NFL Old School Game of the Week: 4th & 17 Conversion Leads to "Giant" Win over Minnesota

Giants quarterback Phil Simms would throw for 310 yards on 25-of-38 passing and convert on a key 4th & 17 in the Giants' win over the Vikings.

There are moments in a championship season when a team, its fans, and the media start to believe that this team is destined to win a championship.

For the 1986 New York Giants, that moment came in Week 11 of the 1986 NFL season in a game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

The Giants entered the 1986 season as a heavy preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl based on their previous two seasons where they had won playoff games but had been knocked out in the Divisional Round by the eventual Super Bowl Champion(In 1984, they lost to the 49ers while in 1985 they lost to the Bears).

With head coach Bill Parcells plus all-pro linebacker Lawrence Taylor, the Giants stood at 8-2 as they prepared to travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings.

But yet questions remained if this team could go all the way as quarterback Phil Simms, who had thrown for over 4,000 yards in 1984 and nearly accomplished the feat again in 1985, was in the midst of a slump.

After starting out the season with an average of 281 yards per game in the first four games of the season, Simms' average had dropped to 154 yards over the next six games and in the previous two games, Simms had combined to throw for just 197 yards on 14-of-32 passing and threw three interceptions and zero touchdown passes.

Though they had running back Joe Morris, who would go over the 1,000 yard mark in this game, the Giants needed Simms to get back on track if they were to fulfill their Super Bowl expectations.

While the Giants were trying to get ready for a Super Bowl run, the Vikings were just trying to get into the playoffs as they stood with a 6-4 record as the Giants came to town.

The Vikings were led by first-year head coach Jerry Burns and had Tommy Kramer at quarterback, who would finish the year as the NFL's highest rated passer.

Kramer was going face a big test as he and the Vikings offense prepared to take on Taylor, who had accumulated 14.5 sacks up to this point in the season.

Even though it was mid-November, this game felt like a must-win game for both teams.

After the Vikings punted on their opening possession, the Giants got the ball at their 20-yard-line where they came out throwing as Simms would hit his first three passes for 46 yards, leading the Giants to the Minnesota 25-yard-line.

However, the drive would stall as Simms would threw two straight incomplete passes after an one-yard run by fullback Maurice Carthon, forcing the Giants to settle for a 41-yard field goal by Raul Allegre to give New York a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

The Vikings would respond with a 13-play, 57-yard drive which ended with a 39-yard field goal by Chuck Nelson to tie the game 3-3 with 1:19 left in the first quarter.

The Giants would go rely on Morris for their next drive as he carried the ball three times for 21 yards and caught a 17-yard pass from Simms, leading to a 3rd & 6 situation at the Vikings' 12-yard-line as the game moved into the second quarter.

That is when Vikings defensive end Mark Mullaney came in to sack Simms, dropping him for an eight-yard loss and forcing the Giants to settle for another Allegre field goal, this one from 37 yards out to put New York ahead 6-3 with 12:46 to go in the second quarter.

Kramer got going on the Vikings' next possession as he would complete three of four passes for 49 yards to drive the Minnesota offense to the Giants' 23-yard-line where they had a 1st & 10 situation.

But that is when the Giants defense struck as running back Darrin Nelson was dropped for a four-yard loss on 1st down, followed by a Taylor sack of Kramer for a five-yard-loss, pushing the Vikings back to the New York 32-yard-line.

Kramer would get six yards back on a quarterback scramble to set up Chuck Nelson's 44-yard field goal which tied the goal at 6 with 6:53 left in the first half.

When the Giants got the ball back at their 23-yard-line, Simms would continue his hot streak as he would complete his next four passes for 69 yards, including back-to-back 25-yard completions to tight end Mark Bavaro to give New York a 1st down at the Vikings' 11-yard-line.

But for the third time in a row, the Minnesota defense would hold the Giants to a field goal as Allegre made a 24-yard field goal to give the Giants a 9-6 lead with 2:23 remaining before halftime.

