1991 Major Football League Standings (USA)
| 1991 National Football League | |||||||
| American Football Conference | |||||||
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| AFC Eastern Division | |||||||
| *Buffalo Bills | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 458 | 318 | 0.813 |
| *New York Jets | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 314 | 293 | 0.500 |
| Miami Dolphins | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 343 | 349 | 0.500 |
| New England Patriots | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 211 | 305 | 0.375 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 16 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 143 | 389 | 0.063 |
| AFC Central Division | |||||||
| *Houston Oilers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 386 | 251 | 0.688 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 292 | 344 | 0.438 |
| Cleveland Browns | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 293 | 298 | 0.375 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 263 | 435 | 0.188 |
| AFC Western Division | |||||||
| *Denver Broncos | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 304 | 235 | 0.750 |
| *Kansas City Chiefs | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 322 | 255 | 0.625 |
| *Los Angeles Raiders | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 298 | 297 | 0.563 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 276 | 261 | 0.438 |
| San Diego Chargers | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 274 | 342 | 0.250 |
| National Football Conference | |||||||
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| NFC Eastern | |||||||
| *Washington Redskins | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 485 | 244 | 0.875 |
| *Dallas Cowboys | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 342 | 310 | 0.688 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 285 | 244 | 0.625 |
| New York Giants | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 281 | 297 | 0.500 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 196 | 344 | 0.250 |
| NFC Central | |||||||
| *Detroit Lions | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 339 | 295 | 0.750 |
| *Chicago Bears | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 299 | 269 | 0.688 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 301 | 306 | 0.500 |
| Green Bay Packers | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 273 | 313 | 0.250 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 199 | 365 | 0.188 |
| NFC Western | |||||||
| *New Orlreans Saints | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 341 | 211 | 0.688 |
| *Atlanta Falcons | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 361 | 338 | 0.625 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 393 | 239 | 0.625 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 234 | 390 | 0.188 |
| 1991 Mid-Continental Football League | |||||||
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| *Dayton Steelers | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 102 | 62 | 0.727 |
| *Cleveland Falcons | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 107 | 92 | 0.692 |
| Wyandot Chiefs | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 99 | 91 | 0.625 |
| Shenango Valley Blasters | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 89 | 130 | 0.300 |
1991 Major Football League Standings (World)
| 1991 Canadian Football League | |||||||
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pts | |
| CFL Eastern Division | |||||||
| *Toronto Argonauts | 18 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 647 | 526 | 26 |
| *Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 18 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 516 | 499 | 18 |
| *Ottawa Rough Riders | 18 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 522 | 577 | 14 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 18 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 400 | 599 | 6 |
| CFL Western Division | |||||||
| *Edmonton Eskimoes | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 671 | 569 | 24 |
| *Calgary Stampeders | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 596 | 552 | 22 |
| *British Columbia Lions | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 661 | 587 | 22 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | 18 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 606 | 710 | 12 |
| 1991 World League of American Football | |||||||
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| WLAF European Division | |||||||
| *London Monarchs | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 310 | 121 | 0.900 |
| *Barcelona Dragons | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 206 | 126 | 0.800 |
| Frankfurt Galaxy | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 155 | 139 | 0.700 |
| WLAF North American East Division | |||||||
| *New York/New Jersey Knights | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 257 | 155 | 0.500 |
| Orlando Thunder | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 242 | 286 | 0.500 |
| Montreal Machine | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 145 | 144 | 0.400 |
| Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 123 | 300 | 0.000 |
| WLAF North American West Division | |||||||
| *Birmingham Fire | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 140 | 140 | 0.500 |
| San Antonio Riders | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 176 | 196 | 0.400 |
| Sacramento Surge | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 179 | 254 | 0.300 |
| 1991 Arena Football League | |||||||
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| *Detroit Drive | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 437 | 262 | 0.900 |
| *Tampa Bay Storm | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 421 | 309 | 0.800 |
| *Denver Dynamite | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 389 | 365 | 0.600 |
| *Albany Firebirds | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 427 | 342 | 0.600 |
| Dallas Texans | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 286 | 334 | 0.400 |
| New Orleans Night | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 314 | 401 | 0.400 |
| Orlando Predators | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 321 | 363 | 0.300 |
| Columbus Thunderbolts | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 241 | 460 | 0.000 |
| 1991 Association of American Football of USSR | |||||||
| P | W | L | T | PF | PA | Pct | |
| *Moscow Bruins (Bears) | |||||||
| *Moscow Swans | |||||||
| Caspian Sphinxes | |||||||
| Kharkov Atlantis | |||||||
| Donetsk Scythians | |||||||
| Minsk Zubrs (Bison) | |||||||
1991 Major Football League Playoffs (USA)
| National Football League Playoffs | National Football League Playoffs | ||
| National Football Conference Playoffs | |||
| Home Team | Score | Road Team | Score |
| AFC Wild Card Playoffs | |||
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | Los Angeles Raiders | 6 |
| Houston Oilers | 17 | New York Jets | 10 |
| AFC Divisional Playoffs | |||
| Denver Broncos | 26 | Houston Oilers | 24 |
| Buffalo Bills | 37 | Kansas City Chiefs | 14 |
| AFC Conference Championship | |||
| Buffalo Bills | 10 | Denver Broncos | 7 |
| National Football Conference Playoffs | |||
| Home Team | Score | Road Team | Score |
| NFC Wild Card Playoffs | |||
| New Orleans Saints | 20 | Atlanta Falcons | 27 |
| Chicago Bears | 13 | Dallas Cowboys | 17 |
| NFC Divisional Playoffs | |||
| Washington Redskins | 24 | Atlanta Falcons | 7 |
| Detroit Lions | 38 | Dallas Cowboys | 6 |
| NFC Conference Championship | |||
| Washington Redskins | 41 | Detroit Lions | 10 |
| Super Bowl XXVII (AFC v NFC) | @Metrodome, Minneapolis, MN | ||
| AFC Team | NFC Team | ||
| Buffalo Bills | 24 | Washington Redskins | 37 |
| Mid-Continental Football League Playoffs | |||
| Home Team | Score | Road Team | Score |
| MCFL Championship Game | |||
| Cleveland Falcons | 7 | Dayton Steelers | 0 |
1991 Major Football League Playoffs (World)
| Canadian Football League Playoffs | |||
| Home Team | Score | Road Team | Score |
| Eastern Semi-Final | |||
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 26 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 8 |
| Western Semi-Final | |||
| Calgary Stampeders | 43 | British Columbia Lions | 41 |
| Eastern Final | |||
| Toronto Argonauts | 42 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 3 |
| Western Final | |||
| Edmonton Eskimoes | 36 | Calgary Stampeders | 38 |
| Grey Cup | |||
| Toronto Argonauts | 36 | Calgary Stampeders | 21 |
| World League of American Football Playoffs | |||
| Home Team | Score | Road Team | Score |
| Semi-Finals | |||
| Birmingham Fire | 3 | Barcelona Dragons | 10 |
| New York/New Jersey Knights | 26 | London Monarchs | 42 |
| World Bowl ’91 | @Wembley Stadium, London, ENG | ||
| London Monarchs | 21 | Barcelona Dragons | 0 |
| Arena Football League Playoffs | |||
| Home Team | Score | Road Team | Score |
| Semi-Finals | |||
| Detroit Drive | 37 | Albany Firebirds | 35 |
| Tampa Bay Storm | 40 | Denver Dynamite | 13 |
| Arena Bowl V | |||
| Tampa Bay Storm | 48 | Detroit Drive | 42 |
| Association of American Football of USSR Playoffs | |||
| Home Team | Score | Road Team | Score |
| Moscow Bruins | Won | Moscow Swans | Lost |
Report
Buffalo Bills, holding the best record in the AFC (13-3) lost their second Super Bowl in succession, defeated 37-24 by Washington Redskins, holders of the best record in the NFC and entire NFL (14-2). For the AFC it was an eighth successive loss in the biggest event in USA sports. The last time an AFC team won the Super Bowl was Los Angeles Raiders’ 38-9 victory over Washington Redskins on 22 January 1984 at Tampa, Florida in Super Bowl XVIII. Following a scoreless first quarter the Redskins scored 17 points in the second quarter and added a second John Riggs run touchdown 16 seconds into the third quarter to take a commanding 24-0 lead. Buffalo hit back later in the third quarter with a field goal and touchdown to reduce the deficit to 14 points, but another Redskins touchdown before the end of the quarter made the score 31-10. Two more field goals by Lohmiller made the score 37-10 in the fourth quarter. The Bills scored two passing touchdowns late in the game to make the score 37-24 at the final whistle. [NFL References: 1-2]
In other leagues, Cleveland Falcons triumphed 7-0 versus Dayton Steelers in the Mid-Continental Football League (MCFL) Championship Game. The MCFL was a new start-up league based in Ohio and Pennsylvania that took the place of any major 11v11 rival outdoor league to the NFL since the demise of the United States Football League following the 1985 season. Following the season Louisville Bulls of Kentucky replaced Wyandot Chiefs in the four-team league. [MCFL References: 1-2]
