The New York Giants season was the franchise's 82nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Tom Coughlin.
The season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record from 2005, which saw them win the NFC East. They did not win the NFC East or improve on that record, falling to 8–8 on the season after starting 6–2. However, Coughlin became the first Giants head coach since Bill Parcells in 1989 and 1990 to lead the team to consecutive playoff berths as the team qualified as one of two NFC wild card teams. This was Tiki Barber's final season in the NFL.
Offseason In the 2006 off-season, the Giants acquired 3 time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington as a free agent. Arrington previously played for the Redskins for six seasons. The Giants also acquired cornerback Sam Madison as a free agent. Madison played nine seasons with the Dolphins and went to the Pro Bowl four straight times from 1999 to 2002. Other notable free agent signings for the Giants included free safety Will Demps from the Ravens, cornerback R. W. McQuarters from the Lions, and linebacker Brandon Short from the Panthers.
In the 2006 NFL draft, the Giants used their first pick (acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers) on Boston College DE Mathias Kiwanuka. They then used their next pick (acquired from the Baltimore Ravens) on University of Miami(FL) WR Sinorice Moss. The rest of their picks included Georgia Tech LB Gerris Wilkinson, Northwestern University DT Barry Cofield, East Carolina OT Guy Whimper, Alabama Safety Charlie Peprah, and Maryland CB Gerrick McPhearson.
The Giants posted a 4–0 record in the preseason, their first undefeated preseason since 1990, the same season they won Super Bowl XXV.
Draft Class
Round Selection Player Position College 1 32 Mathias Kiwanuka Defensive end Boston College 2 44 Sinorice Moss Wide receiver Miami (FL) 3 96 Gerris Wilkinson Inside Linebacker Georgia Tech 4 124 Barry Cofield Defensive tackle Northwestern 129 Guy Whimper Offensive tackle East Carolina 5 158 Charlie Peprah Safety Alabama 7 232 Gerrick McPhearson Cornerback Maryland
Results The Giants opened the season with a 6–2 record, but went 2–6 in the final half, barely making the playoffs. Inconsistent play by the whole team hurt the organization all season long and fans and sports analysts became irate with coach Tom Coughlin, calling for his firing. The team won five consecutive games following a 1–2 start to gain a two-game advantage in the NFC Eastern Division, but key injuries to the offense and defense took their toll. Tiki Barber had created controversy in the middle of the season by announcing his retirement to start a career in the media, which apparently was a distraction for many Giants players. The most embarrassing loss was a 24–21 defeat by Tennessee, in which the team surrendered a 21-point fourth quarter advantage, and which could have been averted had Mathias Kiwanuka finished tackling Titans QB Vince Young rather than letting him go and run for a first down. Following a season ending win at Washington, the Giants claimed a wild card berth in the NFC playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by Philadelphia on a last second field goal.
Barber led the Giants with 1,662 yards and over 2,000 yards from scrimmage again, Eli Manning threw for 3,244 yards and 24 touchdowns, and Jeremy Shockey led the team in receptions. Defensively the team struggled all season long with pass defense (28th in the league).
Roster
Staff 2006 New York Giants staff Front office President/CEO – John Mara Chairman/executive vice president – Steve Tisch Senior vice president/general manager – Ernie Accorsi Vice president of player evaluation – Chris Mara Assistant general manager – Kevin Abrams Director of player personnel – Jerry Reese Director of pro personnel – David Gettleman Assistant director of pro personnel – Ken Sternfeld Director of college scouting – Marc Ross
Head coaches Head coach – Tom Coughlin
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – John Hufnagel Quarterbacks – Kevin Gilbride Running backs – Jerald Ingram Wide receivers – Mike Sullivan Tight ends – Mike Pope Offensive line – Pat Flaherty Assistant offensive line – Dave DeGuglielmo Offensive quality control – John DeFilippo Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Tim Lewis Defensive line – Mike Waufle Linebackers- Bill Sheridan Defensive backs – Peter Giunta Secondary/safeties – David Merritt Defensive quality control – Andre Curtis
Special team coaches Special teams coordinator – Mike Sweatman Assistant special teams – Tom Quinn
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Jerry Palmieri Assistant strength and conditioning – Andy Barnettl
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 at Baltimore Ravens W 17–16 1–0 M&T Bank Stadium 2 Kansas City Chiefs W 17–0 2–0 Giants Stadium 3 at New York Jets W 13–7 3–0 Giants Stadium 4 New England Patriots W 31–23 4–0 Giants Stadium
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 Indianapolis Colts L 21–26 0–1 Giants Stadium Recap 2 September 17 at Philadelphia Eagles W 30–24 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 24 at Seattle Seahawks L 30–42 1–2 Qwest Field Recap 4 Bye 5 October 8 Washington RedskinsW 19–3 2–2 Giants Stadium Recap 6 October 15 at Atlanta Falcons W 27–14 3–2 Georgia Dome Recap 7 at Dallas CowboysW 36–22 4–2 Texas Stadium Recap 8 October 29 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–3 5–2 Giants Stadium Recap 9 November 5 Houston Texans W 14–10 6–2 Giants Stadium Recap 10 November 12 Chicago Bears L 20–38 6–3 Giants Stadium Recap 11 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 10–26 6–4 Alltel Stadium Recap 12 November 26 at Tennessee Titans L 21–24 6–5 LP Field Recap 13 December 3 Dallas Cowboys L 20–23 6–6 Giants Stadium Recap 14 December 10 at Carolina Panthers W 27–13 7–6 Bank of America Stadium Recap 15 December 17 Philadelphia Eagles L 22–36 7–7 Giants Stadium Recap 16 December 24 New Orleans Saints L 7–30 7–8 Giants Stadium Recap 17 at Washington Redskins W 34–28 8–8 FedExField Recap
Standings
Regular season
Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Giants opened the regular season against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night, September 10. In a highly anticipated matchup that was nicknamed "Manning Bowl I", quarterback Eli Manning had to lead his Giants against his older brother, quarterback Peyton Manning, and the Colts. The Giants fell behind early as Peyton led the Colts on a 17-play, 58-yard drive that ate up 8:53, ending with kicker Adam Vinatieri hitting a 26-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Colts built their lead with a 32-yard Vinatieri field goal, and after Jay Feely missed a 40-yard field goal wide left for the Giants, Peyton Manning found tight end Dallas Clark on a 2-yard touchdown pass. Down 13–0, and starting at their own 14-yard line with 2:18 to play in the half, the Giants' offense woke up, with Eli completing a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Plaxico Burress with 40 seconds to play in the half. But that was a little too much time left on the clock: The Colts ended the first half with Vinatieri kicking a 48-yard field goal.
