Full NFL season
1986
Explore the indexed regular season, conference races, divisions and every playoff round from the 1986 NFL season.
Postseason map
Playoff bracket
Follow the complete path from the Wild Card round through the Super Bowl. Open any game for its box score, players, highlights and historical context.
Swipe through the bracket
1 / 4
Divisional Round
Conference Championships
Super Bowl XXI
Season honors
Awards and statistical leaders
Season totals from verified box scores. Press any column to rerank the compact top eight.
AP NFL MVPLawrence TaylorPlayer season →AP NFL Defensive Player of the YearLawrence TaylorPlayer season →Super Bowl MVPPhil SimmsPlayer season →
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League showcase
Pro Bowl rosters
AFC and NFC selections load independently so the season page stays fast.
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Regular season
Conference standings
Ranked by indexed winning percentage, then wins and point differential. Historical league formats may appear under “League standings.”
AFC standings
Indexed regular season| Rank | Team | Record | Pct | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cleveland Browns | 12–4 | .750 | 391 | 310 |
| 2 |  New England Patriots | 11–5 | .688 | 412 | 307 |
| 3 |
Around the league
Division standings
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
Start with these
Defining games
Championship stakes and close finishes bring the most consequential indexed games to the front.
Super Bowl
XXIDENVERBRONCOS
NEW YORKGIANTS
Score hidden
JAN 25, 1987
Denver Broncos vs New York Giants
Super Bowl XXI · Jan 25, 1987
Conference Championship
1986DENVERBRONCOS
CLEVELANDBROWNS
Score hidden
JAN 11, 1987
Denver Broncos vs Cleveland Browns
Conference Championship · Jan 11, 1987
Conference Championship
1986W
WSH
NEW YORKGIANTS
Score hidden
JAN 11, 1987
WSH vs New York Giants
Conference Championship · Jan 11, 1987
Divisional Round
1986NEW YORKJETS
CLEVELANDBROWNS
Score hidden
JAN 3, 1987
New York Jets vs Cleveland Browns
Divisional Round · Jan 3, 1987
Divisional Round
1986NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
DENVERBRONCOS
Score hidden
JAN 4, 1987
New England Patriots vs Denver Broncos
Divisional Round · Jan 4, 1987
Divisional Round
1986W
WSH
CHICAGOBEARS
Score hidden
JAN 3, 1987
WSH vs Chicago Bears
Divisional Round · Jan 3, 1987
Divisional Round
1986SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
NEW YORKGIANTS
Score hidden
JAN 4, 1987
San Francisco 49ers vs New York Giants
Divisional Round · Jan 4, 1987
Wild Card
1986W
LOS ANGELESRAMS
WSH
Score hidden
DEC 28, 1986
Los Angeles Rams vs WSH
Wild Card · Dec 28, 1986
Wild Card
1986KANSAS CITYCHIEFS
NEW YORKJETS
Score hidden
DEC 28, 1986
Kansas City Chiefs vs New York Jets
Wild Card · Dec 28, 1986
Regular Season
1986ARIZONACARDINALS
PHILADELPHIAEAGLES
Score hidden
DEC 7, 1986
Arizona Cardinals vs Philadelphia Eagles
Regular Season · Dec 7, 1986
Regular Season
1986SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
ATLANTAFALCONS
Score hidden
OCT 19, 1986
San Francisco 49ers vs Atlanta Falcons
Regular Season · Oct 19, 1986
Regular Season
1986W
WSH
DENVERBRONCOS
Score hidden
DEC 13, 1986
WSH vs Denver Broncos
Regular Season · Dec 13, 1986
