Editing Super Bowl XXI (section)

===New York Giants===
{{main|1986 New York Giants season}}

The Giants advanced to their first Super Bowl in team history, and were playing for their first league championship since they lost to the [[Chicago Bears]] in the [[1963 NFL Championship Game]]. The Giants were led by quarterback [[Phil Simms]], who threw for 3,487 yards and 21 touchdowns (but also 22 interceptions). Simms' main target was tight end [[Mark Bavaro]], who caught 66 passes for 1,001 yards and 4 touchdowns. Although the Giants did not have one great wide receiver, they did have several good ones. Receivers [[Stacy Robinson]], [[Bobby Johnson (wide receiver)|Bobby Johnson]], and [[Phil McConkey]] combined for 76 receptions and 1,307 yards.

However, running the ball was the Giants' primary offensive attack. Running back [[Joe Morris (American football)|Joe Morris]] finished the regular season with a then-franchise record 1,516 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, while also catching 21 passes for 223 yards and another touchdown. One reason for his success was fullback [[Maurice Carthon]], who provided Morris with excellent blocking and was the team's second leading rusher with 260 yards. Another reason was the play of their offensive line, led by Pro Bowl left tackle [[Brad Benson]] and right tackle [[Karl Nelson]]. On special teams, punter [[Sean Landeta]] made the Pro Bowl with an average of 44.8 gross yards per punt (2nd in the NFL), a net average of 37.1, and 24 punts inside the 20.

But the Giants main strength was their defense, nicknamed The "[[Big Blue Wrecking Crew]]". After giving up 31 points in a season-opening loss to the [[Dallas Cowboys]], the Giants had not given up more than 20 points in a game until the last game of the season, in a 55–24 win over the [[Green Bay Packers]].  The team ranked second in the NFL in fewest points (236) and yards (4,757) allowed. The Giants' defensive leader was [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] outside linebacker [[Lawrence Taylor]], who led the league with 20.5 sacks during the regular season, won the [[NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award]] for the third time in his career, and became just the second defensive player to win the [[NFL Most Valuable Player Award]] ([[Alan Page]] was the first in 1971). At 6'3" and 245 pounds, Taylor was big enough to break through the offensive lines of many teams, but he still had enough speed to chase down running backs. The Giants' other starting linebackers, [[Gary Reasons]], [[Carl Banks]], and future Hall of Famer [[Harry Carson]], did not get as much media attention as Taylor, but Carson had been selected to play in the Pro Bowl, while Reasons had two interceptions and Banks recorded 6.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. Nose tackle [[Jim Burt (American football)|Jim Burt]] and right end [[Leonard Marshall]], who were also both selected to the Pro Bowl, anchored the defensive line. Marshall recorded 12 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 interception during the season.  The Giants secondary was led by safeties [[Terry Kinard]] (4 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) and [[Kenny Hill (defensive back)|Kenny Hill]] (3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries), along with cornerback [[Perry Williams (cornerback)|Perry Williams]] (4 interceptions).

With the play of their defense, the running attack led by Morris, and Simms' passing game, the Giants earned a 14–2 regular season record.

This is the only one of the New York Giants’ five Super Bowl appearances where they were favored.