve Pyle)
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision for Chase/AP Images).
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) sets up to pass during the Giants 49 - 3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the 1986 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on Jan. 4, 1987 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Former New York Giants players Michael Strahan and Phil Simms hold the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophies prior to a week 1 NFL football game between the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 5, 2012. The Cowboys defeated the giants 24-17. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), right, chats with head coach Bill Parcells about past games Jan. 22, 1987 in Anaheim, Calif., as they prepare to workout for a future game. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Quarterback Phil Simms (11) of the New York Giants looks to pass in a 21 - 14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 24 1991 in Tampa, Fla. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
NFL Network and CBS Sports announcer Phil Simms can be seen in the press box as they broad cast the game during a Week 15 NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday, December 11, 2014. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 12-6. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) warms his hands as he comes to the line of scrimmage in the third quarter, Jan. 9, 1994, at Giants Stadium. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) blows into his hands to stay warm at the line of scrimmage during a 17 - 10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game on Jan. 9, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) sets to pass during a 17 - 10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game on Jan. 9, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms circa 1992. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) sets to pass during a 17-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game on Jan. 9, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), center, looks downfield for a receiver as he is sacked by Bruce Radford, left, of the Denver Broncos during the first half at Giants Stadium, Aug. 16, 1980. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) looks for a receiver during the second day of practice at the Giants training camp in Pleasantville, N.Y., July 28, 1987. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) looks for an open receiver during the Giants 17-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game on January 9, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Phil Simms, New York Giants quarterback, July 23, 1980. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms puts on his shoulder pads as he prepares to practice for the first time in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 19, 1987 where his team is practicing for Super Bowl XXI. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Phil Simms quarterback for the New York Giants puts a little throwing time in during a short practice at Scottsdale Community Colleg, Nov. 7, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Robbins)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) reacts to a touchdown scored in the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins in East Rutherford, N.J., Sept. 24, 1990. (AP Photo/Bobeto Matthews)
File-This 1986, file photo shows New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) dropping back to pass while the Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (34) gets set to block him during Pro Bowl Games in Hawaii. (AP Photo/File)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), left, as he is caught by the New York Jets Greg Buttle in tyhe second quarter of 26-7 loss to the Jets at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Nov. 2, 1981. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells, second from right, and quarterback Phil Simms (11) pose for photographers with defensive end George Martin (75) and linebacker Harry Carson at Super Bowl XXI picture day, Jan. 20, 1987, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Ed Andriesky)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) rolls out to pass behind guard Billy Ard (67) during the 1986 NFC Championship NFL game against the Washington Redskins in East Rutherford, N.J., Jan. 11, 1987. The Giants shutout the Redskins 17-0. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms circa 1992. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Former New York Giant quarterback Phil Simms holds a Super Bowl trophy before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Giants, 24-17. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) left, talks with Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Seth Joyner as they leave the field after the Giants beat the Eagles at Giants Stadium, Oct. 17, 1993. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath and former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms await Namath making the coin flip before the Seattle Seahawks played in the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014 in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 43-8. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Phil Simms, left, and Roger Staubach attend the CBS Network 2015 Programming Upfront at The Tent at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) 1986. Location unknown. (AP Photo)
New York Giants coach Bill Parcells, left, and quarterback Phil Simms meet the press during picture day in Costa Mesa, Calif., Jan. 21, 1987. (AP Photo/Steve Pyle)
Coach Bill Parcels of the New York Giants poses with quarterback Phil Simms (11), linebacker Harry Carson (53) and defensive end George Martin (75) beforeSuper Bowl XXI January 25,1987 in Pasadena. The Giants defeated the Broncos 39- 20. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms dresses the part of Chicago Bears' Jim McMahon during taping of a promotion for MTV at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Dec. 22, 1986. Simms sports the trademark headband, marked MTV, and sunglasses mimicking Jim McMahon. Simms will be a guest video jockey for MTV on Jan. 13, 1987. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) talks on the sideline during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 25, 1990 in Philadelphia. The Eagles won the game 31-13. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New York Giants coach Bill Parcels talks with quarterback Phil Simms (11) during a Dec. 24, 1989 NFL football game. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms limbers up on the chinning bar at the Giants training facility at Pace University in Pleasantville, N.Y., July 18, 1980. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) smiles as he talks about the Giants 39-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena, Jan. 26, 1987. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) in action against the Dallas Cowboys at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., Sept. 9, 1984. (AP Photo)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), right, chats with head coach Bill Parcells about past games Jan. 22, 1987 in Anaheim, Calif., as they prepare to workout for a future game. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms eyes the bench and raises his hands in victory after he completed a third down pass for a fourth quarter first down that assured the Giants possession of the ball as the clock ran out on their 17-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Giants Stadium, Sept. 23, 1984. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), left, as he is caught by the New York Jets Greg Buttle in tyhe second quarter of 26-7 loss to the Jets at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Nov. 2, 1981. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants head coach Dan Reeves, right, confers with quarterback Phil Simms on the sidelines during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 17, 1993 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
(Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision for Chase/AP Images).
