Week 12: "Miracle at the Meadowlands"

As the clock ticked away on a certain Giants’ victory on November 19, 1978, a terrible error by New York – and a heads-up defensive play by the visiting Eagles – suddenly turned around a game that continues to be known, over four decades later, as the “Miracle at the Meadowlands.” The 5-6 Giants, needing a win to keep any realistic playoff hopes alive, went up 14-0 after a pair of touchdown passes by Joe Pisarcik in the opening quarter. The Giants led 17-6 after three quarters, then appeared to have the game won in the game’s final seconds: they were ahead, 17-12, with the ball; Philadelphia had no timeouts. All Pisarcik had to do was take a knee, and the game would be over. Instead, New York’s offensive coordinator, Bob Gibson, called a running play; the handoff was mangled and the ball fumbled, and the Eagles’ Herm Edwards scooped it up and ran it back for a game-winning touchdown. The next day, Gibson was fired, while the Giants lost three of their final four games and McVay was let go after the season. From that point forward, the quarterback kneel play, from victory formation, became a more common strategy in the waning seconds of NFL games. ― NFL 100

Box Score: Football Reference

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