In this edition of Cover 3, the Giants.com crew debates the best postseason performance in franchise history.
John Schmeelk: It is impossible not to go with Phil Simms in Super Bowl XXI. In an era where completing 60% of a quarterback's passes in a game was a very high-end benchmark, Simms went 22 for 25 (88%!) for 268 yards and three touchdowns. For a long time, it was considered the best single-game performance in Super Bowl history.
My runner-up game has to go to Kerry Collins in the 2000 NFC Championship game. He went 28-39 for 381 yards and five touchdown passes in a 41-0 shutout over a the high-powered Minnesota Vikings, who were favored to win the game.
View photos of Super Bowl XXI MVP and Ring of Honor inductee Phil Simms through the years.
Dan Salomone: It doesn't get more iconic than Eli Manning's performance in the 2011 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, who at the time, had the most ferocious defense in the league. While San Francisco boasted the No. 1 run defense, the Giants entered the postseason run with the last-ranked rushing offense.
Thus, Manning was forced to drop back 58 times at Candlestick Park – a Giants postseason record which was tied for sixth-most in NFL playoff history at the time – and proceeded to complete 32 passes for 316 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. The 49ers sacked him six times and registered 13 quarterback hits, but Manning kept getting back up.
Lance Medow: There are several strong candidates but there's only one right answer - Phil Simms' offensive clinic in Super Bowl XXI against the Broncos is one of the best performances when it comes to the NFL archives. Simms completed 22 of his 25 attempts for 268 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran three times for 25 yards, highlighted by a 22-yard run, en route to winning Super Bowl MVP.
Simms completed 88% of his passes to break both the Super Bowl and NFL postseason records; eight different players caught at least one pass and three found the end zone (Zeke Mowatt, Mark Bavaro, Phil McConkey). Simms orchestrated five touchdown drives and helped the Giants score 26 unanswered points during one stretch. Simms put together this performance on the biggest stage and more than answered the call.