1958 New York Giants season

NFL team season

The 1958 New York Giants season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League. Jim Lee Howell was in his fifth year as head coach of the Giants. The Giants had two future Hall of Fame head coaches as assistant coaches: offensive coordinator Vince Lombardi and defensive coordinator Tom Landry. Lombardi left after the season to lead the Green Bay Packers, while Landry stayed for the 1959 season, then departed for the expansion Dallas Cowboys.

Transactions

  • The Giants obtained Lindon Crow and Pat Summerall from the Chicago Cardinals in exchange for Dick Nolan, Bobby Joe Conrad, and the Giants' first round pick.[1]
  • The Giants acquired Carl Karilivacz from the Detroit Lions
  • Al Barry was an Offensive Guard obtained from the Green Bay Packers
  • Walt Yowarsky was sent to the San Francisco 49ers

Offseason

In the offseason, Vince Lombardi was offered the Eagles head coaching position but he refused it. He opted to stay as the offensive coordinator of the Giants.[2]

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 28 at Chicago Cardinals W 37–7 1–0 Civic Stadium 21,923
2 October 5 at Philadelphia Eagles L 24–27 1–1 Franklin Field 23,178
3 October 12 at Washington Redskins W 21–14 2–1 Griffith Stadium 30,348
4 October 19 Chicago Cardinals L 6–23 2–2 Yankee Stadium 52,684
5 October 26 Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–6 3–2 Yankee Stadium 25,007
6 November 2 at Cleveland Browns W 21–17 4–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 78,404
7 November 9 Baltimore Colts W 24–21 5–2 Yankee Stadium 71,164
8 November 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–31 5–3 Pitt Stadium 30,030
9 November 23 Washington Redskins W 30–0 6–3 Yankee Stadium 46,752
10 November 30 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–10 7–3 Yankee Stadium 35,438
11 December 7 at Detroit Lions W 19–17 8–3 Briggs Stadium 50,115
12 December 14 Cleveland Browns W 13–10 9–3 Yankee Stadium 63,192
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Chicago Cardinals

Week One: New York Giants at Chicago Cardinals
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 14 13 7337
Cardinals 0 7 007

at War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo), Buffalo, New York[3]

  • Date: September 28
  • Game attendance: 21,923
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 1-yard run (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Summerall 28-yard FG

Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week Two: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 10 7024
Eagles 10 7 3727

at Franklin Field, Philadelphia

  • Date: October 5
  • Game attendance: 23,178
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 29-yard FG
  • PHI Tommy McDonald 91-yard pass from Van Brocklin (Walston kick)
  • NYG Phil King 2-yard run (Summerall kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Kyle Rote 15-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • PHI Walston 18-yard FG
Fourth quarter

Week 3: at Washington Redskins

Week Three: New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 14 0 0721
Redskins 0 14 0014

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.

  • Date: October 12
  • Game attendance: 30,348
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Ken MacAfee 10-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)

Week 4: vs. Chicago Cardinals

Week Four: Chicago Cardinals at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 6 01723
Giants 0 0 606

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: October 19
  • Game attendance: 52,684
Game information
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
  • CHC Nagler 11-yard pass from McHan (Conrad kick)
  • CHC Ollie Matson 3-yard run (Conrad kick)
  • CHC Conrad 38-yard FG

Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Five: Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 306
Giants 7 3 0717

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: October 26
  • Game attendance: 25,007
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • PIT Tom Miner 27-yard FG
  • NYG Summerall 34-yard FG
Third quarter
  • PIT Miner 39-yard FG
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Heinrich 1-yard run (Summerall kick)

Week 6: at Cleveland Browns

Week Six: New York Giants at Cleveland Browns
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 7 7721
Browns 3 14 0017

at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: November 2
  • Game attendance: 78,404
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Bob Schnelker 39-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • CLE Jim Brown 58-yard run (Groza kick)
  • CLE Ken Konz 46-yard interception return (Groza kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 15-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Webster 10-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)

Week 7: vs. Baltimore Colts

Week Seven: Baltimore Colts at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 7 0721
Giants 7 0 14324

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: November 9
  • Game attendance: 71,164
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • NYG Rote 25-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • NYG Gifford 13-yard run (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • BAL Moore 4-yard pass from Shaw (Myhra kick)
  • NYG Summerall 28-yard FG

Week 8: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Eight: New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 3 0010
Steelers 0 7 141031

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 16
  • Game attendance: 30,030
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Gifford 1-yard run (Summerall kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 42-yard FG
  • PIT Bobby Layne 1-yard run (Miner kick)
Third quarter
  • PIT Tom Tracy 9-yard pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • PIT Gary Glick 37-yard fumble return (Miner kick)
Fourth quarter
  • PIT Miner 43-yard FG
  • PIT Layne 1-yard run (Miner kick)

Week 9: vs. Washington Redskins

Week Nine: Washington Redskins at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 0 000
Giants 6 10 7730

