Giants–Jets rivalry
Encyclopedia
{|class="toccolours" style="float: right; clear: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; width: 23em;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: ;"|New York Giants–New York Jets
|-
{|style="background: none; width: 20em; margin: 0 auto;"
|-
!style="background: #E0E7EF;" colspan="2"|Regular Season History
|-
|First Meeting||November 1, 1970
|-
|First Result||NYG 22, NYJ 10
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Last Meeting||October 7, 2007
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Last Result||NYG 35, NYJ 24
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Next Meeting||December 24, 2011
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Rivalry status||11 meetings
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Largest victory||NYJ 26, NYG 7
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Smallest victory||NYG 31, NYJ 28
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Current Streak||Giants W4
(1996-present)
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|All-Time Series||Giants lead 7-4-0
|}
The Giants
–Jets
rivalry is a rivalry in the National Football League. As of 2011, it has been the only intracity rivalry in the NFL, and since 1984 both have been the only teams in the league to share a stadium. As the teams play in different conferences, the two teams only meet during the regular season every four years when the AFC East
play the NFC East
, in addition to annual preseason
matchups. The only other way the two teams would meet would be the Super Bowl
.
The Jets and Giants first played each other on August 17, 1969, a preseason game at the Yale Bowl
in New Haven, Connecticut
. The game was viewed as a "turf war" by both opponents. The Giants, considered a mediocre team at the time, were regarded as underdogs and were under much scrutiny by the media and their fans. Ultimately, the Jets won 37–14, resulting in the firing of Giants coach Allie Sherman
. The teams have played in the preseason annually since.
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. 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.
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. Many Jets refused to refer to the stadium by its official name, instead calling it "The Meadowlands". The naming of the stadium has played a role in the rivalry, as the Giants overshadowed the Jets.
The Jets met the Giants in 1988 during the final game of the regular season. The Jets, with a 7–7–1 record, had little to lose as their hopes for playoff contention had vanished. The Giants, however, were contending for a playoff spot and a victory would have secured their spot and their division title. Although the six point favorites, the Giants were unable to overcome the Jets defense which saw the Jets sack quarterback Phil Simms
eight times. 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.
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, resulting in both teams now sharing MetLife Stadium, a joint-venture in which the two franchises own a fifty percent share. As part of the naming rights agreement, the preseason matchup between the Giants and Jets has been renamed the "MetLife Bowl".
Current Jets coach Rex Ryan
has made an effort to fuel the flames of the rivalry.
|- style="text-align:center;"
!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background-color: ;"|New York Giants–New York Jets
|-
{|style="background: none; width: 20em; margin: 0 auto;"
|-
!style="background: #E0E7EF;" colspan="2"|Regular Season History
|-
|First Meeting||November 1, 1970
|-
|First Result||NYG 22, NYJ 10
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Last Meeting||October 7, 2007
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Last Result||NYG 35, NYJ 24
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Next Meeting||December 24, 2011
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Rivalry status||11 meetings
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Largest victory||NYJ 26, NYG 7
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Smallest victory||NYG 31, NYJ 28
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|Current Streak||Giants W4
(1996-present)
|-
|style="vertical-align: top;"|All-Time Series||Giants lead 7-4-0
|}
The Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
–Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
rivalry is a rivalry in the National Football League. As of 2011, it has been the only intracity rivalry in the NFL, and since 1984 both have been the only teams in the league to share a stadium. As the teams play in different conferences, the two teams only meet during the regular season every four years when the AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
play the NFC East
NFC East
The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
, in addition to annual preseason
National Football League exhibition season
The National Football League preseason refers to the period each year during which NFL teams play several not-for-the-record exhibition games before the actual "championship" or "regular" season starts. Beginning with the featured Pro Football Hall of Fame game in early August, five weekends of...
matchups. The only other way the two teams would meet would be the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
.
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.The Jets and Giants first played each other on August 17, 1969, a preseason game at the Yale Bowl
Yale Bowl
The Yale Bowl is a football stadium in New Haven, Connecticut on the border of West Haven, about 1½ miles west of Yale's main campus. Completed in 1914, the stadium seats 61,446, reduced by renovations from the original capacity of 70,869...
in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. The game was viewed as a "turf war" by both opponents. The Giants, considered a mediocre team at the time, were regarded as underdogs and were under much scrutiny by the media and their fans. Ultimately, the Jets won 37–14, resulting in the firing of Giants coach Allie Sherman
Allie Sherman
Alexander "Allie" Sherman is a retired American football National Football League running back and head coach....
. The teams have played in the preseason annually since.
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. It weakened even further in 1990, when the Jets fired Joe Walton
Joe Walton
Joseph Frank Walton is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of Robert Morris University. Walton played eight seasons in the National Football League and served as head coach of the New York Jets for seven seasons...
, a former player and coach for the Giants who had other former Giants on his staff.
When the Jets left Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
and moved to Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
for the 1984 NFL season
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
, many Jets fans hoped the name would be changed, however the Giants, who had the authority to approve the change, refused. Many Jets refused to refer to the stadium by its official name, instead calling it "The Meadowlands". The naming of the stadium has played a role in the rivalry, as the Giants overshadowed the Jets.
The Jets met the Giants in 1988 during the final game of the regular season. The Jets, with a 7–7–1 record, had little to lose as their hopes for playoff contention had vanished. The Giants, however, were contending for a playoff spot and a victory would have secured their spot and their division title. Although the six point favorites, the Giants were unable to overcome the Jets defense which saw the Jets sack quarterback Phil Simms
Phil Simms
Phillip Martin "Phil" Simms is a former American football quarterback, and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. After a standout career at Morehead State University, Simms was drafted in the first round by the New York Giants of the National Football League with the number...
eight times. With the Jets's victory and victories by the Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
and Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention and the Jets gained what many considered respect.
Over the twenty six years since the Jets were accepted into their NFC counterpart's homefield; Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
; the unexpected and time-tested partnership of both teams have only gotten stronger in spite of the big sibling rivalry, resulting in both teams now sharing MetLife Stadium, a joint-venture in which the two franchises own a fifty percent share. As part of the naming rights agreement, the preseason matchup between the Giants and Jets has been renamed the "MetLife Bowl".
Current Jets coach Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan
Rex Ryan is an American football head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League . After serving as an assistant coach for twenty-two years, Ryan attained his first head coaching job in the NFL with the Jets in 2009...
has made an effort to fuel the flames of the rivalry.