The Green Bay Packers scored on big plays including a punt return and an interception return to take a big early lead but needed a last-minute field goal by Jan Stenerud to get past the New York Giants 26-24 at Milwaukee County Stadium. They also needed backup quarterback David Whitehurst to come off the bench and replace a banged-up Lynn Dickey to lead them to victory. This is the story behind the big plays that led the Packers to a thrilling, last-minute win over the New York Giants in 1981.
Recalling the Big Plays That Led the Packers to a Thrilling Last-Minute Win Over the Giants: The Buildup
The Packers entered their Week 10 meeting with the New York Giants with a 3-6 record. They knew their chances of making the playoffs were fading and the team needed to put together a winning streak to keep their slim hopes alive. The Pack was coming off a 34-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks led by backup quarterback Whitehurst. Dickey, the starter, missed that game after taking a late hit from Detroit’s William Gay the previous week. Dickey was set to start against the Giants although he was still far from healthy.
The Giants, meanwhile, exceeded expectations. They entered this game with a 5-4 record as they looked to make the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. The Giants defense had been energized by the arrival of rookie first-round pick Lawrence Taylor who added a new dimension to their pass rush. Last week, the Giants lost to their crosstown rivals, the Jets, 26-7. The Giants would have to play this game without starting quarterback Phil Simms who was out with a groin injury. Second-year man Scott Brunner started in Simms’ place.
This would be the second meeting between these two teams this season as they both finished in fifth place in their respective divisions in 1980. Under the schedule formula that existed then, the two fifth-place teams in the NFC met twice the following season. The Packers won the first meeting at the Meadowlands in Week 5, 27-14. In that game, wide receiver John Jefferson scored his first touchdown as a Packer. It was just his second game with the team.
A Fast Start for the Packers
The Packers went three-and-out on their initial possession. The Giants committed a pair of penalties that set up a 3rd-and-12 at their own 25. Brunner dropped back and looked for wide receiver Johnny Perkins, but Packers cornerback Estus Hood intercepted the pass, changed directions and returned the pick 41 yards for a touchdown. The Packers were quickly up 7-0.
Later in the first quarter, the Giants punted from their own 42. Dave Jennings booted a long, 52-yard kick which was fielded by Mark Lee of the Packers at his own six. Lee started to his left then cut back to his right where a wall of blockers formed. He ran the ball back 94 yards for a touchdown and the Packers led 14-0 without picking up a single first down on offense.
On the next Giants drive, Hood made his second interception of the game, again stepping in front of Perkins to make the pick at the Giants 42. A 21-yard pass from Dickey to Jefferson was the big play on this drive which stalled at the Giants 14. Stenerud kicked a 32-yard field goal, and the Packers lead was 17-0.
The Packers defense made another big play the next time the Giants got the ball. Linebacker Mike Douglass blitzed and sacked Brunner and knocked the ball out. Defensive lineman Casey Merrill fell on it at the Giants 35 and the Packers had the ball back. A 24-yard pass to fullback Gerry Ellis got the ball to the Giants 10 where the drive stalled. Stenerud hit a 28-yard field goal, and the Packers led 20-0 as the first quarter ended.
Recalling the Big Plays That Led the Packers to a Thrilling Last-Minute Win Over the Giants: The Giants Come Back
The Giants knew they needed a big play to get back in the game and change the momentum and head coach Ray Perkins dialed one up on the team’s next drive. Brunner completed passes of 15 yards to running back Rob Carpenter and 14 yards to Perkins. The Packers stopped the Giants on 3rd-and-2 at the Green Bay 18 to force a field goal attempt by former Packers kicker Joe Danelo. But the Giants called a fake field goal and Brunner, who was the holder, found a wide-open tight end Gary Shirk for an easy 18-yard touchdown pass. The Packers lead was cut to 20-7.
The Giants built on their momentum and forced a three-and-out. Brunner then led the Giants on a six-play, 53-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard pass to Perkins. The Packers lead was down to 20-14.
