New York Giants: Biggest Play of Every Game in Giants' 2011-12 Super Bowl Run

It's been a long and arduous season for the 2011-12 New York Giants, but they finished the season with a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, their second Super Bowl win in four years.

Over the course of 20 games (16 regular season and four playoff), this team has had its share of miracles and mishaps.

With that said, let's take a look at the biggest play of each Giants game, the plays that defined their season.

Note: Not every play in this list was a Giants play. This list was done to demonstrate both the good and bad performances the team has had over the course of the season.

Week 1 at Washington Redskins: A Rookie Redskin Intercepts

When the second half of the game began, the Giants and the Washington Redskins were tied at 14-14.

Starting from their own 18-yard line, Eli Manning was already in a third-down situation.

He attempted to pass the ball, intended for Hakeem Nicks. However, the Redskins rookie linebacker, Ryan Kerrigan, intercepted the ball and returned it for a touchdown.

The Redskins would take the lead for the first time in the game and never look back en route to a 28-14 win.

Week 2 vs. St. Louis Rams: Boley Brings It Home

The St. Louis Rams began their first drive of the second quarter very well, thanks to a 33-yard pass to Mike Sims-Walker.

They got within field-goal range, but were unable to advance past the Giants' 25-yard line.

On 3rd-and-8, quarterback Sam Bradford fumbled the football. Giants linebacker Michael Boley recovered the ball (his first since 2008 in Atlanta) and returned it 65 yards for the score, putting them up 14-6.

The Giants would go on to win 28-16.

Week 3 at Philadelphia Eagles: Cruz Begins with a Bang

Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles was the first game in which not only did Victor Cruz start, but showed the kind of talent he possesses.

Already up 7-0 with under two minutes to play in the first quarter, Eli Manning threw a long bomb on the third play of the drive to Cruz. Cruz caught it and scored a 74-yard touchdown.

It was the second of four touchdowns for Manning, and the first of two touchdowns for Cruz during that game.

Giants would win the game 29-16, and the NFL only got a taste of what Cruz would do throughout the rest of the season.

Week 4 at Arizona Cardinals: Manning's First Comeback of the Season

With less than three minutes to play in regulation, Eli Manning threw from the shotgun formation to his left towards Hakeem Nicks, who scored a 29-yard game-winning touchdown.

This would be the first of six fourth-quarter comebacks for Eli and the Giants and the team would win over the Arizona Cardinals, 31-27.

Week 6 vs. Seattle Sehawks: Mannings Throws First of Three Interceptions

With 3:42 left in the first half, Eli Manning and the Giants began their drive on their own 28.

Since time was so limited, the team was going for a quick score. Manning, from the shotgun, threw a deep pass to Hakeem Nicks.

However, Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas intercepted the ball from his team's own 42-yard line, and ran before being tackled at midfield.

Though the Seahawks would not score on the subsequent drive, it was the first of three costly mistakes made by Manning and the Giants would lose 36-25.

Week 6 vs. Buffalo Bills: Who's Naaman Roosevelt?

With 3:13 left to play in the first quarter, Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Buffalo Bills was in a 3rd-and-6 situation at their own 40-yard line.

He threw a short pass to the left to Naaman Roosevelt, an unknown second-year player for the Bills.

Roosevelt caught it and ran through and around the secondary and made it for the touchdown, putting the Bills were up 14-7.

Though the Giants would come back to win this game 27-24, this touchdown pass showed how exploitable the team's secondary could be.

Week 8 vs. Miami Dolphins: Corey Webster Saves the Game

In a close battle against the then-winless Miami Dolphins, Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore, down 20-17, attempted a fourth-quarter comeback with just under four minutes in the game.

Thanks to two sacks by Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka though, he and the Dolphins were facing a 4th-and-23.

Desperate to make a play, Moore threw up the middle intended for their star receiver Brandon Marshall.

However, cornerback Corey Webster made the grab, saving the game for the Giants.

Week 9 at New England Patriots: Tynes Points Up First Points of the Game

Could you believe that in the first showdown against the New England Patriots of the season, neither team would score until the second half?

Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes, with just over 10 minutes in the game, would make a 22-yard field goal.

Although an easy kick, the field goal finally got both teams' offenses going in the second half.

The Giants would win the game 24-20, thanks to yet another fourth-quarter comeback by Eli Manning.

Week 10 at San Francisco 49ers: No Comeback for Manning

Eli Manning once again was hoping for yet another fourth-quarter comeback, this time against the San Francisco 49ers. Down 27-20 with 6:30 left in the game, he and the Giants had a long, final drive.

Five minutes and 70 yards later, the team was up to the 49ers' 10-yard line, but were facing a 4th-and-short situation.

Manning attempted to pass to tight end Jake Ballard but 49ers defensive end Justin Smith tipped it and ended the game.

The 27-20 loss would be the first of a four-game losing streak for the Giants.

Week 11 vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Steve Smith Scores...for the Eagles

In the second game of the season between these two teams, many believed the Giants had an advantage.

After all, they won the first game of the season, and Vince Young was replacing an injured Michael Vick at quarterback.

But as my roommate Joey would say, "Never bet a Giants game in which they're facing the Philadelphia Eagles. You just don't do it."

He was right.

Near the end of the second half, Young threw a short pass from the 14-yard line to the left to Steve Smith.

Smith, the former Giant who signed a one-year deal with the so-called "Dream Team" Eagles, caught it for the touchdown.

The Eagles would go on to win 17-10.

