List of largest comebacks in NFL games

Last updated

Quarterback Kirk Cousins led the Minnesota Vikings on a record-breaking comeback from a 33-0 deficit in 2022. Kirk Cousins (croppedyellow).jpg
Quarterback Kirk Cousins led the Minnesota Vikings on a record-breaking comeback from a 33–0 deficit in 2022.

This is a list of the largest deficits overcome to win NFL games, from either the regular season or the postseason. Wins after trailing by 25 points or more have been rare in NFL history, with only nine in over 100 years, including four in the postseason. There have also been two ties after trailing by such a deficit. Comebacks from exactly 24 points behind have been relatively common, with seventeen occurrences (two in the playoffs). [1]

Contents

The record for the largest NFL comeback is held by the Minnesota Vikings, who overcame a third-quarter deficit of 33–0 to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 39–36 in overtime during the 2022 NFL season. The Colts have been featured in three of the top six comebacks, having also won from 28 points behind and lost from 26 points ahead. The biggest playoff comeback was made by the Buffalo Bills when they won from 35–3 back in the 1992 wild card round, while the biggest Super Bowl comeback came in Super Bowl LI, when the New England Patriots erased a 28–3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons.

Quarterback Matt Ryan started on both the losing Falcons team in Super Bowl LI and the beaten Colts team in 2022. By contrast, head coach Marv Levy led the Bills to two of the three biggest comebacks of the 20th century. [2]

Largest deficits overcome to win

Largest deficits overcome to win NFL games
RankLargest deficitSeasonWeekWinning teamLosing teamVenueScoresNotesRef
133 points 2022 15 Minnesota Vikings Indianapolis Colts U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota Colts led
33–0
Vikings won
39–36 (OT)		The current NFL record. Minnesota gave up return touchdowns from a blocked punt and an interception and trailed 33–0 at halftime. Between 8:22 to play in the 3rd quarter and 2:15 to play in the 4th quarter the Vikings outscored Indianapolis 36–3; they scored five touchdowns in the space of seven possessions. In overtime, Minnesota drove 60 yards and Greg Joseph won the game on a 40-yard field goal with 3 seconds left in the extra period. [3] [4]
232 points 1992 Wild Card Buffalo Bills Houston Oilers Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Oilers led
35–3
Bills won
41–38 (OT)		Playoff record. Backup quarterback Frank Reich led the Bills to four touchdowns between 8:52 and 2:00 of the 3rd quarter to begin the comeback. Buffalo took the lead on Andre Reed's third touchdown catch with 3:08 to play, before the Oilers forced overtime with a field goal. Nate Odomes intercepted a Warren Moon pass early in overtime and Steve Christie won the game with a 32-yard field goal. Popularly known as "The Comeback." [5] [6]
328 points 2013 Wild Card Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana Chiefs led
38–10
Colts won
45–44		The largest comeback not requiring overtime. Starting with 11:47 remaining in the 3rd quarter, Indianapolis scored five touchdowns while conceding only two field goals. After the Colts took the lead with 4:21 remaining, Kansas City drove into Colts territory before turning the ball over on downs. Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck threw for four touchdowns on the day and scored another on a fumble recovery. [7] [8]
1980 14 San Francisco 49ers New Orleans Saints Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California Saints led
35–7
49ers won
38–35 (OT)		After trailing by 28 points at halftime, San Francisco scored four unanswered touchdowns in the second half and tied the score with 1:50 to play. After forcing a New Orleans punt on the first possession of overtime, the 49ers drove for Ray Wersching's game-winning field goal. [9] [10]
527 points2022Wild Card Jacksonville Jaguars Los Angeles Chargers TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida Chargers led
27–0
Jaguars won
31–30		After throwing four interceptions, the Jaguars found themselves in a 27–0 deficit approaching halftime. Starting with a touchdown with :28 left in the 2nd quarter, Jacksonville then outscored the Chargers 31–3 for the rest of the game. The Jaguars successfully converted a two-point conversion after scoring a touchdown, cutting the lead to 2 points with 5:40 to play in the 4th quarter. After forcing a Chargers punt, the Jaguars drove for Riley Patterson's 36-yard winning field goal. [11] [12]
626 points 1997 4 Buffalo Bills Indianapolis Colts Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Colts led
26–0
Bills won
37–35		Between 2:12 to play in the 2nd quarter and 1:14 to play in the 4th quarter, Buffalo outscored Indianapolis 37–3. Trailing by eight points, the Colts drove for a late touchdown but failed on a game-tying two-point conversion attempt. [13] [14]
725 points 2016 Super Bowl New England Patriots Atlanta Falcons NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas Falcons led 28–3
Patriots won 34–28 (OT)		Super Bowl record. Starting with 2:06 to play in the 3rd quarter, New England scored 25 unanswered points from four offensive drives. They tied the game with 57 seconds remaining in regulation, then won it with a touchdown on the first drive of overtime. [15] [16]
2014 5 Cleveland Browns Tennessee Titans LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee Titans
led 28–3
Browns
won 29–28		Largest comeback by the away team. The Titans ran no further plays in Cleveland territory after taking their 25-point lead in the 2nd quarter. Cleveland scored 26 unanswered points, beginning 12 seconds before halftime and finishing with 1:09 left in the game. [17] [18]
1987 9 St. Louis Cardinals Tampa Bay Buccaneers Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Buccaneers
led 28–3
Cardinals
won 31–28		The largest 4th-quarter comeback. Starting with 12:42 remaining in the game, St. Louis scored 28 unanswered points to take the lead with 2:01 to play. A 53-yard field goal attempt by Buccaneers kicker Donald Igwebuike struck the crossbar as time expired. [19] [20]

