NFL team season
The 1981 New York Giants season was the franchise's 57th season in the National Football League. The Giants qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 18 years with a 9–7 record,[1] which placed them third in the National Football Conference East Division.[2] The Giants qualified for the postseason thanks to an overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the last game of the season, coupled with a loss by the Green Bay Packers.[3] In the Wild Card playoffs, the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27–21 in Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. New York's season ended with a 38–24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round.[2] The 49ers would go on to win Super Bowl XVI.[4]
Offseason
NFL Draft
The Giants drafted linebacker Lawrence Taylor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[5] Taylor would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.[6]
Personnel
Staff
1981 New York Giants staff | Front office Head coaches Offensive coaches - Offensive Backfield – Bob Lord
- Receivers – Pat Hodgson
- Offensive Line – Bill Austin
- Offensive Assistant – Ernie Adams
| | | Defensive coaches Special teams coaches |
Roster
1981 New York Giants roster |
| Quarterbacks Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends | | Offensive linemen Defensive linemen | | Linebackers Defensive backs Special teams | | Reserve lists - 50 Jim Clack C (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 27 Larry Heater RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- -- Dennis Johnson FB/TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 44 Doug Kotar RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 8 Mark Reed QB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 65 John Sinnott T (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
- 99 Kervin Wyatt LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
Practice squad
Rookies in italics |
Preseason
[7]
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
1 | September 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 10–24 | 0–1 | Giants Stadium | 72,459 | Recap |
2 | September 13 | at Washington Redskins | W 17–7 | 1–1 | RFK Stadium | 53,343 | Recap |
3 | September 20 | New Orleans Saints | W 20–7 | 2–1 | Giants Stadium | 69,814 | Recap |
4 | September 27 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 10–18 | 2–2 | Texas Stadium | 63,449 | Recap |
5 | October 4 | Green Bay Packers | L 14–27 | 2–3 | Giants Stadium | 73,684 | Recap |
6 | October 11 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 34–14 | 3–3 | Giants Stadium | 67,128 | Recap |
7 | October 18 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 32–0 | 4–3 | Kingdome | 56,134 | Recap |
8 | October 25 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 27–24 | 5–3 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 48,410 | Recap |
9 | November 1 | New York Jets | L 7–26 | 5–4 | Giants Stadium | 74,740 | Recap |
10 | November 8 | at Green Bay Packers | L 24–26 | 5–5 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 54,138 | Recap |
11 | November 15 | Washington Redskins | L 27–30 | 5–6 | Giants Stadium | 63,133 | Recap |
12 | November 22 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 20–10 | 6–6 | Veterans Stadium | 66,827 | Recap |
13 | November 29 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 10–17 | 6–7 | Candlestick Park | 57,186 | Recap |
14 | December 6 | Los Angeles Rams | W 10–7 | 7–7 | Giants Stadium | 59,659 | Recap |
15 | December 13 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 20–10 | 8–7 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 47,358 | Recap |
16 | December 19 | Dallas Cowboys | W 13–10 | 9–7 | Giants Stadium | 73,009 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 12
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Giants | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 20 | Eagles | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | - Date: November 22
- Location: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Game start: 1:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 39 °F (3.9 °C), wind 16 miles per hour (26 km/h; 14 kn)
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | NYG | Joe Danelo 39 yard field goal | Giants 3–0 | | 1 | | PHI | Keith Krepfle 6 yard pass from Ron Jaworski (Tony Franklin kick) | Eagles 7–3 | | 2 | | NYG | Leon Bright 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick) | Giants 10–3 | | 2 | | PHI | Tony Franklin 27 yard field goal | Eagles 10–10 | | 4 | | NYG | Joe Danelo 30 yard field goal | Giants 13–10 | | 4 | | NYG | Terry Jackson 32 yard interception return (Joe Danelo kick) | Giants 20–10 | |
[8]
This was the Giants' first win over the Eagles since 1975.[9]
Week 13
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Giants | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | • 49ers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 | - Date: November 29
- Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
- Game start: 4:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 49 °F (9.4 °C), wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (CBS): Tim Ryan and Fred Dryer
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[10]
Week 14
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | Rams | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | • Giants | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | - Date: December 6
- Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 36 °F (2.2 °C), wind 28 miles per hour (45 km/h; 24 kn)
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | LAR | Wendell Tyler 2 yard rush Scott Brunner (Frank Corrall kick) | Rams 7–0 | | 3 | | NYG | Rob Carpenter 1 yard rush (Joe Danelo kick) | Tie 7–7 | | 4 | | NYG | Joe Danelo 19 yard field goal | Giants 10–7 | |
[11]
Week 15
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | • Giants | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 | Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | |
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Scoring summary |
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| 1 | | STL | Neil O'Donoghue 30 yard field goal | Cardinals 3–0 | | 1 | | NYG | George Martin 20 yard fumble return (Joe Danelo kick) | Giants 7–3 | | 2 | | NYG | Joe Danelo 27 yard field goal | Giants 10–3 | | 3 | | NYG | Rob Carpenter 1 yard run (Joe Danelo kick) | Giants 17–3 | | 4 | | NYG | Joe Danelo 33 yard field goal | Giants 20–3 | | 4 | | STL | Greg LaFleur 3 yard pass from Neil Lomax (Neil O'Donoghue kick) | Giants 20–10 | |
[12]
Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter - DAL – Doug Cosbie 3 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick). Tie 7–7.
