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.
Undrafted free agents
+ 1981 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeJim BurtDefensive tackleMiami (FL)Bob IrelandDefensive backHoly Cross
Personnel Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 at Chicago Bears W 23–7 1–0 Soldier Field 59,411 2 Baltimore Colts W 20–17 2–0 Giants Stadium 40,716 3 New York Jets L 24–37 2–1 Giants Stadium 74,692 4 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 6–31 2–2 Three Rivers Stadium 51,311
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 Dallas Cowboys W 13–10 9–7 Giants Stadium 73,009 Recap 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
Heading into their last regular season game, the Giants needed a win over the Dallas Cowboys to remain in postseason contention.Whittingham, p. 195. 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.Baker and Corbett, p. 197. 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.Baker and Corbett, pp. 197–198.
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.Baker and Corbett, p. 199. 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 Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Venue Attendance Recap Wildcard December 27 at Philadelphia Eagles (4) W 27–21 Veterans Stadium 71,611 Recap Divisional January 3, 1982 at San Francisco 49ers (1) L 24–38 Candlestick Park 58,360 Recap
Standings
References
External links 1981 New York Giants at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1981 New York Giants at jt-sw.com