Burgundy & Gold Chronicles: Washington and Giants Rivalry

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December 16, 2022

by David Earl

Matchup Dominated by New York Giants

While this NFC East matchup has drawn many memorable games, especially throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the New York Giants have owned the Redskins, holding a 105-71-5 advantage. During the 90 year history of this rivalry, the Redskins owned 2 decades of matchups from the 1970s through the 1980s with a 24-17 head-to-head record. Both franchises have put out many great players with their respective Hall of Fame players being the Giants at 34 and the Redskins at 18. So let’s look at some of the most memorable games between these teams.

Season Finale 1937

For the right to play in the NFL Championship, which the Redskins won, the Washington Redskins and New York Giants played on December 5th when the Redskins dominated 49-14. It was a game dominated on the ground by the Redskins, who outrushed the Giants 238-18 yards, but it is what happened prior to the game that took headlines. The team owner took 1,200 fans and the 150-member marching band through New York City on an impromptu parade singing Hail to the Redskins. Whether this tactic actually worked or not, it was a creative tactic that certainly played somewhat on the Giants’ organization’s psyche.

Their First Playoff Meeting

These teams met for the first time in the postseason on December 19, 1943 after tying for first place in the division (6-3-1). In this game, the Washington Redskins shut out the New York Giants 28-0. Sammy Baugh not only threw 2 interceptions while completing 16-21 attempts for 199 yards and 1 touchdown but also had 2 defensive interceptions himself too. The Redskins would later lose to the Chicago Bears 41-21 in the NFL Championship.

Most Combined Points: 1966 Giants at Redskins

 

The two teams finished with the final score of 72–41 and 113 combined points in 1966, which remains the highest-scoring game in league history. There were 16 touchdowns scored, but the most memorable aspect was a field goal call by Otto Graham with the score already 69-41, which just added salt to the wound. This game had 7 scoring plays over 30 yards (defensive returns included) including a 63 yard touchdown run by A.D. Whitfield, a 74 yard bomb from Sonny Jurgensen to Charley Taylor, and a punt return of 52 yards for a touchdown by Rickie Harris. The Redskins scored in every way imaginable in a route that saw former New York Giant Sam Huff get a little redemption.

Infamous Joe Thiesmann Sack

This is the Joe Theismann injury game.  While all divisional games are important this first meeting in 1985 was part of a split in the season series. Both teams ended the season as 10-6, but the Giants had a better overall divisional record to clinch the playoffs over the Redskins. As tough as it was to watch, losing Joe helped this franchise on the field, as he was not having a great year with a touchdown percentage of 2.7, was on pace breaking his season-high interceptions were thrown of 20 back in 1981 (16 in 1985), and his completion percentage not even above 56%. Needless to say, he was at the back end of his career, and the story of this game was his gruesome injury moreso than playoff implications . It was an injury many old-school Redskins fans were reminded of in week 11 of the 2018 season when Alex Smith suffered the same injury 33 years after Joe’s.

A Day of Remembrance: September 11, 2011

This was not a game late in the year where some aspect of the postseason was involved but the significance here was in honoring those who lost their lives 10 years prior. This game displayed a pregame ceremony held by 150 family members affected by the terrorist attacks, spanned across the field as R&B artist Ne-Yo sang a soulful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Following this moment of remembrance General Colin Powell, as the honorary Captain, performed the pregame coin flip. The outcome of this game was truly irrelevant as this day captured a very important and somber moment in this nation’s history.

Let’s Fast Forward

While compiling information for this column I came across this very frustrating gem of a game played in week 17 with a “win and we are in the playoffs” scenario. Let’s fast forward to the 2016 season. Many refuse to blame Kirk Cousins for this game but the New York Giants came into this matchup having their playoff future locked up and just looking to escape with no injuries. They had a highly conservative game plan, running the ball nearly 60% of the game and just essentially handing this game to the Redskins. Where this game became frustrating was the Redskins offense. It was ranked 3rd in the NFL but was only able to amass 284 yards of total offense, in part because of the Giants defense was ranked 10th in total defense and 2nd in points per game (17.8). This game was clearly being played out as a formality by the Giants as they looked towards Green Bay the following week. The absolute sole crushing moment came in the 4th quarter on 1st and 10 with 1:27 on the clock in Giants territory. Kirk Cousins stepped up into the pocket and made an off-balance throw to a covered Pierre Garcon, culminating in essentially a game-ending interception. This was as close to a give-me game as you get in the NFL but this team just found a way to throw it away.

A Few More Quick Matchups

Last Second Miss: In 1939 the Giants and Redskins again met in the last game of the season after a previous meeting ended in a 0-0 tie. It was for the right to play in the NFL Championship and Redskins down 9-7 missed a last-second field goal and the Giants moved on.

RG3 Amazes: On October 21, 2012, the teams met for the first time with Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III under center. With his late-game heroics escaping a sure sack from the New York Giants rush, he nearly pulled off a come-from-behind win, except that Eli Manning picked Washington’s defense apart for a 77 yard touchdown drive.

First Time For Everything: Redskins hosted the Giants in their first home Thanksgiving game in franchise history in 2017 with a defensive battle throughout. The Redskins pulled away late in the fourth quarter with 10 straight points to win 20–10.