Question for old timers...

had something Buffalo didn't: a title.

They couldn’t move the ball. They were all D. We were up 7-0 and Tittle through a perfect pass to a wide open Shofner in the endzone. That should have made it 14-0 and that would have been all she wrote.

I was 8 years old.

Broke my heart. The next year we finished 2-12 or thereabouts.

It was a long time until 1986.

No, they were not thought of like Bears

Tittle blew out his knee. Would be carted off field today season over. He literally was playing on one leg, could not move or throw with any velocity or accuracy.

It was a steep decline Until Tarkenton. And many of us were never thrilled with Tark.

Alas, I don't have memory of the pre-Tark Giants, but my love affair began with him. I've read the history and wonder what could've have been in those early seventies if Mara had listened to Tark.

As for being labeled "losers," I'm not sure, but I'll take that sort of losing toot sweet today!

It was a steep decline Until Tarkenton. And many of us were never thrilled with Tark.

The game was decided in overtime, the first sudden death game in NFL history, with the Colts winning.

But many of us have felt ever since that the officials stole the game from the GIANTS with some very disputed calls.

Just when I was starting to feel old

I opened this thread and realized I'm no where's near old enough yet.

Phewww

by the ref and Unitas working heavily on
DB Carl Karilivacz spinning him around like a top the whole game.
I think the correct spot to where Gifford actually got to would have been the game.

I had just turned 7 and watched the game with my older brother on our ancient B&W TV ... the reception was terrible and so was the Giants offense ... It was probably my first introduction to run, run, pass and punt. I know I cried at the end of the game and the names of Ronnie Bull and Sonny Wade are etched in memory forever.

there was a guy named Johnny Unitas.

and so was Doc. That Bears offense was terrible. No way it could have overcome a 14 point lead. The missed pass to Shofner and Tittle's knee turned it into the kind of game that Bears team won all season.

For my fellow OT's, there is a Youtube channel playing NFL Game of the Week from the 60's. Currently in the 1966 season.

My father, my uncle and I drove about 2 hours from Long Island to Princeton, NJ, just at the edge of the blackout zone, and found a motel with one room available, heat not working there, so we could watch the game. Real cold day, and we used every blanket we could find.

Memorable.

Worst than 58, because we already won with Conerly, Tittle never got a ring, that was his record setting MVP season. We were also the number one ranked offense in both yards and points that year.

I consider 1963 and 2008 to be the most important missing rings. 1963 for which I already said, 2008 because it was a dominant team in between two upset teams. I know a lot of people like to talk about 1989 or 2000. To me 2008 is more important, because we already had the dominant 86 team and the upset 90 team. The 2000 team was not really championship worthy in my opinion.

Was the defense worse in 1963 than in the previous years, or was it just that we were ahead in a lot of games and had more of a passing offense?

Then YA got injured. It was a game changer for sure.
I still see Shofner dropping easy TD in end zone.
I never felt that the Giants were labeled as losers.
Those Packer teams were loaded and Johnny U was a fabulous QB for Colts.
The 1963 championship game loss was a tough pill to swallow.
BTW, Bart Starr was also a very good QB with Hornung and Taylor as his sidekicks.
After 1963, the Dark Age began for Giants fans.

In comment 14925506 Ivan15 said:

Quote:

My father, my uncle and I drove about 2 hours from Long Island to Princeton, NJ, just at the edge of the blackout zone, and found a motel with one room available, heat not working there, so we could watch the game. Real cold day, and we used every blanket we could find. Memorable.

Cool story.

Not nearly as cool or memorable, but I remember when I was living outside Philly in the early 90s, before sports bars with satellite TVs, and I drove to Allentown (maybe 3 hr rd trip) just to watch the Giants in a bar that got the signal. The things we do..

The '61, '62, and '63 title games were equally brutal. But it was still great being a Giants fan in those days. Lots of winning, which even without the rings was pretty darn good.

I cried my eyes out listening to that game on the radio. As adult I have done a lot of travel. I’ll never forget walking into wriggly field for the first time saying to myself so this is where it happened. Fuck the Bears.

In comment 14925518 Rick in Dallas said:

Quote:

Then YA got injured. It was a game changer for sure. I still see Shofner dropping easy TD in end zone. I never felt that the Giants were labeled as losers. Those Packer teams were loaded and Johnny U was a fabulous QB for Colts. The 1963 championship game loss was a tough pill to swallow. BTW, Bart Starr was also a very good QB with Hornung and Taylor as his sidekicks. After 1963, the Dark Age began for Giants fans.

I don't recall that being an easy catch for Shofner,
even though he should have caught it. It was a bit high,
around shoulder length, it was not in his 'breadbasket'.
That's my memory, I was young, so I recall bits and pieces of the three straight championship games.
I recall a game they blew against the Vikings late in the game in the playoffs, although not a championship game.
I think it might have been in the 90's?