In the Canadian Football League, the Eastern Division’s Toronto Argonauts emerged victorious with a 36-21 victory over Calgary Stampeders. Calgary had the second-best record in the Western Division (11-7) after Edmonton Eskimoes, with Toronto putting up a 13-5 record to take first in the Eastern Division. Calgary eliminated Edmonton 38-36 in the Western Final and Toronto won 42-3 versus Winnipeg in the Eastern Final. [CFL References: 1]
The National Football League established the World League of American Football (WLAF) to further promote the sport around the World. Beginning in 1991 with ten teams the WLAF was divided into three divisions: European (with teams in London, England, UK; Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; and Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany); North American East Division (three teams in USA: New York/New Jersey Knights, NJ; Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks, NC; and Orlando Thunder, FL; plus one team in Quebec, Canada: Montreal Machine) and North American West Division (Three teams in USA: Birmingham Fire, AL; San Antonio Riders, TX; and Sacramento Surge, CA). An imbalance in players allocated by the NFL for development in the WLAF meant no team in the European Division finished with a losing record, and no team in either North American Division finished with a winning record. World Bowl ’91 was won by London Monarchs by 21-0 versus Barcelona Dragons at the hallowed grounds of Wembley Stadium, the home of England’s National Soccer Team. Following the 1991 season the winless Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks were replaced by Ohio Glory in Columbus for 1992. [WLAF References: 1-4]
The Arena Football League in 1991 expanded by two teams to eight, with Washington Commandos and Pittsburgh Gladiators leaving the league and replaced by four new teams in Tampa Bay Storm (FL), Orlando Predators (FL), New Orleans Night (LA) and Columbus Thunderbolts (OH). Tampa Bay Storm were immediately successful, winning Arena Bowl V 48-42 versus Detroit Drive. As in all other Major Football Leagues in 1991 the two teams with best records reached the Championship Game. Following the season Thunderbolts relocated to Cleveland (OH) and Cincinnati Rockers (OH), Charlotte Rage (NC), Sacramento Attack (CA) and San Antonio Force (TX) were added for 1992. [AFL References: 1]
A new Football power emerged on the scene in 1991: The USSR. Following glasnost the USSR opened up to American Football and a six-team league was established with teams in Moscow (Bruins and Swans), Caspian Sea Region (Sphinxes), Ukraine (Donetsk Scythians and Kharkov Atlantis) and Belarus (Minsk Zubrs – ‘Bison’). The first and only official Championship of USSR ended with a Moscow Bruins victory over Moscow Swans. After the season the USSR broke up, with Moscow Bears (Bruins) and Krasnoyarsk Siberian Devils competing for Championship of Russia. Kharkov Atlantis and Donetsk Scythians joined newly independent Ukraine’s Football Association and Minsk Zubrs joined Belarus’ Football Association. [AAF USSR References 1-2]
Stock Image
1991 Major Football League References
NFL References [1]
National Football League – 1996 Record and Factbook “Past Standings: 1996” p. 278.
Published by National Football League, Workman Publishing Co., New York
NFL References [2]
National Football League – 1996 Record and Factbook “Super Bowl Summaries” p. 327-329.
Published by National Football League, Workman Publishing Co., New York
MCFL References (1)
Semi-Pro Football -Defunct Leagues: EMCFL (Champs)
https://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/champs/mcfl.htm
[Accessed 1 January 2024]
MCFL References (2)
Semi-Pro Football – Defunct Leagues: EMCFL (1991)
https://www.semiprofootball.org/index.htm
[Accessed 1 January 2024]
CFL References (1)
Canadian Football League – CFL Standings: The 1990s
http://web.archive.org/web/19991108193646/http://www.cfl.ca/CFLArchives/1990s.html
[Accessed 20 January 2023][Archived at the Wayback Machine]
WLAF References (1-3)
Anon. (1991) “Standings” First Down, June 1, 1991, pg. 5
Anon. (1991) “Jon’s too Hort to handle” First Down, June 8, 1991, pg. 4-5
Anglesey, Steve (1991) “Enter the Dragons!” First Down, June 15, 1992, pg. 6-7
WLAF References (4)
World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1991
http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id165.html
[Accessed 23 April 2018]
Arena Football League References (1)
Arena Football League (2016) 2016 Record and Factbook pp. 67-83 / 52.
AAF USSR References (1)
American Football in Russia (2017) History of American Football in USSR and Russia
http://www.americanfootball.ru/Hist_RUS.php
Accessed 24 December 2017
AAF USSR References (2)
Anon. (1991) “Curtain Call” First Down. September 29, 1991. pg. 10.
Published by Mediawatch, Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom.
About this Document
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 1 January 2024
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2024
You may quote this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only. All Rights Reserved.