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms circa 1992. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) is mobbed at a media interview session at the team's Costa Mesa, California hotel, Jan. 20, 1987. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Former NFL star Marcus Allen, right, and Phil Simms talk during the annual Television Critics Association summer meeting in Pasadena, Calif., Friday, July 24, 1998. Simms and Allen will be the analysts on CBS? ?NFL Today.? (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, left, talks with former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, before the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) talks on the sideline phone during the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 25, 1990 in Philadelphia. The Eagles won the game 31-13. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Former New York Giants quaterback Phil Simms talks to the fans at halftime during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams on Monday September 19, 2011 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) rolls out during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium on December 10, 1989. The Giants defeated the Broncos 14-7. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Former New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms waves to fans during a ceremony prior to the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), left, uses a fourth quarter time out to talk to coach Ray Perkins on the sidelines during 26-7 loss to the New York Jets at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Nov. 1, 1981. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Former New York Giants players Phil Simms, left, and George Martin talk during an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the St. Louis Rams Monday, Sept. 19, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Former New York Giants player Phil Simms claps while being honored at during an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the St. Louis Rams Monday, Sept. 19, 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Former New York Giants player Phil Simms gestures during the Ring of Honor Ceremony during an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants at New Meadowlands Stadium Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), left, talks with Giants offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt during training camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, N.J., July 22, 1988. (AP Photo/Hal Brown)
San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants at Candlestick Park Saturday, January 15, 1994. 49ers beat Giants 44-3. New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) calls time out. (AP Photo/Al Golub)
San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants at Candlestick Park Saturday, January 15, 1994. 49ers beat Giants 44-3. New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11). (AP Photo/Al Golub)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms celebrates his 53-yard pass to Lionel Manuel in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Irving, Texas, Nov. 4, 1984. (AP Photo/LK)
Former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms displays the Superbowl trophy before a week 1 Wednesday night football game against division rival Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday September 5, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)
New York Giants starting quarter Phil Simms, watches his team play against the Phoenix Cardinals from the Sidelines at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, Oct. 12, 1992. Simms, who is expected to undergo surgery on his elbow Monday, sat out the game and may be out of action for the rest of the season. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) looks on during pregame warmups before the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 4, 1989 in East Rutherford, N.J.. The Eagles won the game 24-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) reacts after throwing a second quarter touchdown to wide receiver Stacy Robinson against the Phoenix Cardinals at Giants Stadium in N.J., Dec. 4, 1988. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) sets to pass during a 39 - 20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI on Jan. 25, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Cal. Simms had 22 completions in 25 attempts and was named the game MVP. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms circa 1992. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) looks to handoff during a 17 - 10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the 1993 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game on Jan. 9, 1994 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Phil Simms, New York Giants quarterback, July 23, 1980. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett
Former New York Giant quarterback Phil Simms holds a Super Bowl trophy before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Giants, 24-17. (AP Photo/James D Smith)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms drops back to pass as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Dwaine Board (76) moves in to make the tackle during the first half of their NFL game in Candlestick Park, Dec. 1, 1986. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11), applauds after the Giants made a crucial first down in the fourth quarter against the Houston Oilers at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Dec. 21, 1991. (AP Photo/Mark Phillips)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) attempts to escape the grasp of St. Louis Cardinals E.J. Junior (54) during the second half in St. Louis, Nov. 24, 1985. (AP Photo/Oscar Waters)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) smiles as he talks about the Giants 39-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena, Jan. 26, 1987. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) prepares to hand the ball off during a practice session at Scottsdale Community College in Tempe, Ariz., Nov. 8, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Robbins)
San Francisco 49ers vs New York Giants at Candlestick Park Monday, November 27, 1989. 49ers Beat Giants 34-24. 49er defensive end Pierce Holt (78) misses stoping Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) passing to running back Ottis Anderson (24). (AP Photo/Al Golub)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms reacts after a touchdown pass to tight end Zeke Mowatt in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXI, Jan. 25, 1987 in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms winds up to pass in the first quarter of Super Bowl XXI, Jan. 25, 1987 in Pasadena, Calif. Left is Broncos Rulon Jones (75) and Giants left tackle Brad Benson (60). (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms lifts his arms to the crowd after his number was retired by Giants President Wellington Mara, center, during halftime ceremonies in Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Sept. 4, 1995. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) is hugged and picked up by teammate Brad Benson (60) after touchdown pass in fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXI game in Pasadena, Ca., Sunday, Jan. 25, 1987. The Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20. At right is Broncos' Rulon Jones (75). (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to Mark Bavaro to put the Giants ahead 15-10 in third quarter of Super Bowl XXI game in Pasadena, Ca., Sunday, Jan. 25, 1987. The Giants defeated the Denver Broncos, 39-20. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
New York Giants Phil Simms (11) and the offense huddle during Giants training camp on July 25, 1984. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) calls the snap count during the NFL football game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants on September 22, 1985 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won the game 21-0. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms (11) signs autographs for Holt and Kirstin Wooddell of Burgaw, North Carolina at the Giants training camp at Fairleigh Dickinson University, July 19, 1988. (AP Photo/Hal Brown)
Simms completed 40 of 62 passes, both franchise records he held for three decades. Eli Manning had 41 completions against San Francisco on Oct.11, 2015, and threw 62 passes at Philadelphia on Dec. 22, 2016. Manning almost secured the yardage record as well but topped out at 510 yards vs. Tampa Bay on Sept. 16, 2012.