- DAL – Rafael Septién 36 yard field goal. Cowboys 10–7.
- NYG – Joe Danelo 40 yard field goal. Tie 10–10.
Overtime - NYG – Joe Danelo 35 yard field goal. Giants 13–10.
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- DAL – Tony Dorsett – 20 rushes, 39 yards
- NYG – Rob Carpenter – 29 rushes, 83 yards
- Top receivers
| |
Heading into their last regular season game, the Giants needed a win over the Dallas Cowboys to remain in postseason contention.[13] Dallas, the NFC East champions, required a victory against New York, along with a loss by the San Francisco 49ers, to clinch home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.[14] Neither team scored in the first half;[15] Giants kicker Joe Danelo missed two field goal attempts from inside 30 yards in the first quarter.[16] The Giants opened the scoring during their second possession of the second half, as Scott Brunner completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tom Mullady. On the final play of the third quarter, Dallas wide receiver Tony Hill caught a 44-yard pass from Danny White; three plays later, White threw a touchdown pass to Doug Cosbie, which allowed the Cowboys to tie the game, 7–7.[17] On the Giants' next drive, Brunner threw an interception to Michael Downs; after taking possession in Giants territory, the Cowboys went in front on a 36-yard field goal by Rafael Septién.[18]
Dallas held a three-point lead into the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, when a Tony Dorsett fumble gave the Giants the ball at the Cowboys' 45-yard-line. Inside the final minute, Danelo attempted a game-tying field goal from 40 yards. His kick was good, and the game was forced into overtime.[19] The Giants had the first possession of overtime after winning the coin toss, but were forced to punt. On the Cowboys' second play of their first overtime drive, Dorsett was unable to field a pitch by White; Lawrence Taylor recovered the fumble and the Giants gained possession at the Dallas 40-yard-line.[20] Danelo's ensuing 33-yard field goal attempt was unsuccessful, hitting an upright. The Giants then forced another Cowboys turnover, as White was intercepted by Byron Hunt, who returned the ball to the Dallas 24-yard-line.[19] Danelo was called on again, and his 35-yard field goal clinched a 13–10 victory for the Giants.[19] The following day, the New York Jets defeated the Green Bay Packers, giving the Giants their first playoff berth since 1963.[3]
Playoffs
Standings
References
- ^ "New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
- ^ a b "1981 New York Giants". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2009.
- ^ a b Whittingham, Richard (2005). Illustrated History of the New York Giants. Chicago: Triumph Books. pp. 195–196. ISBN 978-1-57243-641-1.
- ^ Massa, Mike (January 10, 2020). "49ers' playoff history as the top seed in the NFC". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- ^ "1981 New York Giants Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ "Lawrence Taylor". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ "1981 New York Giants (NFL)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "New York Giants 20 at Philadelphia Eagles 10". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ "All Matchups, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ "New York Giants 10 at San Francisco 49ers 17". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ^ "Los Angeles Rams 7 at New York Giants 10". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
- ^ "New York Giants 20 at St. Louis Cardinals 10". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ Whittingham, p. 195.
- ^ Baker, Jim; Corbett, Bernard M. (2010). The Most Memorable Games in Giants History: The Oral History of a Legendary Team. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 195. ISBN 978-1-60819-074-4.
- ^ "Dallas Cowboys 10 at New York Giants 13". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Gola, Hank (December 31, 2011). "Joe Danelo recalls '81 NY Giants, Dallas Cowboys match as a day filled with emotions". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Baker and Corbett, p. 197.
- ^ Baker and Corbett, pp. 197–198.
- ^ a b c Litsky, Frank (December 20, 1981). "Giants Win In Overtime; Playoff Spot On Line Today". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
- ^ Baker and Corbett, p. 199.
New York Giants |
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- Founded in 1925
- Based and headquartered in East Rutherford, New Jersey
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Franchise | |
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History | |
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Stadiums | |
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Key personnel | |
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Division championships (22) | |
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Conference championships (11) | |
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League championships (8) | |
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Retired numbers | |
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Media | |
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Current league affiliations | |
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New York Giants seasons |
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Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance |