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1981 New York Giants season

NFL team season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamNew York Giants
year1981
record9–7
division_place3rd NFC East
coachRay Perkins
general managerGeorge Young
ownerTimothy J. Mara
Wellington Mara
stadiumGiants Stadium
playoffsWon Wild Card Playoffs
(at Eagles) 27–21
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at 49ers) 24–38
pro_bowlersLB Lawrence Taylor
LB Harry Carson
shortnavlinkGiants seasons

Wellington Mara (at Eagles) 27–21 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 24–38 LB Harry Carson 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, which placed them third in the National Football Conference East Division. 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.

In the Wild Card playoff game, the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27–21 at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. New York's season ended with a 38–24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional round. The 49ers would go on to win Super Bowl XVI.

Offseason

NFL draft

The Giants drafted linebacker Lawrence Taylor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Taylor would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Personnel

Staff

  • President – Wellington Mara

  • General Manager – George Young

  • Director of Pro Personnel – Jim Trimble

  • Head Coach – Ray Perkins

  • Offensive Backfield – Bob Lord

  • Receivers – Pat Hodgson

  • Offensive Line – Bill Austin

  • Offensive Assistant – Ernie Adams

  • Defensive Coordinator – Bill Parcells

  • Defensive Line – Lamar Leachman

  • Linebackers – Bill Belichick

  • Defensive Backfield – Fred Glick

  • Special Teams – Romeo Crennel

Roster

Preseason

New York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"WeekNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"DateNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"OpponentNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"ResultNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"RecordNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"VenueNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"Attendance1234
at Chicago BearsW 23–71–0Soldier Field59,411
Baltimore ColtsW 20–172–0Giants Stadium40,716
New York JetsL 24–372–1Giants Stadium74,692
at Pittsburgh SteelersL 6–312–2Three Rivers Stadium51,311

Schedule

New York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"WeekNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"DateNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"OpponentNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"ResultNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"RecordNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"VenueNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"AttendanceNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"Recap12345678910111213141516
September 6Philadelphia EaglesL 10–240–1Giants Stadium72,459Recap
September 13at Washington RedskinsW 17–71–1RFK Stadium53,343Recap
September 20New Orleans SaintsW 20–72–1Giants Stadium69,814Recap
September 27at Dallas CowboysL 10–182–2Texas Stadium63,449Recap
October 4Green Bay PackersL 14–272–3Giants Stadium73,684Recap
October 11St. Louis CardinalsW 34–143–3Giants Stadium67,128Recap
October 18at Seattle SeahawksW 32–04–3Kingdome56,134Recap
October 25at Atlanta FalconsW 27–245–3Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium48,410Recap
November 1New York JetsL 7–265–4Giants Stadium74,740Recap
November 8at Green Bay PackersL 24–265–5Milwaukee County Stadium54,138Recap
November 15Washington RedskinsL 27–305–6Giants Stadium63,133Recap
November 22at Philadelphia EaglesW 20–106–6Veterans Stadium66,827Recap
November 29at San Francisco 49ersL 10–176–7Candlestick Park57,186Recap
December 6Los Angeles RamsW 10–77–7Giants Stadium59,659Recap
December 13at St. Louis CardinalsW 20–108–7Busch Memorial Stadium47,358Recap
Dallas CowboysW 13–109–7Giants Stadium73,009Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 12

This was the Giants' first win over the Eagles since 1975.

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16: vs. Dallas Cowboys

First quarter

  • No scoring plays.

Second quarter

  • No scoring plays.

Third quarter

  • NYG – Tom Mullady 20 yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick). Giants 7–0.

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

  • DAL – Danny White – 17/33, 200 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • NYG – Scott Brunner – 13/27, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT ;Top rushers
  • DAL – Tony Dorsett – 20 rushes, 39 yards
  • NYG – Rob Carpenter – 29 rushes, 83 yards ;Top receivers
  • DAL – Billy Joe DuPree – 3 receptions, 44 yards
  • NYG – John Mistler – 3 receptions, 37 yards

Heading into their last regular season game, the Giants needed a win over the Dallas Cowboys to remain in postseason contention. 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. Neither team scored in the first half; Giants kicker Joe Danelo missed two field goal attempts from inside 30 yards in the first quarter. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. Danelo was called on again, and his 35-yard field goal clinched a 13–10 victory for the Giants. The following day, the New York Jets defeated the Green Bay Packers, giving the Giants their first playoff berth since 1963.

Playoffs

New York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"RoundNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"DateNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"Opponent (seed)New York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"ResultNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"VenueNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"AttendanceNew York Giantsyear=1981border=2}}"RecapWildcardDivisional
December 27at Philadelphia Eagles (4)W 27–21Veterans Stadium71,611Recap
January 3, 1982at San Francisco 49ers (1)L 24–38Candlestick Park58,360Recap

Standings

References

References

  1. "New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia". [[Pro Football Reference]].
  2. "1981 New York Giants". Pro Football Reference.
  3. Whittingham, Richard. (2005). "Illustrated History of the New York Giants". Triumph Books.
  4. Massa, Mike. (January 10, 2020). "49ers' playoff history as the top seed in the NFC". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
  5. "1981 New York Giants Draftees". Pro Football Reference.
  6. "Lawrence Taylor". [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].
  7. "1981 New York Giants (NFL)". Pro Football Archives.
  8. "New York Giants 20 at Philadelphia Eagles 10". Pro Football Reference.
  9. "All Matchups, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants". Pro Football Reference.
  10. "New York Giants 10 at San Francisco 49ers 17". Pro Football Reference.
  11. "Los Angeles Rams 7 at New York Giants 10". Pro Football Reference.
  12. "New York Giants 20 at St. Louis Cardinals 10". Pro Football Reference.
  13. Whittingham, p. 195.
  14. (2010). "The Most Memorable Games in Giants History: The Oral History of a Legendary Team". Bloomsbury Publishing.
  15. "Dallas Cowboys 10 at New York Giants 13". Pro Football Reference.
  16. Gola, Hank. (December 31, 2011). "Joe Danelo recalls '81 NY Giants, Dallas Cowboys match as a day filled with emotions". [[New York Daily News]].
  17. Baker and Corbett, p. 197.
  18. Baker and Corbett, pp. 197–198.
  19. Litsky, Frank. (December 20, 1981). "Giants Win In Overtime; Playoff Spot On Line Today". [[The New York Times]].
  20. Baker and Corbett, p. 199.
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