The Vikings got the ball at their 24-yard-line and quickly drove to the Giants' 26-yard-line in just five plays before the Giants defense stiffened and allowed only four yards on the next plays, forcing the Vikings to call on Chuck Nelson again to keep the kicking duel going as he would attempt a 39-yard field goal.

However, Nelson's kick would sail wide right, keeping it a 9-6 game in favor of the Giants, who would get the ball at their 21-yard-line with 55 seconds left to drive and pick up some more points.

Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer would complete 16 of 25 passes for 187 yards but leave the game with a thumb injury.

The Giants would go to a no-huddle offense as Simms would hit Tony Galbreath for six yards, Bavaro for 18 yards, and Bobby Johnson for 20 yards to put New York in Minnesota territory, primed for another Allegre field goal until a 10-yard penalty on left tackle Brad Benson pushed the Giants back to the Vikings' 43-yard-line with five seconds left.

Instead of attempting a Hail Mary pass, Parcells sent Allegre to attempt a 60-yard field goal, which was on target but fell a few yards short, keeping it a 9-6 game as the first half came to a close.

Even though they had not gotten into the end zone, the Giants had to feel good about their offense at the halftime break as Simms had completed 11 of 15 passes for 173 yards in the first half and would be getting the ball to start the second half.

However, the Giants would go three-and-out to start the second half, punting the ball back to the Vikings who took over at their 21-yard-line and drive to the Giants' 13-yard-line as Kramer completed four of six passes.

That is when the Vikings were faced with a 3rd & 11 where the Giants defense appeared to stop the Vikings as Darrin Nelson was dropped for a loss on the play, only to have Giants nose tackle Jerome Sally be called for lining up offsides, drawing a five-yard penalty and making it 3rd & 6 from the eight-yard-line.

The Vikings would take advantage of the penalty as Kramer hit Allen Rice for the eight-yard touchdown to give Minnesota their first lead of the game at 13-8 with 8:34 left in the third quarter.

The Giants got the ball back at their 15-yard-line and drive to the Vikings 14-yard-line until Simms threw his first interception of the game as he was picked off by Minnesota cornerback Issiac Holt on a pass intended for Phil McConkey.

Holt's 25-yard return gave the Vikings the ball at their 29-yard-line with 6:12 to play in the third quarter and still holding on to a 13-9 lead.

But the Minnesota offense would go three-and-out on their next possession, punting the ball back to the Giants who took over at their 42-yard-line.

The Giants would pick up a 1st down at the Minnesota 43-yard-line when the strangest play of the game occurred as Simms was intercepted again by Holt, only to be hit by Johnson, jarring the ball loose which was recovered by Bavaro at the Minnesota 46-yard-line to give New York a fresh set of downs.

On the next play from scrimmage, Simms attempted to go deep for McConkey, who drew a pass interference penalty on Holt for 31 yards, giving the Giants a 1st down at the Vikings' 15-yard-line.

But just like the first half, the Vikings defense rose up in the red zone as they would not permit a 1st down as they tackled for Carthon for a four-yard loss on 1st down and forced Simms to two incomplete passes on the next two plays.

Allegre came in and kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it an one-point game at 13-12 with just 1:08 left to go in the third quarter.

The Vikings would go three-and-out on their next possession, but even worse lost Kramer for the game when his right thumb got stuck in the facemask of Taylor's helmet, jamming it and causing him to exit the game.

Meanwhile, the Giants took over at their 30-yard-line as the game had moved into the fourth quarter with New York trailing 13-12.

After Morris picked up three yards on a screen pass on 1st down, then ran for two yards on 2nd down, the Giants were faced with a 3rd & 5 at their 35-yard-line.

That is when Simms connected with Galbreath for a seven-yard gain to give New York a 1st down at their 42-yard-line.

Simms would connect with Carthon on the next two plays, gaining 11 yards and picking up another 1st down at the Minnesota 47-yard-line.

That is when Johnson made his presence felt as he ran for 22 yards on a reverse play, then caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Simms for the Giants' first touchdown of the game, but more importantly give New York a 19-13 lead with 9:30 to go in the game.

