1938 New York Giants season

NFL team 14th season

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The 1938 New York Giants season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League.

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Recap
1	September 11	at Pittsburgh Pirates	W 27–14	1–0	Forbes Field	Recap
2	Bye
3	September 25	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 10–14	1–1	Philadelphia Municipal Stadium	Recap
4	October 3	Pittsburgh Pirates	L 10–13	1–2	Polo Grounds	Recap
5	October 9	at Washington Redskins	W 10–7	2–2	Griffith Stadium	Recap
6	October 16	Philadelphia Eagles	W 17–7	3–2	Polo Grounds	Recap
7	October 23	Brooklyn Dodgers	W 28–14	4–2	Polo Grounds	Recap
8	Bye
9	November 6	Chicago Cardinals	W 6–0	5–2	Polo Grounds	Recap
10	November 13	Cleveland Rams	W 28–0	6–2	Polo Grounds	Recap
11	November 20	Green Bay Packers	W 15–3	7–2	Polo Grounds	Recap
12	November 24	at Brooklyn Dodgers	T 7–7	7–2–1	Ebbets Field	Recap
13	December 4	Washington Redskins	W 36–0	8–2–1	Polo Grounds	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Pittsburgh Pirates

Week One: New York Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	6	14	0	7	27
Pirates	7	7	0	0	14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Date: September 11
Game attendance: 17,340

Game information
First quarter PIT Whizzer White 4-yard run (Armand Niccolai kick) NYG Tuffy Leemans 1-yard run (kick blocked) Second quarter PIT Eggs Manske 23-yard pass from Frank Filchock (Niccolai kick) NYG Lee Shaffer 3-yard pass from Ed Danowski (Hank Soar kick) NYG Shaffer 11-yard pass from Danowski (Ward Cuff kick) Fourth quarter NYG Soar 1-yard run (Cuff kick)

Game information

First quarter

PIT Whizzer White 4-yard run (Armand Niccolai kick)
NYG Tuffy Leemans 1-yard run (kick blocked)

Second quarter

PIT Eggs Manske 23-yard pass from Frank Filchock (Niccolai kick)
NYG Lee Shaffer 3-yard pass from Ed Danowski (Hank Soar kick)
NYG Shaffer 11-yard pass from Danowski (Ward Cuff kick)

Fourth quarter

NYG Soar 1-yard run (Cuff kick)

Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week Three: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	0	7	3	0	10
Eagles	0	7	0	7	14

at Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Date: September 25
Game attendance: 23,877

Game information
Second quarter PHI Bob Pylman 88-yard fumble return (Henry Reese kick) NYG Jim Poole 28-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick) Third quarter NYG Cuff 23-yard FG Fourth quarter PHI Joe Carter 92-yard fumble return (Reese kick)

Game information

Second quarter

PHI Bob Pylman 88-yard fumble return (Henry Reese kick)
NYG Jim Poole 28-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Third quarter

NYG Cuff 23-yard FG

Fourth quarter

PHI Joe Carter 92-yard fumble return (Reese kick)

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Week Four: Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	0	7	0	6	13
Giants	7	0	3	0	10

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: October 3
Game time: Night
Game attendance: 18,805

Game information
First quarter NYG Cuff 18-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick) Second quarter PIT Bill Sortet 24-yard pass from Filchock (Niccolai kick) Third quarter NYG Cuff 10-yard FG Fourth quarter PIT Sortet 13-yard pass from Filchock (kick failed)

Game information

First quarter

NYG Cuff 18-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Second quarter

PIT Bill Sortet 24-yard pass from Filchock (Niccolai kick)

Third quarter

NYG Cuff 10-yard FG

Fourth quarter

PIT Sortet 13-yard pass from Filchock (kick failed)

Week 5: at Washington Redskins

Week Five: New York Giants at Washington Redskins

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	3	0	0	7	10
Redskins	0	7	0	0	7

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

Date: October 9
Game attendance: 37,500

Game information
First quarter NYG Cuff 17-yard FG Second quarter WAS Bob Masterson pass from Sammy Baugh (Masterson kick) Fourth quarter NYG Jim Lee Howell 18-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Game information

First quarter

NYG Cuff 17-yard FG

Second quarter

WAS Bob Masterson pass from Sammy Baugh (Masterson kick)

Fourth quarter

NYG Jim Lee Howell 18-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Week 6: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week Six: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	0	7	0	7
Giants	0	14	3	0	17

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: October 16
Game attendance: 33,187

Game information
Second quarter NYG Bull Karcis 76-yard fumble return (Cuff kick) NYG Leemans 3-yard run (Cuff kick) Third quarter PHI Woody Dow 25-yard pass from Emmett Mortell (Reese kick) NYG Cuff 20-yard FG

