By Aaron Ozni

The New York Football Giants entered week ten of the NFL season with a record of 7-2 by figuring out who they are today is who they have always been.  In brief, possessing physical tough plowsharers in the backfield along with a gritty pass rushing defense has become engrained in the fabric of Giants’ history.  Presently, head coach Brian Daboll and the Giants’ front office have gone back to the historical staples of running the ball, and building a potent defense.  In the Giants Huddle Podcast Greg Olsen remarks, “You know, I think that what coach Daboll has done is, he has made no mistake about what their formula for success is, specifically offensively” (Olsen). Historically, the recipe of for finding interesting and creative ways to win for the New York Giants dates back to the 1930s under head coach Steve Owen.

      Notably, during the NFL Championship game at the Polo Grounds in 1934 the Giants defeated the Chicago Bears with experienced brain power that led to the game being dubbed, “the Sneakers Game”.  President of the Giants and Co-Ceo Wellington Mara states:    

“Ray Flaherty was our assistant coach. He said, “One year at Gonzaga”, which is where Ray had gone to school, “We won a game by using basketball shoes on the field, on a frozen field just like this.” And he suggested that the Giants do the same thing.  Well, it was a Sunday, and we couldn’t find a sporting-goods, store open in the whole city.  But we had working with us a tailor named Abe Cohen.  He volunteered to go up to Manhattan College and get the basketball shoes from the basketball team.  So we put him in a cab and sent him up there.  I think he had to break open the door to the locker room.  Break open many of the lockers.  And he got back. I think he had about 8 or 10 pairs of sneakers.” (Plaut, Cossrow and Lucatuorto) 

By all means, having players wear sneakers on a frozen field can heighten the risk of injury while competing.  Ray Flaherty adds, “When we came out in the second half, some of the Bears got over there and got looking around, and they saw that we had tennis shoes on. They went over and told Halas, “Those guys got tennis shoes on.”Halas says, “Step on their toes!”  With the cleats.” (Plaut, Cossrow and Lucatuorto)  Interestingly enough, the Giants went on to win the championship game.  According to Fullback for the Bears Bronko Nagurski, “Right away we said, “Something is wrong.” ‘Cause they had good footing, and we didn’t have good footing.  And they started piling up yardage and getting in position. And they ended up beating us 30-13. They just outsmarted us, I guess.  That’s about the size of it.  It was legal. There was nothing wrong with it.” (Plaut, Cossrow and Lucatuorto) 

     By the same token, the 2022 New York Giants are beating teams by stacking up rushing yards, and outsmarting their opponents defensively.  Greg Olsen commenting about the job coach Daboll  has done says:

“He learned really quickly, you know what that formula was for them.  And when you play good defense, and you’re good on third down, and you’re good at keeping teams out of the end zone,it’s a formula that’s been working for them. And you know, they are not gonna be the high flying attack. They’re not gonna throw for 450 a game. They’re gonna run it 50 times sometimes, but listen at the end of the day in the NFL it’s about what you have to do to win, and they’ve done it”. (Olsen)

     Generally speaking, the Giants have outsmarted their opponents with seven wins this season by taking advantage of soft spots in defenses..  Since their identity and formula for winning directly coincides with their history, Big Blue also has had the advantage of being the underdog continuously.  For instance, near the end of the 1990 NFC Divisoinal playoff game between the Giants and the Bears where the Gmen won “31-3”, NFL microphones recorded a conversation between coach Parcells and linebacker Carl Banks (Pro Football Reference ).  Coach Parcells asks, “Got one more?” (Plaut, Cossrow and Lucatuorto)  Carl Banks responds, “One more.” (Plaut, Cossrow and Lucatuorto)  Bill Parcells retorts, “Nobody thinks we can win you know.” (Plaut, Cossrow and Lucatuorto) To which Carl Banks agreed,”I know. They didn’t give us a chance in this one.” (Plaut, Cossrow and Lucatuorto)  The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl that season defeating the Buffalo Bills.  All in all, the New York Football Giants know how to find a way. 

Works Cited

Olsen, Greg. “Giants Huddle Podcast.” Giants Huddle | FOX Sports’ Greg Olsen. John Schmeelk. 17 November 2022. Video Podcast. 18 November 2022. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlDdl3nopFE>.

Pro Football Reference . Divisional Round – Chicago Bears at New York Giants – January 13th, 1991. 2022. Website . 20 November 2022. <https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199101130nyg.htm>.

The Complete History of the New Giants . Dirs. David Plaut, et al. Perf. Bill Parcells. 2012. Documentary Film .

The Complete History of the New York Giants . Dirs. David Plaut, et al. Perf. Ray Flaherty. 2012. Documentary Film .

The Complete History of the New York Giants . Dirs. David Plaut, et al. Perf. Bronko Nagurski. 2012 . Documentary Film .

The Complete History of the New York Giants . Dirs. David Plaut, et al. Perf. Carl Banks. 2012. Documentary Film .

The Complete History of the New York Giants. Dirs. David Plaut, et al. Perf. Wellington Mara. 2012. Documentary Film.