The Giants finished in last place in the National Football Conference East Division with a 2–12 record, the team's worst since 1966.

[3][4] The 1974 Giants hold the distinction of being the first team to lose a regular season game in overtime.

[5] In week nine, the 2–6 Giants welcomed the cross-town rival Jets to the Yale Bowl.

With the Giants leading 20–13 in the fourth quarter, Joe Namath faked a handoff to Emerson Boozer, then ran into the end zone for a touchdown which tied the score at 20–20, forcing overtime;[6] previously, a game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos had ended in a 35–35 tie.

The Jets subsequently won 26–20 on a five-yard pass from Namath to Boozer after 6:53 of play in the extra period.