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: November 23
  • Game attendance: 46,752
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Summerall 41-yard FG
  • NYG Summerall 37-yard FG
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 20-yard FG
  • NYG MacAfee 10-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Gifford 13-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Schnelker 4-yard pass from Heinrich (Summerall kick)

Week 10: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week Ten: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Eagles 7 3 0010
Giants 3 14 0724

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: November 30
  • Game attendance: 35,438
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Summerall 37-yard FG
  • PHI Walston 14-yard pass from Van Brocklin (Walston kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Gifford 6-yard run (Summerall kick)
  • NYG Schnelker 15-yard pass from Heinrich (Summerall kick)
  • PHI Walston 33-yard FG
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Rote 5-yard pass from Heinrich (Summerall kick)

Week 11: at Detroit Lions

Week Eleven: New York Giants at Detroit Lions
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 5 7 0719
Lions 0 3 14017

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit

  • Date: December 7
  • Game attendance: 50,115
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Webster 6-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • DET Jim Martin 39-yard FG
Third quarter
  • DET Ken Webb 2-yard pass from Tobin Rote (Martin kick)
  • DET Wayne Walker 34-yard fumble return
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Gifford 1-yard run (Summerall kick)

Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week Twelve: Cleveland Browns at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 7 3 0010
Giants 0 3 01013

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: December 14
  • Game attendance: 63,192
Game information
First quarter
  • CLE Brown 65-yard run (Groza kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 46-yard FG
  • CLE Groza 22-yard FG
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Schnelker 8-yard pass from Gifford (Summerall kick)
  • NYG Summerall 49-yard FG

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap
Eastern Conf. Playoff December 21 Cleveland Browns W 10–0 Yankee Stadium 61,174 Recap
NFL Championship December 28 Baltimore Colts L 17–23OT Yankee Stadium 64,185 Recap

Eastern Conference Playoff

Eastern Conference Playoff: Cleveland Browns at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 0 000
Giants 7 3 0010

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: December 21
  • Game attendance: 61,174
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Conerly 10-yard run (Summerall kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 26-yard FG
Top passers
  • CLE – Milt Plum – 7/12, 83 YDS, 0 TD, 2 INT
  • NYG – Charlie Conerly – 7/11, 75 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT
Top rushers
  • CLE – Milt Plum – 3 CAR, 13 YDS; Jim Brown – 7 CAR, 8 YDS
  • NYG – Frank Gifford – 23 CAR, 95 YDS
Top receivers
  • CLE – Pete Brewster – 3 REC, 56 YDS
  • NYG – Bob Schnelker – 2 REC, 46 YDS

NFL Championship Game

The 1958 National Football League Championship Game was played on December 28, 1958, at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The 1958 game was the 26th annual NFL championship game. The Colts beat the Giants 23–17 in overtime, earning their first ever championship. The game has come to be known as The Greatest Game Ever Played.[4][5]

1958 NFL Championship Game: Baltimore Colts at New York Giants
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Colts 0 14 03623
Giants 3 0 77017

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: December 28
  • Game attendance: 64,185
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Summerall 36-yard FG
Second quarter
  • BAL Ameche 2-yard run (Myhra kick)
  • BAL Berry 15-yard pass from Unitas (Myhra kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Triplett 1-yard run (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Gifford 15-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • BAL Myhra 20-yard FG
Overtime
  • BAL Ameche 1-yard run
Top passers
  • BAL – Johnny Unitas – 26/40, 349 YDS, TD, INT
  • NYG – Charlie Conerly – 10/14, 187 YDS, TD, 0 INT
Top rushers
  • BAL – Alan Ameche – 14 CAR, 65 YDS, 2 TD
  • NYG – Frank Gifford – 12 CAR, 60 YDS
Top receivers
  • BAL – Raymond Berry – 12 REC, 178 YDS, TD
  • NYG – Kyle Rote – 2 REC, 76 YDS

Standings

NFL Eastern Conference
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 W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
New York Giants 9 3 0 .750 7–3 246 183 W4
Cleveland Browns 9 3 0 .750 8–2 302 217 L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 7 4 1 .636 6–3–1 261 230 W1
Washington Redskins 4 7 1 .364 3–6–1 214 268 W1
Chicago Cardinals 2 9 1 .182 2–7–1 261 356 L6
Philadelphia Eagles 2 9 1 .182 2–7–1 235 306 L4

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p.135, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
  2. ^ Giants Among Men, Jack Cavanaugh, p.138, 2008, Random House, ISBN 978-1-4000-6717-6
  3. ^ New York Giants at Chicago Cardinals – September 28th, 1958
  4. ^ "Colts win 23-17 in overtime". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 29, 1958. p. 4, part 2.
  5. ^ Maule, Tex (January 5, 1959). "The best football game ever played". Sports Illustrated. p. 8.

External links

  • New York Giants on Pro Football Reference
  • Giants on jt-sw.com
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