Welp, we couldn't beat these guys last Sunday Opening Day, but we sure did back in 1969. I was at this game which the Giants won 24-23 in an upset victory against a Vikings team that went on finish the season 12-2 (the Giants went 6-8 that year.) Led by Fran Tarkenton, the Giants came back from a 23-10 deficit.
This video is spliced together with different segments:
0 to 15:12 -- NFL game highlights with narration.
15:13 to 23:09 -- Actual game with play-by-play announcing.
23:10 to 23:45 -- Back to NFL game highlights
23:46 to 36:48 -- Back to actual game
36:49 to 41:59 -- Back to NFL game highlights
42:00 to 45:33 -- Back to actual game
45:34 to End -- Studio with a smiling Frank Gifford
I won't pretend the Giants were all that much in the Fran Tarkenton years, but they were at least "average" and certainly provided their fans with watchable football games. Today, 55 years later, the Giants are simply unwatchable.
Link - (
New Window )
As you said not a great team but competitive and fun to watch . They had a QB that made plays every game. This team does not .
Appreciate the enhanced TV coverage segments that bring back what it was like to be there.
BTW, to this day, it still amazes me that the goal posts were in the field of play. So bizarre!
BTW, to this day, it still amazes me that the goal posts were in the field of play. So bizarre!
‘69 might have been the last season they were.
The thing I notice first about these old games is the that the physicality was much more violent in some ways. The guys were much lighter and wore way less equipment too.
These videos have reminded me of how much I liked Tarkington's play for the Giants. They also back up his claim that he invented the west coast offense out of necessity before Bill Walsh used it in Cincinnati because his OL was so bad. It's amazing that when it comes to the Giants how much past is prologue applies.
If anyone is interested Phil and Matt Simms interviewed Fran Tarkington on their podcast. He almost 90 but still very sharp.
Simms Complete, Phil and Matt hosts, guest Fran Tarkenton - ( New Window )
1974
The team actually carried Alex Webster off the field - for an opening day win!