A rivalry that spans over 90 years
10. In the late 30’s a rivalry is born.
The Giants and Redskins have been duking it out since 1932 but the late 30’s is when the rivalry really started to boil. In 1937, 1938, and 1939 the Giants and Redskins played each other on the final game of the season with the NFL Division Title on the line. In ’37 in week 14 the Giants came in with a 6-2-2 record and the Redskins sported a record of 7-3. Washington shellacked New York 49-14 at the Polo Grounds to earn a trip to the NFL Title game then downed the Packers 28-21 to earn their first NFL Championship. The following year the Giants were 6-2-1 and the Redskins 6-2-2 at the regular season finale. And the New Yorkers exalted their revenge with a 36-0 shutout at the Polo Grounds. (that score is important to the Mara family which I’ll speak about in part 2) After Giants Quarterback Ed Danowski who was a Riverhead, NY native; and Halfbacks Ward Cuff and Tuffy Leemans defeated Washington QB Sammy Baugh (Slingin’ Sammy) the G-Men beat Green Bay 23-17 a week later to win the franchises third NFL title. And in 1939 the Giants at 9-1-1 and the Redskins at 8-1-1 linked up for the third consecutive year at the Polo Grounds with the division title on the line. With the Giants leading by two points with 45 seconds to go, Washington kicker Bo Russell attempted a field goal for 15 yards and the kick appeared to make it over the crossbar, but referee Bill Halloran deemed the kick no good, and the score was upheld as the Giants were victorious 9-7. It is still controversial to this day and the Redskins, and their coaching staff were fuming and went ballistic due to they felt they got a raw deal and some violent altercations even partook towards Bill Halloran. But the Giants won 9-7 then got shutout by the Packers in the 1939 NFL Title game.
9. 53-0
November 5th, 1961, at Yankee Stadium the Giants walloped the Redskins 53-0 in the most lopsided contest between the two rivals. The game started off with a Giants safety for a 2-0 lead. Redskins QB Norm Snead was held to just 83 passing yards and Sam Horner was their leading rusher on the day with just 26. Snead threw five interceptions two into the arms of Jimmy Patton and a pick a piece by Erich Barnes and the great Sam Huff. One of those picks Patton returned 51 yards to the end zone. Y.A. Tittle threw for 192 yards and three touchdown tosses. Tittle threw a 35-yard pass to Del Shofner to the end zone for six points, and in the second half Shofner caught receptions for 13 and 32 yards both for touchdowns. The 32-yarder was thrown by Giants backup QB Lee Grosscup. Del Shofner had six catches on the day for 122 yards. NYG Halfback Bob Gaiters scored two TDs on a 1-yard touchdown run and caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Tittle. Joel Wells scored on a 2-yard touchdown rush late in the game. Pat Summerall was 7/7 on extra points.
8. Highest scoring NFL game ever
1966 was an egregious season for the Giants going 1-12-1 but ironically their lone win came against the Redskins in October. In their second matchup of the year in November it was the highest scoring NFL game ever. Deemed as “the day the sky rained footballs” 113 points were scored as Washington beat New York 72-41 in DC in a full out offensive barrage. In the second period the Redskins led 20-0 then 34-14 at the half. A.D. Whitfield caught a pass and rushed on a play that concluded with six points. A 5-yard TD reception thrown by Sonny Jurgensen and a 63-yard rushing touchdown. Defensive back Brig Owens made a fumble recovery that he returned 62 yards for a score, and it was 20-0. In the second half both offenses erupted. For the Giants Joe Morrison caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Gary Wood then on the other side Charley Taylor reeled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Jurgensen. Later in the quarter Homer Jones made a 50-yard catch and run culminating in the end zone and Charley Taylor had another one of his own, this one for 74 yards. It was 48-28 after 45 minutes of play. In the final quarter for Washington Rickie Harris returned a punt 52 yards for six points and Brigg Owens intercepted a Giants pass 60 yards for a pick six, and Bobby Mitchell took the ball 45 yards for a touchdown run. For the Giants field generals Gary Wood threw two touchdowns and two interceptions and Tom Kennedy threw a touchdown toss with three interceptions and was sacked four times. Redskins signal caller Sonny Jurgensen was 10/16 for 145 yards, three touchdowns, and a 131.5 QB rating while Charley Taylor made six catches for 124 yards. It was a mediocre year for Washington as they went 7-7.
7. Redskins improve to 8-0 and beat the champs
The Giants had a Super Bowl hangover in 1991. Ray Handley was their new coach and legendary coach Joe Gibbs led Washington to their third Super Bowl. In October, the Giants led 13-0 at halftime but in the second half two touchdown passes from Mark Rypien to Gary Clark (a 7-yard pass in the third and 54-yard pass in the fourth) gave the Redskins the lead and they won 17-13. Washington improved to 8-0 and New York fell to 4-4 and the Redskins concluded the season with a Super Bowl victory over the Bills.
6. Mark Moseley sends Redskins to the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl and MVP season.
In December of the strike shortened 1982 season the subpar Giants led 14-3 at halftime but the mighty Redskins came back to win and with nine seconds remaining Mark Moseley kicked a 42-yard field goal to win 15-14 and clinch a playoff berth. The Redskins never lost a game the rest of the season and concluded with beating the Dolphins in the Super Bowl and placekicker Mark Moseley won the 1982 NFL MVP. The playoff clinching kick set a record at the time for most consecutive field goals made by Moseley with 21 straight kicks through the uprights.
Part 2 will come out tomorrow …
Jordan Stankovich
My name is Jordan Stankovich. I am a journalist on Long Island. I have been in the journalism field for 5 years. I am a sports reporter for the Suffolk County News, the Long Island Advance, the Islip Bulletin, and the Tide of Moriches and Manorville. Beat writer for the Suffolk County Stingrays minor league basketball team in the ABA. On substack I cover current topics about the pro New York teams and sports history. I have an avid passion for sports history and statistics.
0 Comments