The 2002 season was the New York Giants' 78th in the National Football League (NFL) and their sixth under head coach Jim Fassel. The team improved upon their 7–9 record from the previous season by three games and returned to the playoffs for the second time in three years, ending the season on a four-game winning streak. After a midseason slump, head coach Jim Fassel stripped offensive coordinator Sean Payton of playcalling duties, and the Giants went on to a winning streak that would carry them to the playoffs. Leading 35–14 in the third quarter of the NFC wild-card came at San Francisco, Jeremy Shockey dropped a touchdown pass forcing a field goal to make the score 38–14. Fassel decided to rest starting running back Tiki Barber to save him for the next round, but the 49ers gained momentum, and the Giants did not score again, losing the game 39–38. Following the season, Payton was not retained; he won the Super Bowl seven years later as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
Offseason
NFL Draft
Undrafted free agents
Staff
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date: September 5
Game time: 8:30 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire, and Suzy Kolber
The Giants opened their 2002 season at home against the 49ers, in a preview of their infamous Wild Card game later that season. This was the first-ever Thursday night NFL season opener.
The Giants led 6–3 at halftime, with new kicker Matt Bryant kicking field goals of 29 and 33 yards. In the third quarter, 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia found running back Garrison Hearst for a 9-yard touchdown pass to make it 10–6. After a Jose Cortez field goal made it 13-6 49ers with 8 minutes to go, Tiki Barber ran in for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game at 13–13 with 1:55 to go. However, the Giants defense failed to hold at the end of the game. A 33-yard pass from Garcia to Terrell Owens set up a 36-yard field goal by Cortez with 6 seconds left to win the game for the 49ers.
For the Giants, Amani Toomer caught nine passes for 134 yards.
Week 2: at St. Louis Rams
at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Date: September 15
Game time: 3:05 p.m. CST (4:05 p.m. EST) TV: FOX Announcers: Joe Buck, Cris Collinsworth, Troy Aikman, and Pam Oliver
The Giants next traveled to St. Louis to take on the defending NFC champion Rams, who were favored by 12 to defeat the Giants. However, the Giants jumped out to a 17–0 lead in the first half. In the second quarter, Kerry Collins found rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey for his first career touchdown on a 28-yard pass. Later in the quarter, Jason Sehorn picked off Kurt Warner and returned his errant pass 31 yards for a touchdown. The Rams finally got on the board with Warner finding receiver Ricky Proehl for a 6-yard touchdown to make the score 17–7 Giants at the half.
In the third quarter, Marshall Faulk scored a touchdown to narrow the score to 17–14. After two Matt Bryant field goals, Faulk scored another touchdown from 8 yards out to make the score 23–21 with 8:24 to go. The Giants finally clinched the game when cornerback Will Allen intercepted a Kurt Warner pass with 1:43 remaining.
Kerry Collins was 22 of 26 for 307 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Ike Hilliard was the leading receiver with 4 receptions for 97 yards, while Amani Toomer added 4 catches for 92 yards. The defense forced 4 Rams turnovers against just one by the Giants.
Week 3: vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date: September 22
Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST
TV: FOX
Announcers: Sam Rosen, Bill Maas, and Brent Ringenbach
Next came a contest against the Seahawks that did not feature a touchdown. The Giants trailed 6–0 at halftime after two Rian Lindell field goals, but Matt Bryant kicked three field goals in the second half, the last one a 47 yarder coming with 2:04 remaining. As he had the previous week, Will Allen clinched the game by intercepting a Trent Dilfer pass with 1:35 remaining.
The Giants held the Seahawks to just 145 yards of total offense. Amani Toomer caught four passes for 100 yards.
Week 4: at Arizona Cardinals
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
Date: September 29
Game time: 2:05 p.m. MST (4:05 p.m. EST) TV: FOX Announcers: Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston, and Ron Pitts