the giants started 1–5–1 in 1932, leading owen to re-enlist mcbride, who had been recently released by the brooklyn dodgers for lax practice habits, as the team's starting quarterback. mcbride restored them to respectability by leading the team to a 3–1–1 finish that season. before the 1933 season the team acquired university of michigan all-american quarterback harry newman, and versatile free agent halfback ken strong. the giants finished 11–3, first in the new "eastern division", and newman, hein, and badgro were named first team all-nfl. newman led the nfl in passes completed (53), passing yards (973), touchdown passes (11), and longest pass completion (78 yards), with his passing yards total setting an nfl record. they advanced to play the league's first championship game in chicago's wrigley field versus the bears.