Game information

Second quarter

NYG Bull Karcis 76-yard fumble return (Cuff kick)
NYG Leemans 3-yard run (Cuff kick)

Third quarter

PHI Woody Dow 25-yard pass from Emmett Mortell (Reese kick)
NYG Cuff 20-yard FG

Week 7: vs. Brooklyn Dodgers

Week Seven: Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Dodgers	0	0	0	14	14
Giants	7	21	0	0	28

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: October 23
Game attendance: 36,228

Game information
First quarter NYG Howell 31-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick) Second quarter NYG Karcis 1-yard run (Cuff kick) NYG Len Barnum 1-yard run (Cuff kick) NYG Ray Hanken 5-yard pass from Leemans (Kink Richards kick) Fourth quarter BRK Beattie Feathers 8-yard run (Ace Parker kick) BRK Scrapper Farrell 26-yard run (Parker kick)

Game information

First quarter

NYG Howell 31-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Second quarter

NYG Karcis 1-yard run (Cuff kick)
NYG Len Barnum 1-yard run (Cuff kick)
NYG Ray Hanken 5-yard pass from Leemans (Kink Richards kick)

Fourth quarter

BRK Beattie Feathers 8-yard run (Ace Parker kick)
BRK Scrapper Farrell 26-yard run (Parker kick)

Week 9: vs. Chicago Cardinals

Week Nine: Chicago Cardinals at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0
Giants	0	0	0	6	6

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: November 6
Game attendance: 19,648

Game information
Fourth quarter NYG Leemans 5-yard run (kick failed)

Game information

Fourth quarter

NYG Leemans 5-yard run (kick failed)

Week 10: vs. Cleveland Rams

Week Ten: Cleveland Rams at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	0	0	0	0
Giants	7	14	7	0	28

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: November 13
Game attendance: 25,000

Game information
First quarter NYG Karcis 1-yard run (Cuff kick) Second quarter NYG Karcis 1-yard run (Cuff kick) NYG Hanken 27-yard pass from Leemans (Richards kick) Third quarter NYG Danowski 31-yard run (Cuff kick)

Game information

First quarter

NYG Karcis 1-yard run (Cuff kick)

Second quarter

NYG Karcis 1-yard run (Cuff kick)
NYG Hanken 27-yard pass from Leemans (Richards kick)

Third quarter

NYG Danowski 31-yard run (Cuff kick)

Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week Eleven: Green Bay Packers at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	0	3	0	3
Giants	0	0	9	6	15

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: November 20
Game attendance: 48,279

Game information
Third quarter NYG Giants tackled Clarke Hinkle in end zone for a Safety GB Paul Engebretsen 22-yard FG NYG Leemans 75-yard run (Cuff kick) Fourth quarter NYG Mel Hein 50-yard interception return (kick failed)

Game information

Third quarter

NYG Giants tackled Clarke Hinkle in end zone for a Safety
GB Paul Engebretsen 22-yard FG
NYG Leemans 75-yard run (Cuff kick)

Fourth quarter

NYG Mel Hein 50-yard interception return (kick failed)

Week 12: at Brooklyn Dodgers

Week Twelve: New York Giants at Brooklyn Dodgers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Giants	0	0	0	7	7
Dodgers	7	0	0	0	7

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

Date: November 24
Game attendance: 17,400

Game information
First quarter BRK Parker 68-yard interception return (Ralph Kercheval kick) Fourth quarter NYG Dale Burnett 7-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Game information

First quarter

BRK Parker 68-yard interception return (Ralph Kercheval kick)

Fourth quarter

NYG Dale Burnett 7-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick)

Ed Danowski's pass to Dale Burnett was the last Giants touchdown on offense on Thanksgiving Day until 2022.

Week 13: vs. Washington Redskins

Week Thirteen: Washington Redskins at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Redskins	0	0	0	0	0
Giants	14	0	10	12	36

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: December 4
Game attendance: 57,461

Game information
First quarter NYG Soar 43-yard run (Cuff kick) NYG Karcis run (Cuff kick) Third quarter NYG Cuff 36-yard FG NYG Cuff 96-yard interception return (Cuff kick) Fourth quarter NYG Chuck Galatka pass from Leemans (kick failed) NYG Galatka 7-yard interception return (kick failed)

Game information

First quarter

NYG Soar 43-yard run (Cuff kick)
NYG Karcis run (Cuff kick)

Third quarter

NYG Cuff 36-yard FG
NYG Cuff 96-yard interception return (Cuff kick)

Fourth quarter

NYG Chuck Galatka pass from Leemans (kick failed)
NYG Galatka 7-yard interception return (kick failed)

The Giants won the Eastern Division in a 36-0 romp of the defending champion Washington Redskins, and a right to play in the championship.

