It was miracle that Montana was able to pull himself together that season with the various injuries he had. Steve Young even though he was a good back up, was not starter material. He didn't come into his own until 1992 where after Montana was hurt, Young took over for good.

Great game. If I remember correctly, both Ronnie Lott and Lawrence Taylor didn't play here. Lott was hurt, and I think Taylor was suspended for drug use.

I remember that we had to go to church right after the game 😇 🙏

Jerry Rice and Joe Montana, when you're down with less than a minute to play they came through everytime ( see the game the year before at Cincinnati in week 2)

This was not the only heartbreaking loss the Giants suffered in 1988

This is a classic Walsh-vs-Belichick matchup. It seems like BB would blitz a lot more often back then. Today, with so many advancements in the passing game and changing rules in favor of offense, he doesn’t blitz as much with the Patriots out of fear of getting burned down field.

RIP John Madden (1936-2021).

Make no mistake, this was a Week 2 Playoff Game. The 49ers finished 10-6 and won their division and went on to win Super Bowl XXIII. The Giants finished 10-6 and missed the playoffs due to a tie-breaker with the Eagles. If the Giants win this, they're 11-5, win the Eastern division and likely make a Super Bowl run. Technically the 49ers knocked the Giants out of the playoffs in '81, '84 and '88. The Giants got the Niners in '85, '86 and '90. Brutal rivalry.

Nice great hard hitting game

Man, 23:04-23:09 is one of the reasons why Jerry Rice is a God in San Francisco. That winning 78-yard TD catch seriously exorcised some demons that existed within the 49ers psyche. Remember the offensive (1985 and 1986) and defensive (1986) shit shows that the Niners had versus the Giants in the playoffs those two years? I bet Roger Craig (he wrote two paragraphs in his book Strictly Business about that 1986 playoff exit), Rice, and Bill Walsh remembered those games.

So, not only was Steve Young starting, but Joe Montana was the holder for FGs. Strange times. Usually, the back-up QB, even if starting, does the holding.

This game had SEISMIC NFC implications.

The whole 49ers backfield went to Nebraska. #25 DuBose, #33 Craig and #44 Rathman = The Cornfield Backfield.

5:07 That's what she said!

I hit the church after the game 🙏

Steve looks like Trey Lance (2023) in this game. lol.

They should have showed the 1st two plays of Joes last drive. There was a no gain, and a -2. It was 3rd and 12, and Giants stadium was going bonkers with a minute left! They had Joe Montana where they wanted him! Dart to Rice, GAME! You don't want no part of Joe!~

I love the 49ers

How the tables were turned in 1988 when this game went down. The Giants eliminated the 49ers in back-to-back years in the playoffs (1985 and 1986, rather rudely I might add in 1986). But in 1988 the 49ers were a different team, super motivated, and pissed off because of the beatdown they got from the Vikings in the '87 playoffs.