On January 4, 1987: In an NFC divisional playoff game, the New York Giants put a 49-3 licking on the San Francisco 49ers. They send Joe Montana to the hospital with a concussion and his teammates back home with a case of severely wounded pride. With the Giants leading 21-3 late in the first half, nose tackle Jim Burt hammers Montana just as the quarterback releases his pass. The wounded duck wobbles into Lawrence Taylor’s hands, and the linebacker returns it 34 yards for a touchdown. “That play was like dropping the H-bomb on them,” L.T. says. While L.T. is buried under an avalanche of jubilant teammates, Montana is crumpled on the ground at Giants Stadium with a concussion. “It was a clean hit,” Burt says. “But I don’t feel good about it.” Giants quarterback Phil Simms completes just 9-of-19 passes, but four go for touchdowns.
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