Tittle came back out.

Thirty-six touchdown passes from Y.A. Tittle. Another NFL record. Eleven regular-season wins. A third straight championship appearance.

Imagine how much hope those Giants had asked their fans to carry by then. Two losses to Green Bay, followed by another season good enough to believe this might finally be the one.

This time the opponent was Chicago, and the game was at Wrigley Field.

A lead, an injury, and another half to play.

After Erich Barnes recovered a Bill Wade fumble, Tittle found Frank Gifford for the opening touchdown. Don Chandler’s field goal helped send New York into halftime ahead 10–7.

Tittle had injured his left knee before the break. He came back out and played the second half.

Chicago intercepted him five times. Ed O’Bradovich’s interception helped set up Wade’s second touchdown sneak, and the Bears took a 14–10 lead.

The Giants still had a last threat. Richie Petitbon intercepted Tittle in the end zone. That was the end of the championship chance.

More than a photograph.

The famous photograph of a bloodied Tittle kneeling on the field comes from Pittsburgh in 1964. It belongs to that later season. This championship deserves its own details.

Here, the quarterback had a damaged knee, his team had a lead to protect, and he came back out. The Bears made the plays that decided it.

You can honor that effort and say the interceptions hurt. Both are true. Four points separated the Giants from a title, and the last throw into the end zone stayed with Chicago.

This team played before my time. I inherited the attachment to the Giants from people who knew older versions of them. When I go back through these seasons, I want the whole thing kept: the records, the return trips, the players, and how hard it was to get the last win.