The 49ers and Giants - again. For an NFL-record eighth time, these storied franchises with initials as identifiers - S.F. and N.Y. - face off in the playoffs, all since 1981. "It's been an incredible rivalry over the decades," retired 49ers front-office executive John McVay said from his Granite Bay home. "You've got the best from the West Coast against the best from the East Coast - again. Back in the 1980s, both teams were put together in deliberate fashion, a gradual buildup of stars, and there were incredible teams and games."

San Francisco leads the all-time playoff series 4-3, including 4-1 at Candlestick Park. The lone Niners home loss was in the 1991 NFC title game when the Giants prevailed 15-13 on a gamewinning field goal to deny San Francisco a chance at an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat. Today marks just the second meeting between the rivals with a Super Bowl berth at stake.

Between 1981 and '91, the winner of this playoff encounter went on to hoist the Lombardi Trophy four times. Some of the greatest teams of the modern NFL era emerged from this rivalry, including San Francisco's one-loss club of 1984 that beat the Giants 21-10 in the playoffs and rolled to a Super Bowl rout. The Giants defensive tyrants of 1986 walloped the 49ers in the playoffs 49-3 and went on to win their first Super Bowl. The Giants' second Super Bowl champions followed the 1991 NFC title conquest of the Niners. The 49ers crushed the Giants 44-3 in the 1993-94 playoffs in what was the final game for Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor.

"There are a lot of memories and the games went from maybe the greatest to the worst in a lot of ways," Simms said this week.

The last time the teams met in the playoffs was also the last time the 49ers won a postseason game, in 2003. Trailing 38-14, San Francisco charged back and won it on a Jeff Garcia 13-yard touchdown bullet to Tai Streets with a minute to go, with a lot of late-game drama to follow.

All told, former Giants defensive end Leonard Marshall said these playoff duels were milestone NFL moments.

"C'mon," he told the New York Daily News this week. "Playing the 49ers was like getting the girl you wanted to be with for the last 20 years of your life. You were going to get the chance to prove yourself."

McVay, the retired 49ers executive, said he finds it interesting how eras have changed, specifically the makeup of the teams. The 49ers of the 1980s dazzled with the West Coast offense, picking teams apart behind Joe Montana. The Giants were defensive bullies headed by Taylor, New York's ferocious pass-rush specialist.

Now? These Giants have set scores of team offensive records and overwhelmed a 15-1 Green Bay Packers team in the Divisional playoffs 37-20 last week. The 49ers this season have been known for their defensive clout, particularly against the run. They set an NFL record for not allowing a rushing touchdown in their first 14 games.

"Today, both teams are tough and aggressive on the defensive front - a lot of similarities that should make for another great game," McVay said.

Let's take a closer look at the playoff meetings.

49ers 38, Giants 24, Jan. 3, 1982

How it went down: The Giants were in the playoffs for the first time since 1963, and fresh off a win over defending NFC champion Philadelphia. The 49ers were in the postseason for the first time since 1972. On a gray, cold day at Candlestick Park, 49ers rookie safety Ronnie Lott returned an interception 20 yards for the sealing touchdown. Joe Montana won his first postseason game and unsung hero John Ayers, a guard, negated Lawrence Taylor, the 1981 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Quotable: "Dallas will (beat San Francisco in the NFC title game) next week," Giants coach Ray Perkins said afterward.

Aftermath: The 49ers beat Dallas 28-27 with Dwight Clark making "The Catch." The 49ers beat Cincinnati 26-21 in Super Bowl XVI.

49ers 21, Giants 10, Dec. 29, 1984

How it went down: San Francisco's greatest team was 15-1 in the regular season and never slowed down, eliminating the Giants as Montana passed for three scores. The Giants scored their only touchdown on a Harry Carson interception return.

Quotable: "We're just warming up," Lott said.

Aftermath: The 49ers beat Miami 38-16 in Super Bowl XIX.

Giants 17, 49ers 3, Dec. 29, 1985

How it went down: In a season of injuries, the 49ers limped through their post-Super Bowl season at 10-6, though rookie receiver Jerry Rice showed tremendous promise. The Giants mauled the 49ers at the Meadowlands, with Joe Morris churning for 144 yards and the defense denying San Francisco a touchdown for the only time that season.

Quotable: "I guarantee you, publicly, we'll be back," 49ers coach Bill Walsh said.

Aftermath: The Giants lost the following week to the eventual champion, the Chicago Bears.

Giants 49, 49ers 3, Jan. 4, 1987

How it went down: Two lasting images still haunt 49ers fans from this game: Rice fumbling on the first series with no one near him on his way to a sure touchdown, the ball rolling downfield faster than Rice, and Jim Burt's crushing blow to Montana with a second-quarter hit that hospitalized him. Simms tossed four touchdowns and Morris had 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Quotable: "I was ready to explode into the end zone, and then suddenly the ball was 10 yards downfield. I blew the big one," Rice said.

Aftermath: The Giants won Super Bowl XXI 39-20 over Denver.

Giants 15, 49ers 13, Jan. 20, 1991

How it went down: This was a rematch from a 7-3 regular-season 49ers victory on "Monday Night Football" that allowed San Francisco to ultimately host the NFC title game. The 49ers were up 13-9 in the fourth quarter when Leonard Marshall nearly cut Montana in half with a crushing blind-side hit. Up 13-12 with just more than two minutes to play, 49ers running back Roger Craig fumbled, and Taylor pounced on it at the New York 43. Seven plays later, Matt Bahr booted his fifth field goal as time expired. Montana would never start for the 49ers again.

Quotable: "For us to lose to a team that kicked five field goals was an extra slap in the face," said Steve Young, who replaced Montana, who would have missed the Super Bowl with a broken hand and bruised sternum.

Aftermath: The Giants beat Buffalo 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV - on a missed Bills field goal, of all ironies.

49ers 44, Giants 3, Jan. 15, 1994

How it went down: San Francisco administered the worst playoff beating in Giants history as Young passed for 226 yards and running back Ricky Watters set a playoff mark with five touchdowns, high-stepping and taunting his way into the end zone. Simms was intercepted twice and sacked four times in his final game, and Taylor soon retired after 13 mostly dominant seasons.

Quotable: "We want to be super in these playoffs," Watters said.

Aftermath: The 49ers lost to eventual Super Bowl champion Dallas in the NFC title game.

49ers 39, Giants 38, Jan. 5, 2003

How it went down: Behind quarterback Jeff Garcia, San Francisco rallied from a 38-14 deficit for the most improbable playoff victory ever. The game's biggest drama came late when Giants long snapper Trey Junkin, who unretired days before to play in this game, made a bad snap before kicker Matt Bryant could try a 42-yarder for the game winner. Holder Matt Allen made a desperation pass downfield at Rick Seubert, who was pulled down by Chike Okeafor. Flags were thrown, but the penalty was against the Giants for an illegal man downfield.

Quotable: "Bummer," said 49ers coach Steve Mariucci on the NFL front-office news that it botched the non-call for pass interference.

Aftermath: The 49ers lost at Tampa Bay the following week.

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