BRACKET CHALLENGE: Lawrence Taylor vs. Mark Bavaro

LB Lawrence Taylor, 1986
Stats: 105 TACK, 20.5 SACKS, 5 PD, 2 FF
No defensive player has been named the AP NFL Most Valuable Player since Lawrence Taylor in 1986. A unanimous selection, Taylor had a career-high 20.5 sacks, 105 tackles, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He led the way in making it the greatest season in team history. That year, the Giants won their first Super Bowl, had a final record of 17-2, and won a club record 12 straight victories. The Giants also set a record for all-time composite margin of victory in the playoffs, outscoring three opponents, 105-23, for an 82-point domination, the most ever in NFL playoff history.

1 / 14

2 / 14

3 / 14

4 / 14

5 / 14

6 / 14

7 / 14

8 / 14

9 / 14

10 / 14

11 / 14

12 / 14

13 / 14

14 / 14

Advertising

This Ad will close in 3

TE Mark Bavaro, 1986: 66 REC, 1,001 YDS, 4 TD
The epitome of toughness, tight end Mark Bavaro could also fill a stat sheet. His 1,001 receiving yards in 1986 still remain a Giants record for tight ends. Jeremy Shockey came closest to the 33-year-old record with 894 in 2002.