On the opening drive of the second half, the Giants continued their momentum from the first half, as Eli completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey, completing an 11-play, 69-yard drive that ate up 7:50. After the teams traded punts, Peyton Manning was intercepted by R. W. McQuarters, but Eli Manning fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Robert Mathis. On the ensuing drive, running back Dominic Rhodes scored from 1 yard out to open up a 23–14 lead with 13:21 to play. Undaunted, the Giants responded with a 1-yard touchdown run of their own from running back Brandon Jacobs. The Giants forced a punt on the next possession, but longtime Indianapolis punter Hunter Smith pinned the Giants at their own 7 with 4:58 to go. On that drive, Tim Carter was whistled for a questionable pass-interference call, negating a 19-yard reception for a first down. On the next play, Eli Manning was picked off by Nick Harper. Vinatieri kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:16 to play to cap the scoring.
With the loss, the Giants started the season at 0–1.
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
In a Week 2 road matchup that pitted the Giants against the Philadelphia Eagles (the former NFC East champs), this game turned out to be a close one. The Giants drew first blood when Eli Manning threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Amani Toomer. The Eagles tied the game up when running back Brian Westbrook ran 12 yards for a touchdown. This was followed by a 20-yard touchdown pass to Donte' Stallworth and a 37-yard field goal by kicker David Akers, and the Giants trailed 17–7 at halftime. The Eagles' offense continued to pound the Giants as quarterback Donovan McNabb threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Brown to open up a 24–7 lead with 10:55 to play in the third quarter.
However, the momentum suddenly turned in the Giants' favor in the fourth quarter. It started with Manning completing a 23-yard pass to wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who fumbled the ball after being hit by Brian Dawkins; fortunately, wide receiver Tim Carter recovered the ball in the Eagles' end zone for a touchdown. The teams traded possessions, with Manning being intercepted by Jeremiah Trotter, and then the Giants' defense made a huge stop when they stopped Correll Buckhalter on a 4th-and-1 from the New York 38-yard line with 8:49 to play. Gibril Wilson made the stop there, and after the Giants punted, Wilson came up big again, forcing a fumble from Westbrook that was snatched up by Will Demps.
Manning then completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Toomer with 3:33 to play, cutting the deficit to 24–21. After the Giants forced the Eagles to punt two minutes later, the Giants got the ball back at their own 20-yard line with 58 seconds left in regulation. With 15 seconds to play and the Giants on the Philadelphia 40-yard line, Manning completed a pass to Jeremy Shockey, who was run out of bounds at the Eagles' 32 for an eight-yard gain. However, after the play, Eagles lineman Trent Cole drew a personal foul for kneeing Giants tackle Kareem McKenzie in the groin, moving the ball to the Philadelphia 17. Jay Feely was sent in to tie the game, 24–24, with a 35-yard field goal. The Giants had completed an amazing comeback, scoring 17 points in under fourteen minutes to tie the game.
After the teams traded punts, the Giants took over at their own 15 with 9:55 to play in overtime. Manning completed a 13-play, 85-yard drive with a 31-yard strike to Burress with 3:18 to play, and the Giants had the miracle victory.
Manning completed 31 of 43 passes for 371 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He completed 21 of his last 26 passes in the fourth quarter and in overtime, including all eight of his passes in overtime. Manning was selected the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his outstanding performance against the Eagles.
With the win, the Giants improved to 1–1.
Week 3: at Seattle Seahawks
In a rematch of a bitter 2005 loss for the Giants, when kicker Jay Feely missed three game-winning field goal attempts at the end of regulation and overtime in a 24–21 loss, the Seahawks made sure this game wasn't as close. After trading interceptions, with Corey Webster picking Matt Hasselbeck and Ken Hamlin intercepting Manning, the Seahawks jumped out to a 7–0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Shaun Alexander. After forcing a punt, Hasselbeck tossed a 12-yard touchdown to Nate Burleson. Manning was intercepted again by Hamlin on the ensuing drive, leading to a 4-yard touchdown pass from Hasselbeck to Darrell Jackson, and in eleven minutes, Seattle had a 21–0 lead.