On January 20, 1991 in the playoffs following the 1990 season, the Giants were on the road in Candlestick Park against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Niners featured talent such as QB Joe Montana, LB Bill Romanowki, WR Jerry Rice, FS Ronnie Lott, OG Guy McIntyre, RB Roger Craig, and DE Charles Haley. The winner would be catapulted into Super Bowl XXV in Tampa. The Giants had won the NFC Eastern Division with a 13-3-0 record whereas the 49ers were the league’s best team at 14-2-0.
The two clubs had already faced off in December at Candlestick during the season, a 7-3 49ers victory.