Tarkenton enjoyed his best season with the Giants in 1970. The club overcame an 0–3 start to win nine of the next 10 games and move into position to win the NFC East division championship in week 14. However, New York was routed 31–3 by the Los Angeles Rams at Yankee Stadium, leaving the Giants 9–5, one game behind the division champion Dallas Cowboys and the wild card Detroit Lions. The 1970 season was the closest the Giants came to making the playoffs during a 17-year drought, spanning the 1964 through 1980 seasons.