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1958 New York Giants season

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1958 New York Giants season
OwnerTim Mara
Head coachJim Lee Howell
Home fieldYankee Stadium
Results
Record9–3
Division place1st NFL Eastern
Playoff finishWon Eastern Conference Playoff
(vs. Browns) 10–0
Lost NFL Championship
(vs. Colts) 17–23 (OT)

The 1958 New York Giants season was the franchise's 34th season in the National Football League. Jim Lee Howell was in his fifth year as head coach of the Giants. The Giants had two future Hall of Fame head coaches as assistant coaches: offensive coordinator Vince Lombardi and defensive coordinator Tom Landry. Lombardi left after the season to lead the Green Bay Packers, while Landry stayed for the 1959 season, then departed for the expansion Dallas Cowboys.

Transactions

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Offseason

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In the offseason, offensive coordinator Vince Lombardi was offered the position as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles but he declined, choosing the stay with the Giants instead.[2]

Regular season

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Schedule

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Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources
1 September 28 at Chicago Cardinals W 37–7 1–0 Civic Stadium 21,923 Recap
2 October 5 at Philadelphia Eagles L 24–27 1–1 Franklin Field 23,178 Recap
3 October 12 at Washington Redskins W 21–14 2–1 Griffith Stadium 30,348 Recap
4 October 19 Chicago Cardinals L 6–23 2–2 Yankee Stadium 52,684 Recap
5 October 26 Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–6 3–2 Yankee Stadium 25,007 Recap
6 November 2 at Cleveland Browns W 21–17 4–2 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 78,404 Recap
7 November 9 Baltimore Colts W 24–21 5–2 Yankee Stadium 71,164 Recap
8 November 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–31 5–3 Pitt Stadium 30,030 Recap
9 November 23 Washington Redskins W 30–0 6–3 Yankee Stadium 46,752 Recap
10 November 30 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–10 7–3 Yankee Stadium 35,438 Recap
11 December 7 at Detroit Lions W 19–17 8–3 Briggs Stadium 50,115 Recap
12 December 14 Cleveland Browns W 13–10 9–3 Yankee Stadium 63,192 Recap
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Chicago Cardinals

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Week One: New York Giants at Chicago Cardinals
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 14 13 7337
Cardinals 0 7 007

at War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo), Buffalo, New York[3]

  • Date: September 28
  • Game attendance: 21,923
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 1-yard run (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Summerall 28-yard FG

Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles

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Week Two: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 10 7024
Eagles 10 7 3727

at Franklin Field, Philadelphia

  • Date: October 5
  • Game attendance: 23,178
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 29-yard FG
  • PHI Tommy McDonald 91-yard pass from Van Brocklin (Walston kick)
  • NYG Phil King 2-yard run (Summerall kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Kyle Rote 15-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • PHI Walston 18-yard FG
Fourth quarter

Week 3: at Washington Redskins

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Week Three: New York Giants at Washington Redskins
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 14 0 0721
Redskins 0 14 0014

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.

  • Date: October 12
  • Game attendance: 30,348
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Ken MacAfee 10-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)

Week 4: vs. Chicago Cardinals

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Week Four: Chicago Cardinals at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 6 01723
Giants 0 0 606

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: October 19
  • Game attendance: 52,684
Game information
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
  • CHC Nagler 11-yard pass from McHan (Conrad kick)
  • CHC Ollie Matson 3-yard run (Conrad kick)
  • CHC Conrad 38-yard FG

Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week Five: Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 306
Giants 7 3 0717

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: October 26
  • Game attendance: 25,007
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • PIT Tom Miner 27-yard FG
  • NYG Summerall 34-yard FG
Third quarter
  • PIT Miner 39-yard FG
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Heinrich 1-yard run (Summerall kick)

Week 6: at Cleveland Browns

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Week Six: New York Giants at Cleveland Browns
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 7 7721
Browns 3 14 0017

at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: November 2
  • Game attendance: 78,404
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Bob Schnelker 39-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • CLE Jim Brown 58-yard run (Groza kick)
  • CLE Ken Konz 46-yard interception return (Groza kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Webster 15-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Webster 10-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)

Week 7: vs. Baltimore Colts

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Week Seven: Baltimore Colts at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 7 7 0721
Giants 7 0 14324

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: November 9
  • Game attendance: 71,164
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
  • NYG Rote 25-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • NYG Gifford 13-yard run (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • BAL Moore 4-yard pass from Shaw (Myhra kick)
  • NYG Summerall 28-yard FG

Week 8: at Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week Eight: New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 7 3 0010
Steelers 0 7 141031

