A Date To Remember is an occasional series Big Blue

View will be running through the Super Bowl Authentic Alec Ogletree Jersey , highlighting the glory of the Giants’ past and celebrating the biggest playoff wins in franchise history.AnnihilationJan. 14, 2001NFC Championship GameGiants 41, Vikings 0The legend stepped to the front of the room, still a commanding presence even in retirement. Lawrence Taylor had something to say.And when the greatest linebacker of all-time speaks, people listen.“You’ve got what you want right here,” Taylor told the 2000 Giants. “You can’t ask for anything better than this. Playing this game, you’re 60 minutes away, here at Giants Stadium. It can’t be any better than that. “From the bottom of my heart, we’re proud of you. And whatever it takes Authentic Nate Solder Jersey , get it done.”Taylor was only one of at least eight members of the 1986 and 1990 Super Bowl teams to have met with the Giants on the eve of the 2000 NFC Championship Game.But his message resonated the loudest. And did they ever.The Giants did not necessarily need the extra motivation the night before they executed the most dominant performance ever in an NFC title game.Only a few words can encapsulate how completely the Giants dismantled the Vikings, 41-0, at Giants Stadium.Humiliation. Domination. Annihilation.The Giants led 34-0 at halftime. They held the ball for an eye-popping 42:22, including the final 12:53.And they outgained Minnesota, 518 to 114 (including just 60 net passing yards for the Vikings). The 404-yard disparity was the largest in NFL postseason history.The championship had became a game of keep-away by the Giants long before the fourth quarter in an effort to reduce any further embarrassment for the Vikings.Yet somehow, visiting Minnesota — which lost its final three regular-season games — was a one-point favorite entering the game.The blowout came two months after mild-mannered coach Jim Fassel uncharacteristically guaranteed that the Giants would make the playoffs after losing two straight to fall to 7-4.The Giants won their final five regular-season games, clinching home-field advantage with the best record in the NFC. Then they won their first two postseason games.Late owner Wellington Mara, then 84, struck a similar theme when speaking to the crowd as he accepted the NFC Championship trophy.The deciding factor might have been an observation offensive coordinator Sean Payton — now the Saints coach — made in his film preparation.He recognized an opportunity to exploit Minnesota cornerbacks Wasswa Serwanga and Robert Tate. Payton reviewed the plays the Giants ran that season Color Rush Alec Ogletree Jersey , picked the most effective and compiled the game plan from them. He then faxed it to quarterback Kerry Collins the Tuesday night before the game with a note, “The best that we could do.”And so was Collins’ best.He produced the game of his career and broke multiple records in completing 28-of-39 passes for 381 yards and a championship game-record five touchdowns. (Ironically, it came before his meltdown in Super Bowl XXXV: 15-of-39 passing for 112 yards and four interceptions against the Baltimore Ravens.)Collins did all the damage in only three quarters, having sat out the fourth.Ike Hilliard had 10 receptions for 155 yards and two touchdowns, including a 46-yard score that gave the Giants a 7-0 lead just four plays into the game.The Vikings’ Moe Williams fumbled the ensuing kickoff. And on the next play, Collins hit fullback Greg Comella for an 18-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead just 2:13 into the game.And on it went.The Giants defense was just as dominant as its offense.Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper lost a fumble on the first play of the second half while sacked by Shaun Williams. Five plays later, Collins found Amani Toomer for a 7-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 41 points. The defense recorded the franchise’s third playoff shutout, after blanking Cleveland in 1958 and Washington in 1987.Culpepper did not have many options.Cornerbacks Jason Sehorn and Dave Thomas blanketed Randy Moss and Cris Carter. Moss caught just two passes for 18 yards. Carter did not catch a pass in the first three quarters and finished with only three receptions for 24 yards.Fassel did not credit his own guarantee for the Giants’ run or the NFC title game rout.Giants roster moves: TE Garrett Dickerson added, Kaelin Clay waived With tight end Evan Engram sidelined for the next few weeks due to an MCL sprain suffered Sunday against the Houston Texans Youth Eli Manning Jersey , the Giants on Tuesday moved to add an additional tight end to their roster.Garrett Dickerson, an undrafted free agent from Northwestern, has been signed to thye 53-man roster from the Giants’ practice squad. Kick returner Kaelin Clay was waived/injured with an ankle injury to make room.Dickerson, 6-foot-2 and 244 pounds, played in 49 games at Northwestern and caught 87 passes for 887 yards and nine touchdowns. As a senior in 2017, he played in 13 games and was selected honorable mention All-Big Ten after recording career highs in receptions (37) and yards (401).Clay was awarded off waivers to the Giants on Sept. 2, one day after he was released by the Buffalo Bills. He played in the season’s first two games, and returned five punts for 15 yards. Clay injured his ankle at Dallas on Sept. 16. He was inactive Sunday against the Houston Texans as Stacy Coley made his Giants debut returning kicks.