‹earlier

Jan 18, 2026SundayDivisional

HST16

NWE28

Divisional

LAR20

CHI17

Divisional

Jan 25, 2026SundayConference title

NWE10

DEN7

Conf. title

LAR27

SEA31

Conf. title

Feb 8, 2026SundaySuper Bowl LX

SEA29

NWE13

Super Bowl

Sep 9, 2026WednesdayWeek 1

NWE10

SEA13

Sep 10, 2026ThursdayWeek 1

SFO27

LAR7

Sep 13, 2026SundayWeek 1

CHI59

CAR37

TB27

CIN33

NOR30

DET31

BUF36

HST31

BLT41

IND23

CLV10

JAX34

ATL13

PIT20

NYJ23

TEN10

ARZ26

LAC14

MIA13

LVR27

GNB22

MIN39

WAS22

PHI24

DAL20

NY28

Sep 14, 2026MondayWeek 1

DEN10

KC31

later›

Sep 14, 2026Monday

📅upcoming ⇥

This day in football · September 16, 1923: Ironwood Legion visited the Duluth Kelleys at Duluth Athletic Park. Duluth Kelleys 7, Ironwood Legion 0. W1923 NFL season↗

From the vault · December 26, 1964 · 1964 AFL Championship Game: The Buffalo Bills beat the San Diego Chargers 20–7 at War Memorial Stadium to win the 1964 AFL championship. Box score

1986 seasonW1986 NFL season↗

28 teams in NFL · 225 regular-season games, 1986-09-07 to 1986-12-22 · attendance 12,753,482

◀ 1985 1987 ▶

<a href="/superbowl/1986">Super Bowl XXI</a>

New York Giants
39–20 over Denver Broncos
MVP Phil Simms

MVP

Lawrence Taylor New York Giants

Offensive Player

Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams

Defensive Player

Lawrence Taylor

Offensive Rookie

Rueben Mayes New Orleans Saints

Defensive Rookie

Leslie O'Neal San Diego Chargers

Coach of the Year

Bill Parcells New York Giants

Hall of Fame class of 1986

Doak Walker, Fran Tarkenton, Ken Houston, Paul Hornung, Willie Lanier

Playoffs

Round	Date	Result	Stadium
Wild Card	1986-12-28	New York Jets 35–15 Kansas City Chiefs	Giants Stadium
Wild Card	1986-12-28	Washington Redskins 19–7 Los Angeles Rams	RFK Stadium
Playoff	1987-01-04	New York Giants 49–3 San Francisco 49ers	Giants Stadium
Divisional	1987-01-03	Cleveland Browns 23–20 New York Jets	Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Divisional	1987-01-03	Washington Redskins 27–13 Chicago Bears	Soldier Field
Divisional	1987-01-04	Denver Broncos 22–17 New England Patriots	Mile High Stadium
AFC Championship	1987-01-11	Denver Broncos 23–20 Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Conference championship	1987-01-11	New York Giants 17–0 Washington Redskins	Giants Stadium
Super Bowl XXI	1987-01-25	New York Giants 39–20 Denver Broncos	Rose Bowl

Standings

NFL AFC Central

#	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Coach	Playoffs
1	Cleveland Browns	12	4	0	.750	391	310	Marty Schottenheimer	Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Jets) 23–20 (2OT) Lost AFC Championship (
2	Cincinnati Bengals	10	6	0	.625	409	394	Sam Wyche	Did not qualify
3	Pittsburgh Steelers	6	10	0	.375	307	336	Chuck Noll	Did not qualify
4	Houston Oilers	5	11	0	.312	274	329	Jerry Glanville	Did not qualify

NFL AFC East

#	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Coach	Playoffs
1	New England Patriots	11	5	0	.688	412	307	Raymond Berry	Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Broncos) 17–22
2	New York Jets	10	6	0	.625	364	386	Joe Walton	Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Chiefs) 35–15 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at
3	Miami Dolphins	8	8	0	.500	430	405	Don Shula	Did not qualify
4	Buffalo Bills	4	12	0	.250	287	348	Hank Bullough	Did not qualify
5	Indianapolis Colts	3	13	0	.188	229	400	Rod Dowhower	Did not qualify

NFL AFC West

#	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Coach	Playoffs
1	Denver Broncos	11	5	0	.688	378	327	Dan Reeves	Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Patriots) 22–17 Won AFC Championship (at
2	Kansas City Chiefs	10	6	0	.625	358	326	John Mackovic	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Jets) 15–35
3	Seattle Seahawks	10	6	0	.625	366	293	Chuck Knox	Did not qualify
4	Los Angeles Raiders	8	8	0	.500	323	346	Tom Flores	Did not qualify
5	San Diego Chargers	4	12	0	.250	335	396	Don Coryell	Did not qualify

NFL NFC Central

#	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Coach	Playoffs
1	Chicago Bears	14	2	0	.875	352	187	Mike Ditka	Lost Divisional Playoffs (vs. Redskins) 13–27
2	Minnesota Vikings	9	7	0	.562	398	273	Jerry Burns	Did not qualify
3	Detroit Lions	5	11	0	.312	277	326	Darryl Rogers	Did not qualify
4	Green Bay Packers	4	12	0	.250	254	418	Forrest Gregg	Did not qualify
5	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2	14	0	.125	239	473	Leeman Bennett	Did not qualify

NFL NFC East

#	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Coach	Playoffs
1	New York Giants	14	2	0	.875	371	236	Bill Parcells	Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. 49ers) 49–3 Won NFC Championship (vs. Red Champion
2	Washington Redskins	12	4	0	.750	368	296	Joe Gibbs	Won Wild Card Round (vs. Rams) 19–7 Won Divisional Round (at Bears) 27
3	Dallas Cowboys	7	9	0	.438	346	337	Tom Landry	Did not qualify
4	Philadelphia Eagles	5	10	1	.344	256	312	Buddy Ryan	Did not qualify
5	St. Louis Cardinals	4	11	1	.281	218	351	Gene Stallings	Did not qualify

NFL NFC West

#	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Coach	Playoffs
1	San Francisco 49ers	10	5	1	.656	374	247	Bill Walsh	Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Giants) 3–49
2	Los Angeles Rams	10	6	0	.625	309	267	John Robinson	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Redskins) 7–19
3	Atlanta Falcons	7	8	1	.469	280	280	Dan Henning	Did not qualify
4	New Orleans Saints	7	9	0	.438	288	287	Jim Mora	Did not qualify

League leaders

passing yards

1. 4,746Dan Marino Miami Dolphins

passing tds

1. 44Dan Marino Miami Dolphins

rushing yards

1. 1,821Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams

rushing tds

1. 18George Rogers Washington Redskins

receiving yards

1. 1,570Jerry Rice San Francisco 49ers

receiving tds

1. 15Jerry Rice San Francisco 49ers

receptions

1. 95Todd Christensen Los Angeles Raiders

interceptions

1. 10Ronnie Lott San Francisco 49ers

sacks

1. 205Lawrence Taylor New York Giants

points

1. 140Tony Franklin New England Patriots