It’s been 35 years since the NFL made its debut on cable television. This week in 1987, the New York Giants traveled to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots.
The game kicked off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday night, November 8, and was televised on ESPN with the broadcast team of Mike Patrick, Roy Firestone and Larry Csonka, with Chris Berman in the studio.
The Super Bowl defending champion Giants entered the game at 1-5 after opening the season with five straight defeats — three of those coming during the three-week work stoppage in which replacement players were used.
The Patriots came into the game at 4-3 and were on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs for the third consecutive season under head coach Raymond Berry.
In the game, the Giants busted out to a 14-0 halftime lead and then led, 17-7 after three quarters. Future Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor recorded two sacks and intercepted Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan at the New York 15-yard line with just over a minute remaining in regulation to secure a 17-10 Giants victory.
The Giants fished the season at 6-9 and out of the playoffs. Many blamed their unpreparedness during the three-game work stoppage for the lost season.
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