Week 12 at New Orleans Saints: Defense? What Defense?

Though both the Giants and the New Orleans Saints went scoreless in the first quarter, the Saints would ramp it up in the second quarter.

Only eight seconds into the quarter, Drew Brees threw a short pass to Lance Moore for the score. It would be the first of three touchdowns for the Saints...in the second quarter alone!

The offense would continue to pound the Giants throughout the rest of the game, as the Giants would lose 49-24.

Week 13 vs. Green Bay Packers: Clay Matthews Intercepts and Scores

The Giants could prove they could keep up in a shootout with the Green Bay Packers.

However, if it weren't for this play, the outcome of this game could have been entirely different.

Eli Manning and the Giants began the second quarter with the ball on their won 39-yard line.

He threw a short pass to Ahmad Bradshaw, only for Packers linebacker Clay Matthews to intercept it and run for the touchdown, taking the lead 13-10.

The Packers would later go on to win this contest 38-35.

Week 14 at Dallas Cowboys: Jason Pierre-Paul Blocks Field Goal to End the Game

I could talk about yet another fourth-quarter comeback recorded by Eli Manning and the Giants.

Instead though, the biggest play in the game came down to the final seconds of this game.

Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey attempted a 47-yard field goal to tie the game at 37 apiece.

However, Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul became a hero, blocking the field-goal attempt and saving the game.

Not only would the Giants win this game, but it helped set up the rematch in Week 17 to determine who would win the NFC East division and move on to the playoffs.

Week 15 vs. Washington Redskins: Giants Can't Recover Onside Kick

Personally, losing to the 2011 Washington Redskins, a team that had difficulties figuring out both its starting quarterback and running back, is bad.

Losing to them twice though? Not only is that unacceptable, it almost cost the Giants a chance of making it to the postseason.

With 33 seconds left in the game, Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw ran a three-yard touchdown, and the Giants were down 23-10.

In a desperate attempt to try to come back, Steve Weatherford attempted an onside kick, only for it to backfire. The Redskins' Jabar Gaffney would recover the ball, allowing the team to kneel and end the game.

Week 16 at New York Jets: A 99-Yard Bomb to Victor Cruz

In the Battle of New York, the Giants, as the away team, looked to capitalize against a shaky New York Jets team that was also desperate for a win to make it to the postseason.

With 2:37 left in the first half, the Giants were looking to end it on top.

Facing 3rd-and-10 on their own 1, Manning threw a deep pass to Victor Cruz, who caught it and ran it for 99 yards and the touchdown.

It was the longest touchdown pass in franchise history, as they ended the half up 10-7.

The Giants would win the game 29-14, and would set up the epic rematch against the Cowboys.

Week 17 vs. Dallas Cowboys: Cruz Strikes Again

Wait a second—did I say epic rematch?

Because unless you're talking about the Giants' overall performance, the rematch was anything but, as they beat the Dallas Cowboys at home, 31-14.

It all began with Eli Manning throwing yet another touchdown pass to Victor Cruz, in the middle of the first quarter.

It was a 74-yard bomb to Cruz, who would have 178 receiving yards in this game and set a franchise record for the most receiving yards in a single season.

Dallas wouldn't be able to respond until the third quarter, but by then, it was too late.

The Giants would move on to the postseason as the fourth seed.

Wild Card vs. Atlanta Falcons: Rocky Bernard Sacks Matt Ryan

The Giants were locked down on defense in the Wild Card Game against the Atlanta Falcons, winning 24-2.

Matt Ryan would be punished throughout the game, going 24-for-41 for just 199 yards, and was hit seven times during the game.

One of these hits came at the end of the first half.

With 2:47 left and starting on their own 15-yard line, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan attempted to throw from the shotgun on first down...

...only for Giants defensive tackle Rocky Bernard to sack him and set up 2nd-and-23.

Divisional at Green Bay Packers: Nicks Is so Nice, He Scored Twice

The Giants capped off the first half against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional game with a pass to Hakeem Nicks.

Nicks, who in the first quarter scored a 64-yard touchdown pass up the middle, made yet another grab, this time for 37 yards.

He barely had the ball contained and the play was reviewed. However, the ruling was upheld, and the Giants were up 20-10.

The Giants would win the game 37-20, and move on to face the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

NFC Championship at San Francisco 49ers: Tynes Does It Again!

Lawrence Tynes was already remembered by Giants fans for the overtime field goal that he kicked in the NFC Championship game four years ago.

Against the San Francisco 49ers, Tynes would do it yet again.

A 31-yard field goal sealed the deal for the Giants in overtime, 20-17, and the team would punch a ticket to Indianapolis in a rematch of Super Bowl XLII.

Super Bowl XLVI: Brady Called for Intentional Grounding, Resulting in a Safety

I think this picture sums up perfectly both Tom Brady's blunder and the New England Patriots' performance in Super Bowl XLVI.

Yes, I could have talked about how Eli Manning performed yet another fourth-quarter comeback against the New England Patriots, but I thought this play helped demonstrate how intimidating the New York Giants defense actually was.

On their very first possession, the Patriots started at their own 6. Brady attempted to throw a pass down the middle on first down.

Giants defensive end Justin Tuck had other plans though, and Brady threw the football in his own end zone.

However, he threw it too far from a receiver and was penalized for intentional grounding. What's worse is that because he threw in his own end zone, the result was a safety.

Giants would score the first points of the game and controlled the majority of the first quarter, eventually leading to their second Super Bowl victory in four years.