"I always say I set a lot of records - fumbles, sacks, all those things, I got a lot of good ones," Simms said. "But it's all good. I think me and (center) Bart Oates set a record in 1985 for fumbles because it was his first year with us and, man, we just had trouble with the snap. Oh my God. It ruined my whole year.
"Every play, all I thought about was getting the snap. Every single play, I would say as we were going to the line of scrimmage, 'Hey Bart, get the ball up.' I did it every play. It was monotonous. I would just say it. Every day, (coach Bill) Parcells would say, 'Simms, Oates, get your (butt) on to the field and practice your snap.' 'You know Bill, we're really good when there's nobody around. It's when Bart's trying to block somebody it becomes a problem.'"
That issue was central to a galling defeat one week before the Giants arrived in Cincinnati. Simms threw three third-quarter touchdown passes, including the go-ahead 70-yarder to Adams, as the Giants took a 12-point lead against archrival Dallas in a Sunday night game in Giants Stadium. The Giants led, 29-27, when Simms couldn't secure an Oates snap with 2:40 remaining. The ball fell to the ground and was recovered by Dallas at the Giants' 19-yard line, leading to Rafael Septien's go-ahead field goal. On their ensuing possession, the Giants moved to the 50-yard line before Simms' final pass was intercepted by Everson Walls, the Giants' fifth giveaway of the game.
The Giants started the Cincinnati game as if they still had a Cowboys hangover. Boomer Esiason threw early touchdown passes to Cris Collinsworth ("back of the end zone, coming across - I remember it," Simms said) and James Brooks, who also scored on a five-yard run as the Bengals jumped ahead by 21 points midway through the second quarter.
With the Giants stuck in a deep hole and the rushing attack offering little support – finishing with 27 yards on 15 carries – Simms began throwing. And throwing. And throwing.
"We threw it 62 times because we were down 21-0," Simms said. "Time was of the essence in the first half."
They scored just three points in those 30 minutes and went to the locker room at halftime trailing by 18. The deficit would have been smaller had Adams not fumbled at the two-yard line in the final moments of the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Simms kept slinging, the Giants started scoring and with three minutes remaining in the period, they were within a point.
"I do remember seeing during the game, probably when we pulled to 21-20, that (Bengals coach) Sam Wyche was on the sideline panicking," Simms said. "Just going like, 'What the hell? When are we going to stop what's going on?'"
It happened quickly. On the second play of the Giants' next possession, Simms threw a pass to Mark Bavaro that was intercepted by safety James Griffin, who returned the ball 24 yards for a touchdown and a 28-20 lead. Griffin had both of the Bengals' picks that day.
"We would refuse to win, so we'd do something wrong again, either throwing the pick that was returned for a touchdown, which I saw on TV this offseason somehow," Simms said. "I was under pressure, but I threw it perfectly. I lobbed it or whatever and I thought it's going to be great. (Griffin) cut underneath it. It was something I didn't read right. It does happen. It wasn't one of those, 'Oh, that was a stupid play.' But it's stupid because it was intercepted. When I let it go, I thought it was perfect."
Offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt, a consistently tough evaluator, told Simms, "I see what you were trying to do, Phil. You threw it perfect, just a little unlucky."
Cincinnati increased its lead to 35-20 in the fourth quarter on Esiason's five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rodney Holman. The Giants countered with Atkinson's third field goal and Simms' 24-yard scoring pass to Adams with 1:24 remaining. "They played back in a prevent, if I remember," Simms said. "I looked the guy off then threw the ball about as hard as I could throw it in between everybody in the end zone to George, catching it and going in."
The Bengals, however, recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
"When you throw it 60 times," Simms said, "it's almost guaranteed you're going to lose the game."
