The Greatest In-Season NFL Turnaround For All 32 Teams
By Erik Lambert
New York Giants: 1997
The 1990s were a down period for the New York Giants. Though they had one or two decent seasons, they were never considered a major player again after their Super Bowl run in 1990. This was especially true by the middle of the decade. After enduring a difficult end to the forgettable Dan Reeves era, the team hoped to go in a new direction with Jim Fassel.
The team he inherited that first season in 1997 may have been one of the least talented the Giants have ever had, at least on offense. Danny Kanell and Dave Brown were the quarterbacks. Charles Way and Tyrone Wheatley were the primary running backs and Chris Calloway was the leading receiver. Not exactly a who’s who of Giant greats.
So it’s little surprise they stumbled to a 1-3 record to start the season, ending with a humiliating 13-3 loss to the hapless St. Louis Rams. Though they beat the Saints the next week, their season came down to a week six showdown with the mighty Dallas Cowboys. Despite just 166 yards of total offense, a huge interception return sparked a 20-17 upset.
New York rode the momentum of that win to a 10-5-1 mark, making the playoffs for the first time in four years.