BBI Back to the Vault- 1981 Giants vs. Cowboys

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I remember it as fondly as any of the four Super Bowl wins since.

...certainly one of the greatest, most dramatic Giant victories of all-time.

Only us old farts remember this - but through the 60's and 70's, the Giants weren't just bad - they were EPICALLY HORRIBLE. A laughingstock. The 'Fumble' was the highlight of an offense seemingly designed to be the worst of all-time, an offense who's most celebrated player was it's punter, a team that missed the playoffs for 17 straight seasons, Giant fans expected little and got even less.

And the Giants were Dallas' BITCH. We didn't just lose games to the Cowboys, we were their plaything. Giants stadium would be packed with no-nothing, fair-weather Cowboy fans - so that freezing Sunday, there was really no hope of actually winning - of having an actual shot at the playoffs?

An amazing game - many tears of joy as the house erupted like never before as Danelo's horrible day as a goat ended raised on Giant shoulders.

I'll never forget it and thank you for bringing back the amazing details of that game.

copy of that 1980 Cowboys vs Giants game (38-35 game), I would love to have that myself. The 81 game had more importance obviously but that 80 game I remember watching at my grandmothers house and I would really love to have a copy of that.

this one. I was 17, it was only the 2nd winning season in my lifetime. THe aniticpation of finally getting in the playoffs after 18 yrs and the Danelo missed FGs made it excrutiating for him. But what unbridled joy when they finally won it.

17 other previous years, especially with Danelo missing key relatively easy FGAs, but we also had to wait for the Jets to be GB the next day to ensure a playoff berth for us

GB

they didn't have replay then, that Mullady catch was not good.

I would still be a young man were it not for Danelo.

Was pretty comical looking back now. Missinrg three FGs and barely making the extra point is not exactly lifting up on shoulders criteria.

the first full game I taped on our new VHS recorder.......and I still have it

I remember a guy in my section 105 was completely bombed when Danelo hit the game winner he fell over the rail on the field. I Just rewatched this game too a few months ago as I was able to get it with pre and post game and commercials ,Very cool to see .I love that 1981 season

In comment 13482486 BIG FRED 1973 said:

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I remember a guy in my section 105 was completely bombed when Danelo hit the game winner he fell over the rail on the field. I Just rewatched this game too a few months ago as I was able to get it with pre and post game and commercials ,Very cool to see .I love that 1981 season

105! Knew many season holders in that section! Row 25 ruled!

Danelo...by a nose! After 30 years of waiting, that weekend was awesome. Watched the game from Sec. 331, Row 23, Seat 1 (I miss all my friends there.) Notice a couple of things. The Giants are wearing white, instead of their regular home blue. The Cowboys had a bad record wearing their blue jerseys at the time, and it was thought that it would give us a mental edge. Very shortly, it became a non-issue. Soon we would be good enough to beat them without that kind of "edge." Also, note how so few people in the stands are wearing Giant's jerseys or Giants garb of any kind. A few hats, and a few blue coats. That's because at the time there wasn't any Giants merch manufactured. I had a Giants hat and a blue scarf at this game, and a big tan coat. Shortly, you started to see a plethora of 11 and 56 jerseys, but not much else. I didn't get my really cool Starter Giants jacket until 1985 (still have it!)

In comment 13482990 GA5 said:

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Danelo...by a nose! After 30 years of waiting, that weekend was awesome. Watched the game from Sec. 331, Row 23, Seat 1 (I miss all my friends there.) Notice a couple of things. The Giants are wearing white, instead of their regular home blue. The Cowboys had a bad record wearing their blue jerseys at the time, and it was thought that it would give us a mental edge. Very shortly, it became a non-issue. Soon we would be good enough to beat them without that kind of "edge." Also, note how so few people in the stands are wearing Giant's jerseys or Giants garb of any kind. A few hats, and a few blue coats. That's because at the time there wasn't any Giants merch manufactured. I had a Giants hat and a blue scarf at this game, and a big tan coat. Shortly, you started to see a plethora of 11 and 56 jerseys, but not much else. I didn't get my really cool Starter Giants jacket until 1985 (still have it!)

We started the wearing white @ home gimmick in the 1980 season we wore the whites for every home game that year for some reason than in 1981 till 1987 it was just for Dallas when we played them at home.Btw I said the same thing about team merch to myself too ,I know I wore a giants hat and coat to the game because I got some pictures at autograph alley afterwards but I think the only way to get most team gear back then in the 70's and early 80's was through Sears as I remember they always had an NFL gear section in their Christmas wish book but starter changed the game in 1984 when they got the NFL contract

I remember my first one in the late 70's my first one was a Van Pelt #10. Wasn't til like the mid 80's when they started selling blue ones. The only ones available were cheap non mesh jerseys as well.

Specifically, the final field goal.

In comment 13483139 Stu11 said:

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I remember my first one in the late 70's my first one was a Van Pelt #10. Wasn't til like the mid 80's when they started selling blue ones. The only ones available were cheap non mesh jerseys as well.

My current jersey is a white Van Pelt. :D

how Danelo is the "hero" for hitting a 35 yarder in OT when he's the reason the game even went into OT.

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...Cowboys!!!