1991 NFC Championship vs New York Giants
The 1991 NFC Championship Game was played on January 12, 1992. The Lions' primary starting quarterback for most of the 1991 regular season was Rodney Peete. Ottis Anderson had only 1 carry for 1 yard in the game.
The 1991 NFC Championship Game was played on January 12, 1992. The Detroit Lions' primary starting quarterback for most of the 1991 regular season was Rodney Peete. Ottis Anderson did not play a significant role in the game; he had only 1 carry for 1 yard.
- Location
- Pontiac Silverdome
- Opponent
- New York Giants
- Result
- Lions lost 41-10
- Key Lion Star
- Barry Sanders
- Giants MVP
- Jeff Hostetler
Lore & Background
The 1991 season was the Lions' 94th season in the NFL, their 90th in Detroit, and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. The Lions finished the regular season with a 12–5 record, tying a franchise record for wins and ending up in a three-way tie with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys for the best record in the NFC. Their .706 winning percentage was their best since 1991.
In Their Own Story
Barry Sanders stood on the sideline, his eyes scanning the field where the Giants' defense lined up like an impenetrable wall. The silence that fell over the crowd as the Giants scored their first touchdown was heavier than any cheer; it was the sound of a dream beginning to fracture.
Reader's Guide
The Lions won their first division title since 1993, and their first ever as a member of the NFC North following the NFL's division realignment in 2002. This also marks their first playoff appearance since 2016. The win assured them their first home playoff game since 1993 and only their third since winning their last NFL title in 1957.
Did You Know?
- The Lions defeated the Los Angeles Rams 24–23 in the Wild Card game for their first playoff victory since the 1991 season, ending the longest winless post-season drought in the NFL.
- The Lions hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round, which marked the first time the Lions hosted two playoff games in the same season in franchise history.
- The Lions defeated the Buccaneers 31–23 to advance to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 1991 season.