They are two of only four Giants players who take the field today and were also on the scene more than seven years ago, the last time the Broncos came to town to square off with the Giants.
Amani Toomer was a third-year receiver and he figured his unsatisfying stay in New York was nearing an end. Shaun Williams was a rookie safety, a first-round draft pick from UCLA intent on making a name for himself on the East Coast. Little did either of them know that a mid-December game toward the end of a lost season would be the catalyst that propelled their careers.
The two veterans this week thought back on that turn of events as the Giants (3-2) prepared for today’s game with the Broncos (5-1). Along with Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan, Toomer and Williams are the only holdovers from the memorable 1998 upset, when the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos – on their way to a second consecutive title -came to Giants Stadium at 13-0 and threatening to match the 1972 Dolphins perfect season. The Giants, 5-8 at the time, manufactured a rousing 20-16 victory, saved by Williams’ fourth-quarter interception of John Elway and secured by Toomer’s dynamic 37-yard touchdown catch with just 48 seconds remaining.
“Definitely a good memory,” Toomer said.
“Very exciting for me,” added Williams.
Both went on to make significant impacts with the Giants. Toomer is the most prolific wide receiver in franchise history, while Williams developed into a solid starter and leader for four straight seasons before injuries hit. Both at the moment are confronting careers at a crossroads. Toomer remains a starter but he’s no longer the first option in the passing game, with Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey supplanting him. Williams, now healthy, is a reserve safety.
“We’re two veteran players who are always going to be hard-working and still have a lot of football left to play,” Williams said. “Me and Amani talk a lot, try to motivate each other and support each other at the same time. We see the situation and we’re still big-time competitors.”
Frustration is etched on the faces of Toomer, 31, and Williams, 29, who crave to do more. “I think Eli [Manning] is doing a great job and as he develops I think my role will probably, hopefully, increase,” Toomer said diplomatically.
“I just think some things come with more playing time,” said Williams, who, despite limited playing time, leads the team with two interceptions. “Sometimes it is about getting into a rhythm of the game, I think anybody will say that. But if this is my role, I have to learn how to find my rhythm that way.”
Williams as a rookie served as the nickel back when the Giants had one role to play against the Broncos: Spoiler. The Giants led 10-9 when Elway was driving in the fourth quarter, looked for tight end Shannon Sharpe but instead found Williams, who came up with an interception on the sideline. Williams, in a breakout performance, limited Sharpe to only 25 receiving yards. Later, with the Broncos ahead 16-13, the Giants delighted their fans and stunned the Broncos when Toomer outdueled cornerback Tito Paul for Kent Graham’s throw and hauled in the game-winning scoring pass.
“I thought after that year I’d be done with the Giants,” Toomer recalled. “The year before, they were talking about how they were going to trade me, cut me, release me that camp. I thought I’d be somewhere else.”
The catch against Denver proved to be the spark Toomer needed. The next year, he set a team record with 79 receptions. He’s still around. So is Williams. This afternoon, so are the Broncos.
Broncos at GIANTS, Today, 4:15 p.m.
ON THE AIR
TV: CH. 2
RADIO: WFAN (660 AM)
THE LINE:
GIANTS: -2
O/U: 46½
INJURY REPORT
Giants: OUT: CB William Peterson (back). QUESTIONABLE: OLB Carlos Emmons (ankle), OLB Barrett Green (ankle), OLB Reggie Torbor (ankle), SS Gibril Wilson (ankle).
Broncos: OUT: SS Sam Brandon (shoulder). PROBABLE: CB Roc Alexander (hamstring), TE Stephen Alexander (neck), CB Champ Bailey (hamstring), DE John Engelberger (shoulder), SS Nick Ferguson (ankle), T George Foster (knee), TE Jeb Putzier (jaw), MLB Al Wilson (ankle).
KEY MATCHUP
Giants LB Antonio Pierce vs. Denver offensive line. Of course Pierce won’t take on all five by himself, but the Giants got him to be a sideline-to-sideline run-stuffer. The Broncos attack the perimeters.
NUMBER TO KNOW
You wonder why Tom Coughlin harps incessantly on turnovers? He is 0-3 with the Giants and 5-26 in his NFL coaching career when his teams commit three or more turnovers.
GIANT CONCERN
Stopping the potent Denver running game. The Broncos have an AFC-high 24 rushing attempts of 10 or more yards and average a shade under five yards a carry, with bruising Mike Anderson and fleet-footed Tatum Bell a dynamic 1-2 punch.
FOE FACT
Jake Plummer has thrown a TD pass in all nine games he’s played vs. the Giants but he is just 3-6 in those games, with 11 TDs and 10 INTs.
PREDICTION
There’s not a lot of holes in Denver’s resume, with victories over the Chargers, Chiefs, in Jacksonville and against the Redskins and Patriots. Broncos might be due for a swoon, though, and Giants are bitter about last weekend in Dallas. Hunch here.
GIANTS 27
BRONCOS 20