The 2012 New York Giants season was the franchise's 88th season in the National Football League (NFL), the ninth under head coach Tom Coughlin and the third playing their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants began the 2012 season as defending Super Bowl Champions for the fourth time in their history, by virtue of their 21–17 victory in Super Bowl XLVI over the New England Patriots, their second Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. The Giants finished 9–7 for the second straight year, but failed to make the playoffs. Like in 2011, the Giants went 3–5 after a 6–2 start. The 2012 Giants were also the first defending Super Bowl champion to miss the playoffs since the 2009 Steelers.