Giants wide receiver Bobby Johnson would catch four passes for 79 yards and a touchdown.

As the Vikings came back onto the field to begin their next possession at their 20-yard-line, they would do so with backup quarterback Wade Wilson who only attempted 16 passes up to this point in the season.

But Wilson would come in and complete three of five passes for 68 yards, including the go-ahead 33-yard touchdown pass to Carter that with Nelson's extra point put Minnesota back on top 20-19 with 6:53 remaining in the game.

The Giants would take over at their 22-yard-line and pick up one 1st down, but would punt the ball back to the Vikings after failing to convert on 3rd & 1 at the New York 41-yard-line when Simms overthrew Morris on a wheel route.

The Vikings got the ball back at their 17-yard-line with 3:53 and a chance to run out the clock if they could pick up some 1st downs.

However, the Giants defense would force a three-and-out and after McConkey returned the ensuing punt 17 yards, New York had the ball at their 40-yard-line with 2:14 left.

Most people assummed the Giants would try to drive down the field with either a short passing game or the running attack, but on the first play from scrimmage, Simms dropped back and went deep for Robinson, who dropped what would have been the go-ahead touchdown.

Instead it was 2nd & 10 as Simms, with Vikings linebacker Scott Studwell around his waist, found Johnson for 15 yards and a 1st down at the Minnesota 45-yard-line as the two-minute warning hit.

Simms would threw a two-yard pass to running back Ottis Anderson, which was followed by an incomplete pass on 2nd down, and then Simms being sacked by three Viking defenders for a nine-yard loss, setting up a do-or-die 4th & 17 at the Giants' 48-yard-line with 1:12 to play.

With the Metrodome crowd yelling at a fever pitch, Simms lined up behind center so he could get the snap which he did with no problems.

Just as Vikings defensive tackle Mike Stensrud was able to drill him, Simms got the pass away that lofted over the head of Holt and landed in the hands of Johnson, who was then pushed out of bounds, but not before making a 22-yard catch to give the Giants a 1st down at the Vikings' 30-yard-line with 66 seconds to play in the game.

Following the improbable 4th down conversion, Vikings defensive end Doug Martin jumped offsides giving the Giants five yards and a 1st & 5.

That is when the Giants went back to Morris, who despite being held in check for most of the game, would pick up eight yards to give New York a 1st down at the Minnesota 17-yard-line.

Morris would get the ball two more times, picking up one more yard, before Parcells sent in Allegre on 3rd & 9 to attempt a potential game-winning field goal from 33 yards out.

Allegre, who was the Giants' fourth kicker of the season, made the 33-yard field goal to give New York a 22-20 lead with 12 seconds left.

Giants kicker Raul Allegre gets a hug from linebacker Gary Reasons after hitting his game-winning field goal.

The Vikings got one last chance to pull out a miracle but their attempt at the famous Cal lateraling the ball all over the field did not work and New York had come away with a 22-20 win.

The loss proved devasting for the Vikings as they would finish the season with a 9-7 record, one game behind the Los Angeles Rams for the final playoff spot in the NFC.

However, the Vikings would make the playoffs the next three seasons, including a trip to the 1987 NFC Championship Game with Wilson as the starting quarterback for the Vikings during those three seasons.

As for the Giants, they would go on to win the Super Bowl that year, defeating the Denver Broncos 39-20 behind Simms' 22-of-25 for 268 yards and three touchdown MVP performance.

Yet, if you talk to Simms, he will say that the win against the Vikings was the favorite game of his career and not his performance in the Super Bowl.

The other hero of the Giants' win against Minnesota, Bobby Johnson, would be out of the league after the 1986 season as an addiction to crack cocaine would consume his life for the next several years, leading him to acts such as selling his Super Bowl ring just to get money for crack cocaine.

However, this story has a happy ending as Johnson was able to overcome his crack cocaine addiction and has been sober ever since 1994 and got a new Super Bowl ring to replace his old one just a few years back.