NFL Championship Game

1938 NFL Championship: Green Bay Packers at New York Giants

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	0	14	3	0	17
Giants	9	7	7	0	23

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

Date: December 11
Game attendance: 48,120

Game information

First quarter

NYG Cuff 14-yard FG. Giants 3-0.
NYG Leemans 6-yard run (kick failed). Giants 9-0.

Second quarter

GB Carl Mulleneaux 40-yard pass from Arnie Herber (Engebretsen kick). Giants 9-7.
NYG Charles Barnard 21-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick). Giants 16-7.
GB Hinkle 1-yard run (Engebretsen kick). Giants 16-14.

Third quarter

GB Engebretsen 15-yard FG. Packers 17-16.
NYG Soar 23-yard pass from Danowski (Cuff kick). Giants 23-17.

Fourth quarter

No scoring plays

Top passers

GB - Arnie Herber - 5/14, 123 yards, 1 TD
NYG - Ed Danowski - 7/11, 74 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

GB - Charlie Hinkle - 18 rushes, 64 yards, 1 TD
NYG - Hank Soar - 20 rushes, 68 yards

Top receivers

GB - Wayland Becker - 2 receptions, 78 yards
NYG - Hank Soar - 3 receptions, 41 yards, 1 TD

Standings

NFL Eastern Division
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
New York Giants	8	2	1	.800	5–2–1	194	79	W1
Washington Redskins	6	3	2	.667	4–2–2	148	154	L1
Brooklyn Dodgers	4	4	3	.500	3–2–3	131	161	T1
Philadelphia Eagles	5	6	0	.455	3–5	154	164	W2
Pittsburgh Pirates	2	9	0	.182	2–6	79	169	L6

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

All-Star Game

Five weeks after winning the championship, the Giants defeated the NFL All-Stars 13–10 in the first Pro Bowl on January 15, 1939. The game was played at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, California, where poor weather caused an attendance of just 15,000.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

References

^ "Giants beat Stars; Ward Cuff is hero". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. January 16, 1939. p. L-7. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
^ "New York's Giants defeat All-Stars". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. January 16, 1939. p. 6.
^ McLemore, Henry (January 16, 1939). "'Super' pro grid game proves flop on Coast". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 19.
^ Guenther, Jack (January 16, 1939). "Giants down professional all-star grids in charity tilt". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). United Press. p. 9.

v t e New York Giants seasons
1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance

New York Giants seasons

Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory
Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance

v t e New York Giants 1938 NFL champions
Charles Barnard Len Barnum Dale Burnett Pete Cole Frank Cope Ward Cuff Ed Danowski Johnny Dell Isola Nello Falaschi Stan Galazin Chuck Gelatka Johnny Gildea Jack Haden Ray Hanken Mel Hein (NFL MVP) Jim Lee Howell Larry Johnson Bull Karcis Tuffy Leemans Kayo Lunday Tilly Manton John Mellus Ox Parry Jim Poole Kink Richards Leland Shaffer Hank Soar Orville Tuttle Will Walls Tarzan White Ed Widseth Hugh Wolfe Head coach: Steve Owen

New York Giants 1938 NFL champions

v t e New York Giants
Founded in 1925 Based and headquartered in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Franchise	Franchise Seasons Coaches Players First-round draft picks Quarterbacks Logos and uniforms
History	1925–1978 1979–1993 1994–present Financial history
Stadiums	Polo Grounds Yankee Stadium Yale Bowl Shea Stadium Giants Stadium MetLife Stadium
Culture	Cleveland Bulldogs The Duke Crunch Bunch Gatorade shower Big Blue Wrecking Crew I'm going to Disney World! Little Giants "New York Groove" "We Fly High" "The Masseuse" (Seinfeld episode) Big Fan Bob Sheppard Jim Hall Yankee Stadium Legacy License Plate Guy The Best Man Holiday
Lore	Sneakers Game The Greatest Game Ever Played Chuck Bednarik's hit on Frank Gifford The Fumble Wide Right Snowball Game 2007 game vs. New England Patriots Helmet Catch Miracle at the New Meadowlands
Rivalries	Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys Green Bay Packers New England Patriots New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers Washington Commanders
Key personnel	Owners: John Mara & Steve Tisch General manager: Joe Schoen Head coach: Brian Daboll
Division championships (22)	1933 1934 1935 1938 1939 1941 1944 1946 1956 1958 1959 1961 1962 1963 1986 1989 1990 1997 2000 2005 2008 2011
Conference championships (11)	1956 1958 1959 1961 1962 1963 1986 1990 2000 2007 2011
League championships (8)	1927 1934 1938 1956 1986 (XXI) 1990 (XXV) 2007 (XLII) 2011 (XLVI)
Retired numbers	1 4 7 10 11 14 14 16 32 40 42 50 56 92
Media	Broadcasters Radio network Bob Papa Carl Banks Howard Cross
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: East Division