The Giants know; they're 2-24 in regular-season games in which they threw 50 or more passes (but they won the 2011 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco when Manning threw 58 passes).
"Some analyst will eventually come on and say, 'You know, they just can't throw it that many times. They have to run it more,'" Simms said. "Hey, when you throw it over 50, it means you're trailing. We don't have time to run it. I love the things that people come up with, analytics."
Simms' 40 completions were divided among nine receivers. Bavaro, then a rookie playing in his sixth NFL game, caught 12 passes for 176 yards. The 12 receptions were a Giants record that went unmatched until Amani Toomer had 12 at Philadelphia on Sept. 17, 2006. The Giants have since had four other 12-catch games, and Tiki Barber (13 in Dallas in the 1999 season finale) and Saquon Barkley (team-record 14 on Sept. 16, 2018, also in Dallas) have since topped Bavaro, whose 176 yards remain the franchise record for a tight end.
Bavaro entered the Bengals game with four catches. In the season's final 10 weeks, he totaled 21 receptions and never had more than three in a game. Roughly one-third of his 37 rookie receptions were in Cincinnati.
"Mark Bavaro had a great day that day," Simms said of his fellow Giants Ring of Honor inductee. "Some of those were really good where we threw it into really tight spots, caught him down the field. There weren't many cheap yards in what he did that day. It was kind of physical.
"I remember one of the best throws I ever made. In that game, I drop back, TV would have been right to left, so it wasn't the first quarter I don't think. Bavaro ran down the field and did like a corner route. I was getting hit and they drove me up in the air, and I still made the throw and put it right on the money. The guy hit me, and I went flying through the air. For real. Not just down, I went up. I can't remember who hit me."
While Simms threw for 513 yards, Esiason completed 15 of 24 passes for 193 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked six times.
Simms and Esiason, who later played for the Jets, are close friends who appear weekly during the season as studio analysts for "The NFL Today" on CBS.
"Boomer says, 'Yeah, we beat you,'" Simms said. "I said, 'Yeah, but Boomer, I threw for 513, so what do you think about that? Who cares?' It was almost like a receiver, they lose the game but he caught 12 passes so he's not really upset. I was upset, but as time has gone on, I'm like, 'Oh well we lost, big deal.'"
The Giants' second consecutive turnover-infused defeat was witnessed by a legion of Simms fans, including a special one who had a brief postgame meeting with the quarterback.
"Since I grew up in Louisville (100 miles away), we had probably, no exaggeration, from people that knew me this, that, whatever, at least 1,000 people there," Simms said. "They came up in busloads, so at least they got to see me throw the ball a lot."
They also got to see the third of the Giants' six defeats in Cincinnati.
"Yeah, you're down," Simms said. "(After the game) our busses were underneath the stadium, so I didn't get to see anybody. But my mom (Barbara) did come in, and I was dejected, of course. She found her way in and goes, 'Son, don't be too mad. You know you probably set records today, so just don't worry about it, okay?' I don't know if it's going to soothe my feelings right now as Bill Parcells is burning a hole through me as we're talking."
Simms had another memorable postmortem to his record-smashing performance.
Erhardt was an affable and engaging man – except when he was critiquing his players during Monday tape reviews.
"Ron was usually pretty rough in those meetings," Simms said. "He was always really positive during the game. Always. But I knew I was in trouble every time he said, 'Look, don't worry about it. We'll watch the film.' And I went, 'Oh shoot.' That meant, 'You really screwed it up, but I'm going to wait until this game is over to tell you.'
"Of course, we won a lot of games in that era. He would just be real abrupt. (He'd say), 'What are you doing here? Why didn't you make this throw?' Well, Reggie White is hitting me. And he goes, 'Don't give me these excuses, complete the ball.' And I'm just sitting there going 'Are you (kidding) me? Whatever.' (Backup quarterback) Jeff Rutledge usually sat right beside me, so when Ron would be chewing my (butt) off, I'd look over and Rut would be smiling Then the meeting would be over, we'd go out there and Ron would go, 'Hey, I really got on your (butt), didn't I?' He would laugh about it. And I'd just go, 'Yeah, it was really great.' It was so funny. He would be like that and then just shake it off and we'd move on. It was really something. He was great."
But the day-after meeting took a decidedly different tone after Simms threw for 513.
"When we watched the tape the next day, I was dreading it because you always dread it when you win or lose watching the tape," Simms said. "Of course, you dread it more when you lose. But we're watching it and Ron always gave a speech before he started, and he just goes, 'Men, I know we lost, but I'm going to tell you, hell of a job. A lot of great plays. Let's watch them.' That's the truth. And I'm just like, 'Alright good, I'm going to sit back and enjoy this.'"
Thirty-five years later, he still does.
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