The Giants would defeat their rival Washington Redskins in the NFC title game, blanking them 17–0 to advance to their first Super Bowl.
With the first pick, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected runningback Bo Jackson from Auburn University.
Fred Silva was then assigned as a swing official instead of his own crew after suffering a heart attack in the offseason.
Chuck Heberling was scheduled to be an instant replay official but was asked to remain on the field following Silva's heart attack.
[3] ABC opted to go to a two-man booth, dropping Joe Namath and O. J. Simpson, moving Frank Gifford to its sole color commentator, and having Al Michaels serve as the new play-by-announcer.