Ralph Vacchiano's post on New York Giants | Latest updates on Sulia
... but it's only the 2nd time that the lone non-returning team was the defending champions. The first? Answer:
In 1988 (the 1987 season), the Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns reprised their AFC championship game from the year before, while the Washington Redskins made a return trip to the NFC championship game.
The defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants did not make the playoffs that year.