The 1966 New York Giants season was the franchise's 42nd season in the National Football League (NFL). The season saw the Giants looking to improve on their 7–7 record from 1965. However, they finished in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 1–12–1 record, the worst in franchise history.[2][3] The 12 losses set a single-season team record that was matched four times before being broken in 2017.[4]
The 1966 Giants surrendered the most points in NFL history for a 14-game season.[5][6] They allowed 501 points in 14 games, or an average of 35.8 points per game.[3] This total broke the league record for the most points given up in a season.[7] The next most points allowed by a Giants team was 451 in the 2019 season, which was 16 games.[3] The Giants allowed opponents to score more than 30 points in eight of the 14 games, and gave up over 50 points three times.[2] They are the only team in history to give up 500 points in a 14-game season.[5][6]
On November 27, the Giants played the highest-scoring game in NFL history, losing to the Washington Redskins, 72–41[8] and making them the last team until the 2023 Denver Broncos to surrender at least 70 points in a regular season game.[9] It was the first of three straight games in which the Giants gave up more than 45 points; they allowed 49 points against the Cleveland Browns and 47 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.[2]
Off-season
NFL draft
Regular season
Schedule
Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
1
|
September 11
|
at Pittsburgh Steelers
|
T 34–34
|
0–0–1
|
Pitt Stadium
|
37,693
|
2
|
September 18
|
at Dallas Cowboys
|
L 7–52
|
0–1–1
|
Cotton Bowl
|
60,010
|
3
|
September 25
|
at Philadelphia Eagles
|
L 17–35
|
0–2–1
|
Franklin Field
|
60,177
|
4
|
October 2
|
Cleveland Browns
|
L 7–28
|
0–3–1
|
Yankee Stadium
|
62,916
|
5
|
October 9
|
at St. Louis Cardinals
|
L 19–24
|
0–4–1
|
Busch Memorial Stadium
|
43,893
|
6
|
October 16
|
Washington Redskins
|
W 13–10
|
1–4–1
|
Yankee Stadium
|
62,865
|
7
|
October 23
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
L 3–31
|
1–5–1
|
Yankee Stadium
|
63,018
|
8
|
Bye
|
9
|
November 6
|
St. Louis Cardinals
|
L 17–20
|
1–6–1
|
Yankee Stadium
|
62,967
|
10
|
November 13
|
at Los Angeles Rams
|
L 14–55
|
1–7–1
|
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
|
34,746
|
11
|
November 20
|
Atlanta Falcons
|
L 16–27
|
1–8–1
|
Yankee Stadium
|
62,746
|
12
|
November 27
|
at Washington Redskins
|
L 41–72
|
1–9–1
|
D.C. Stadium
|
50,439
|
13
|
December 4
|
at Cleveland Browns
|
L 40–49
|
1–10–1
|
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
|
61,651
|
14
|
December 11
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
L 28–47
|
1–11–1
|
Yankee Stadium
|
62,658
|
15
|
December 18
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
L 7–17
|
1–12–1
|
Yankee Stadium
|
62,735
|
[2]
Game summaries
Week 1 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
- New York – Pete Gogolak 14-yard field goal, Steelers 31–20.
- New York – Homer Jones 98-yard pass from Earl Morrall (Gogolak kick) Steelers 31–27.
- New York – Wendall Harris 72-yard fumble return (Gogolak kick), Giants 34–31.
- Pittsburgh – Mike Clark 41-yard field goal, 34–34.
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 2 at Dallas Cowboys
Week Two: New York Giants (0–0–1) at Dallas Cowboys (0–0)
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas
- Date: September 18
- Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
- Box Score
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
- Dallas – Bob Hayes 39-yard pass from Don Meredith (Villanueva kick), Cowboys 38–7.
- Dallas – Dan Reeves 19-yard pass from Don Meredith (Villanueva kick), Cowboys 45–7.
Fourth Quarter
- Dallas – Cornell Green 41-yard interception return (Villanueva kick), Cowboys 52–7
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 3 at Philadelphia Eagles
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 4 vs Cleveland Browns
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 5 at St. Louis Cardinals
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 6 vs Washington Redskins
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 7 vs Philadelphia Eagles
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
- Philadelphia – Earl Gros 1-yard rush (Baker kick), Eagles 31–3.
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 9 vs St. Louis Cardinals
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 10 at Los Angeles Rams
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 11 vs Atlanta Falcons
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 12 at Washington Redskins
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
As of 2024, this game has the highest total number of points scored by both teams in an NFL game and is the only game with a final score of 72–41.[10][11]
Week 13 at Cleveland Browns
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 14 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Game information
|
First Quarter
- Pittsburgh – Safety, Spider Lockhart stepped out of endzone, Steelers 2–0.
- Pittsburgh – Mike Clark 12-yard field goal, Steelers 5–0.
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Week 15 vs Dallas Cowboys
Game information
|
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
|
Top Passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
|
Standings
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Roster
Statistics
Team leaders
Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.[12]
League rankings
Category
|
Total yards
|
Yards per game
|
NFL rank (out of 15)
|
Passing offense
|
2,475
|
176.8
|
9th
|
Rushing offense
|
1,457
|
104.1
|
12th
|
Total offense
|
3,932
|
280.8
|
9th
|
Passing defense
|
2,892
|
206.6
|
14th
|
Rushing defense
|
2,053
|
146.6
|
14th
|
Total defense
|
4,945
|
353.2
|
14th
|
See also
References
- ^ Jaker, Bill; Sulek, Frank; Kanze, Peter (1998). The Airwaves of New York: Illustrated Histories of 156 AM Stations in the Metropolitan Area, 1921–1996. McFarland & Company. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-7864-3872-3.
- ^ a b c d "1966 New York Giants". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
- ^ a b c "New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
- ^ Henry, Tyler (December 24, 2017). "Giants set unwanted franchise record with 13th loss". USA Today. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
- ^ a b "Team Game Finder Query Results: In a single season, from 1960 to 1977, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points Allowed". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ^ a b Pasquarelli, Len (May 18, 2009). "Schedule expansion gaining momentum". ESPN. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
- ^ Whittingham, Richard (2005). Illustrated History of the New York Giants. Chicago, Illinois: Triumph Books. p. 143. ISBN 1-57243-641-7.
- ^ "Redskins Set Mark In 72–41 Win Over Giants". Park City Daily News. Associated Press. November 28, 1966. p. 9. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ De la Fuente, Homero; Almasy, Steve (September 24, 2023). "Miami Dolphins score 70 points and take a knee rather than take a shot at NFL scoring mark". CNN. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ "Highest-scoring NFL games of all time". Fox Sports. June 14, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "All Games in Pro Football History with a 72 to 41 score". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "Pre-1982 Sacks Added To Pro Football Reference". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
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History | |
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Stadiums | |
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Key personnel | |
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Division championships (22) | |
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Conference championships (11) | |
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League championships (8) | |
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Retired numbers | |
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Media | |
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Current league affiliations | |
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