1981 New York Giants season

1981 New York Giants season
Head coach	Ray Perkins
General manager	George Young
Owner	Timothy J. Mara Wellington Mara
Home field	Giants Stadium
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	3rd NFC East
Playoff finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs (Eagles) 27–21 Lost Divisional Playoffs (49ers) 38–24
← 1980 Giants seasons 1982 →

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, wind 16 mph

Scoring summary 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

Scoring summary
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

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, wind 10 mph

Scoring summary 1 SF Johnny Davis 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 7–0 2 SF Joe Montana 20 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) 49ers 14–0 2 NYG Joe Danelo 52 yard field goal 49ers 14–3 4 NYG Rob Carpenter 3 yard run (Joe Danelo kick) 49ers 14–10 4 SF Ray Wersching 23 yard field goal 49ers 17–10

Scoring summary
1		SF	Johnny Davis 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick)	49ers 7–0
2		SF	Joe Montana 20 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick)	49ers 14–0
2		NYG	Joe Danelo 52 yard field goal	49ers 14–3
4		NYG	Rob Carpenter 3 yard run (Joe Danelo kick)	49ers 14–10
4		SF	Ray Wersching 23 yard field goal	49ers 17–10

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, Wind 28 mph

Scoring summary 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

Scoring summary
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

1 2 3 4 Total • Giants 7 3 7 3 20 Cardinals 3 0 0 7 10 Date: December 13 Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game start: 12:00 p.m. Game weather: 32°F, wind 6 mph

Scoring summary 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

Scoring summary
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

1 2 3 4 OT Total Cowboys 0 0 0 10 0 10 • Giants 0 0 7 3 3 13 Date: December 19 Location: Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Game start: 12:30 p.m. EST Game weather: 26°F, Wind 20 TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and John Madden Source:

Scoring summary 3 NYG Tom Mullady 20 yard pass from Scott Brunner (Joe Danelo kick) Giants 7–0 4 DAL Doug Cosbie 3 yard pass from Danny White (Rafael Septién kick) Tie 7–7 4 DAL Rafael Septién 36 yard field goal Cowboys 10–7 4 NYG Joe Danelo 40 yard field goal Tie 10–10 OT NYG Joe Danelo 35 yard field goal Giants 13–10

The 1981 New York Giants season was the 57th season for the club 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 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.

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.

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