The Green Bay defense came up with another interception late in the second quarter when Mark Murphy intercepted a pass intended for Mike Friede at the Giants 48. The running of Ellis and two short passes to James Lofton got the Packers into field goal range. Stenerud was good from 35 yards out and the Packers led 23-14 at the half.
The Packers Struggle
The Packers offense continued to struggle in the second half. Dickey was intercepted twice in the third quarter, once by Beasley Reece and once by Terry Jackson. Head coach Bart Starr had seen enough and he inserted Whitehurst into the lineup for the fourth quarter.
“It was just a gut feeling,” Starr said after the game. “Lynn was being battered and I felt it might be taking a toll. He might be suffering the effects of those injuries. I felt a fresh, whole guy might be needed. Lynn was battered and his right elbow was severely cut. And the pass protection was not what it should have been at times.”
“I got my neck whipped and had more stinging down in my arms,” Dickey admitted. “I could tell in warmups, that I wasn’t sharp, and in the game, I proved it.”
The Giants scored on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Brunner found Friede for a seven-yard touchdown pass and the Green Bay lead was down to 23-21.
The Packers went three-and-out on their next drive after Taylor sacked Whitehurst. Brunner led the Giants on a short drive led by the running of Leon Perry. Danelo kicked a 33-yard field goal, and the Giants now led 24-23.
Recalling the Big Plays That Led the Packers to a Thrilling Last-Minute Win Over the Giants: A Thrilling Finish
With time becoming a factor, Whitehurst and the Packers got the ball on their own 21. That’s when the Packers came up with a big play. Whitehurst found Jefferson for 41 yards all the way to the Giants 33.
“They played the same defense we had seen on films,” Whitehurst said. “It was the right play at the right time. The idea was to get their strongside cornerman man-to-man on J.J. I recognized the defense.”
“I had to reach to get it and I started to stumble,” Jefferson said. “A quarterback is a quarterback. I have no preference. I can play with anybody. Just get the ball to me, I’ll catch it.”
Later in the drive, Dickey hit tight end Paul Coffman for 17 yards to the Giants 15. On 3rd-and-6, Starr called for a bootleg, but Whitehurst changed the play to a handoff to Ellis who was stopped one yard short of the first down marker.
“We had a bootleg on, but I felt at the time there was too much risk involved. I didn’t want to throw it. We knew Jan could do it.”
Stenerud came on and calmly kicked a 23-yard field goal. The Packers led 26-24.
Putting the Game Away
The Giants still had a little time left and only needed a field goal to retake the lead. The Giants got one first down on a 4th-and-1 run by Leon Bright and had a 1st-and-10 at their own 38. Then, defensive tackle Terry Jones sacked Brunner and Merrill fell on the loose ball at the Giants 30. It was the seventh turnover forced by the Green Bay defense and salted the game away for the Packers.
Whitehurst kneeled three times to run out the clock and the Packers had escaped with a 26-24 win.
Recalling the Big Plays That Led the Packers to a Thrilling Last-Minute Win Over the Giants: The Aftermath
The win gave the Packers a series sweep of the Giants that season and improved their record to 4-6. It was also their first back-to-back wins since 1978.
Dickey had struggled, completing just 10-of-27 passes for 143 yards and two interceptions. Whitehurst was 4-of-4 off the bench for 60 yards.
For Stenerud, the four field goals gave him 301 for his NFL career. He became only the third player in NFL history to surpass 300 field goals in his career. Only George Blanda and Jim Turner had done it before Stenrud.
“I knew 300 would be a major accomplishment,” Stenerud said. “Not many people have done it and I’m proud of it. But 301 was a lot more important than 300.”
The Packers were outgained 321-267, but the seven turnovers and the punt return and interception return for a touchdown were the difference in the game.
Despite the loss, the Giants finished the season 9-7 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1963. The Packers went on a roll and finished the season 8-8, just missing the playoffs when they lost their season finale to the New York Jets at Shea Stadium.
This was a milestone game for Stenerud and an important win for Starr and the Packers as they turned around their 1981 season.
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