NFL team season
The 1996 New York Giants season was the franchise's 72nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth and final under head coach Dan Reeves. The team was looking to improve on its 5-11 finish from the year before.[1][2]
In the 1996 NFL draft, the Giants selected defensive end Cedric Jones with the fifth overall pick.[3] The Giants' first game of the season was at home against the Buffalo Bills, and resulted in a 23–20 loss in overtime. After being shut out by the Dallas Cowboys, New York fell to 0–3 with a 31–10 defeat to the Washington Redskins.[2] Against the New York Jets, the Giants earned their first victory of the season; a 15–10 win over the Minnesota Vikings left them with a 2–3 record heading into their bye week. The team then lost four of its next six games.[2] After defeating the Cowboys, the Giants' record entering December stood at 5–7.[4] They ended the season by losing three of their last four games. With a 6–10 record, the Giants finished in last place in the National Football Conference East Division.[2] After the season, the Giants fired Reeves and hired Jim Fassel as his replacement.[5]
Quarterback Dave Brown started all 16 games for the Giants in 1996, throwing for 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. New York's leading running back was Rodney Hampton, who had 254 carries for 827 yards. Wide receivers Chris Calloway and Thomas Lewis led the Giants with four touchdowns and 53 receptions each; Calloway had a team-high 739 receiving yards.[2] Defensively, Chad Bratzke and Michael Strahan had the most sacks among Giants players with five apiece, while Jason Sehorn had five interceptions to lead the team.[2]
Offseason
NFL draft
[6]
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 3: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 3: Washington Redskins at New York Giants – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: September 15
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 73 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,693
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall and John Madden
Week 4: at New York Jets
Week 4: New York Giants at New York Jets – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: September 22
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Light rain, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 58,339
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers (FOX): Mike Breen and Bill Maas
Both New York teams were seeking to rebound from 0–3 starts to the season.[7] The Jets got on the scoreboard first with Nick Lowery kicking a 46-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Giants responded with Chris Calloway catching a 17-yard touchdown pass from Dave Brown. In the third quarter, the Jets cut the Giants' lead to one point thanks to a 39-yard field goal, once again coming from Lowery. The Giants increased the lead in the fourth quarter thanks to two 20-yard field goals from Brad Daluiso, helping them secure their first win of the season by a score of 13–6.[8]
Week 5: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 5: Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Week 7: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 7: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: October 13
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 62 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 72,729
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
Week 8: at Washington Redskins
Week 8: New York Giants at Washington Redskins – Game summary
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly sunny, 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 52,684
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
Week 9: at Detroit Lions
Week 9: New York Giants at Detroit Lions – Game summary
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 63,501
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (Fox): Mike Breen and Bill Maas
Week 10: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 10: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Week 11: at Carolina Panthers
Week 12: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 12: New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Date: November 17
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 34,924
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Harlan and Jerry Glanville
Week 13: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 13: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,081
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
Week 14: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 14: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: December 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Rain, 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 51,468
- Referee: Howard Roe
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Harlan and Jerry Glanville
Week 15: at Miami Dolphins
Week 15: New York Giants at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: December 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 73 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,889
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 16: New Orleans Saints at New York Giants – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: December 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Light rain, 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 52,530
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
Week 17: vs. New England Patriots
Week 17: New England Patriots at New York Giants – Game summary
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Standings
See also
References
- ^ "New York Giants Franchise Encyclopedia". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "1996 New York Giants". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ "1996 NFL Draft". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
- ^ Whittingham, Richard (2005). Illustrated History of the New York Giants. Chicago: Triumph Books. p. 277. ISBN 1-57243-641-7.
- ^ Whittingham, pp. 277–278.
- ^ "New York Giants NFL Draft History". National Football League. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (September 17, 1996). "Jets and Giants with a Mellow Tone". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "New York Giants at New York Jets – September 22nd, 1996". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