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 16
  • Game attendance: 30,030
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Gifford 1-yard run (Summerall kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 42-yard FG
  • PIT Bobby Layne 1-yard run (Miner kick)
Third quarter
  • PIT Tom Tracy 9-yard pass from Layne (Miner kick)
  • PIT Gary Glick 37-yard fumble return (Miner kick)
Fourth quarter
  • PIT Miner 43-yard FG
  • PIT Layne 1-yard run (Miner kick)

Week 9: vs. Washington Redskins

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Week Nine: Washington Redskins at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 0 000
Giants 6 10 7730

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: November 23
  • Game attendance: 46,752
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Summerall 41-yard FG
  • NYG Summerall 37-yard FG
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 20-yard FG
  • NYG MacAfee 10-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
Third quarter
  • NYG Gifford 13-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Schnelker 4-yard pass from Heinrich (Summerall kick)

Week 10: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

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Week Ten: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles 7 3 0010
Giants 3 14 0724

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: November 30
  • Game attendance: 35,438
Game information
First quarter
  • NYG Summerall 37-yard FG
  • PHI Walston 14-yard pass from Van Brocklin (Walston kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Gifford 6-yard run (Summerall kick)
  • NYG Schnelker 15-yard pass from Heinrich (Summerall kick)
  • PHI Walston 33-yard FG
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Rote 5-yard pass from Heinrich (Summerall kick)

Week 11: at Detroit Lions

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Week Eleven: New York Giants at Detroit Lions
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 5 7 0719
Lions 0 3 14017

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit

  • Date: December 7
  • Game attendance: 50,115
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
  • NYG Webster 6-yard pass from Conerly (Summerall kick)
  • DET Jim Martin 39-yard FG
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Gifford 1-yard run (Summerall kick)

Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns

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Week Twelve: Cleveland Browns at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 7 3 0010
Giants 0 3 01013

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: December 14
  • Game attendance: 63,192
Game information
First quarter
  • CLE Brown 65-yard run (Groza kick)
Second quarter
  • NYG Summerall 46-yard FG
  • CLE Groza 22-yard FG
Fourth quarter
  • NYG Schnelker 8-yard pass from Gifford (Summerall kick)
  • NYG Summerall 49-yard FG

Playoffs

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Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap Sources
Eastern Conf. Playoff December 21 Cleveland Browns W 10–0 Yankee Stadium 61,174 Recap
NFL Championship December 28 Baltimore Colts L 17–23OT Yankee Stadium 64,185 Recap

Eastern Conference Playoff

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Eastern Conference Playoff: Cleveland Browns at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 0 000
Giants 7 3 0010

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: December 21
  • Game attendance: 61,174
Game information

NFL Championship Game

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The 1958 National Football League Championship Game was played on December 28, 1958, at Yankee Stadium in New York City. The 1958 game was the 26th annual NFL championship game. The Colts beat the Giants 23–17 in overtime, earning their first ever championship. The game has come to be known as The Greatest Game Ever Played.[4][5]

1958 NFL Championship Game: Baltimore Colts at New York Giants
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Colts 0 14 03623
Giants 3 0 77017

at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

  • Date: December 28
  • Game attendance: 64,185
Game information

Standings

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NFL Eastern Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
New York Giants 9 3 0 .750 7–3 246 183 W4
Cleveland Browns 9 3 0 .750 8–2 302 217 L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 7 4 1 .636 6–3–1 261 230 W1
Washington Redskins 4 7 1 .364 3–6–1 214 268 W1
Chicago Cardinals 2 9 1 .182 2–7–1 261 356 L6
Philadelphia Eagles 2 9 1 .182 2–7–1 235 306 L4
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Baltimore Colts 9 3 0 .750 8–2 381 203 L2
Los Angeles Rams 8 4 0 .667 7–3 344 278 W3
Chicago Bears 8 4 0 .667 7–3 298 230 W2
San Francisco 49ers 6 6 0 .500 4–6 257 324 W2
Detroit Lions 4 7 1 .364 3–6–1 261 276 L2
Green Bay Packers 1 10 1 .091 0–9–1 193 382 L7
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jack Cavanaugh, Giants Among Men: The Smartest Football Team There Ever Was. New York: Random House, 2008; p. 135.
  2. ^ Cavanaugh, Giants Among Men, p. 138.
  3. ^ New York Giants at Chicago Cardinals – September 28th, 1958
  4. ^ "Colts win 23-17 in overtime". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 29, 1958. p. 4, part 2.
  5. ^ Maule, Tex (January 5, 1959). "The best football game ever played". Sports Illustrated. p. 8.
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