Largest deficits overcome to tie

Largest deficits overcome to tie NFL games
RankLargest deficitSeasonWeekAway teamHome teamVenueScoresNotesRef
131 points 1960 12 Buffalo Bills Denver Broncos Bears Stadium, Denver, Colorado Bills led 38–7
tied 38–38		 AFL game. Denver scored 31 unanswered points starting late in the 3rd quarter, tying the game on a field goal with 4 seconds left in the game. No overtime was played. [lower-alpha 1] [22] [23]
228 points 1948 2 Philadelphia Eagles Los Angeles Rams Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California Eagles led 28–0
tied 28–28		Beginning with approximately two minutes to play in the 3rd quarter, and finishing with fewer than 30 seconds to play, the Rams scored four unanswered touchdowns. Philadelphia missed a potential game-winning 52-yard field goal as time expired. No overtime was played. [lower-alpha 1] [24] [25]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Overtime was not used in professional football for regular season games until the NFL adopted it in 1974. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Colts</span> National Football League franchise in Indiana

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 season, the Colts have played their games in Lucas Oil Stadium. Previously, the team had played for over two decades (1984–2007) at the RCA Dome. Since 1987, the Colts have served as the host team for the NFL Scouting Combine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Vinatieri</span> American football player (born 1972)

Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American former football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 24 seasons with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Considered one of the greatest placekickers of all time, he is the NFL's all-time leading scorer at 2,673 points. He also holds the NFL records for field goals made (599), postseason points (238), and overtime field goals made (12).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwight Freeney</span> American football player (born 1980)

Dwight Jason Freeney is an American former football player who played as a defensive end and linebacker for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Syracuse Orangemen, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. With the Colts, Freeney won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears, and made seven Pro Bowls. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Reich</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

Frank Michael Reich is a former American football head coach and former quarterback. He served as the head coach for the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 1985 NFL Draft. Reich spent most of his career backing up Jim Kelly, although he achieved recognition when he led the Bills to the NFL's largest postseason comeback during the 1992–93 NFL playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Comeback (American football)</span> 1993 American football playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Oilers

The Comeback was a National Football League (NFL) game held on January 3, 1993, as part of the 1992–93 NFL playoffs. The Buffalo Bills overcame a 35–3 deficit to defeat the visiting Houston Oilers 41–38 in overtime and set the then-record for largest comeback in NFL history. Though surpassed by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, the Bills' 32-point comeback remains the largest comeback in postseason history and the second largest overall. It was also the first time an NFL team with a lead of at least 30 points lost the game, and the only one until the aforementioned Colts–Vikings game in 2022.

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that weekend off. This marked the first time since the 1966 NFL season and the AFL seasons of 1966 and 1967 that there were byes in week 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Branch</span> American football player (born 1984)

Alan Keith Branch is a former American football defensive tackle. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft and has also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots. He played college football at Michigan.

NFL's Greatest Games is a series of television programs that air on NFL Network, ESPN and related networks. They are condensed versions of some of the most famous games in the history of the National Football League, using footage and sound captured by NFL Films, as well as original interviews. All installments produced before 2015 are 90 minutes in length, and are presented with a title in respect to the game being featured. Starting in 2015, new installments produced run for either 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes, and no longer have a title beyond the actual game itself that is featured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Daboll</span> Canadian-born American football coach (born 1975)

Brian Michael Daboll is a Canadian-born American football coach who is the head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Buffalo Bills. Daboll has also served in various capacities as an assistant coach for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2016.

The 1992 Buffalo Bills season was the 33rd season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). The Buffalo Bills entered the season as defending back to back AFC champions and finished the National Football League's 1992 season with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses, and finished second in the AFC East division. The Bills qualified for their third straight Super Bowl appearance, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys 52–17. This would be the only time the Bills did not finish first in the AFC Eastern Division from 1988 to 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Houston Oilers season</span> 33rd season in franchise history

The 1992 Houston Oilers season was the team's 33rd season and their 23rd in the National Football League (NFL).

Brian Francisco Flores is an American football coach who is the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL career with the New England Patriots, where he served as an assistant coach from 2008 to 2018. Flores was New England's defensive playcaller during his final season coaching for the team, which concluded with a victory in Super Bowl LIII. Following the victory, he served as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 New Orleans Saints season</span> NFL team season (1st 1–15 season)

The 1980 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 14th as a member of the National Football League (NFL). The Saints failed to improve on the previous season's record of 8–8, instead winning only one game. The team missed the playoffs for the fourteenth consecutive season and had the dubious distinction not only of winning only a single game, but winning it by a single point against the New York Jets, who like the Saints had widely been predicted before the season to advance to the playoffs, but struggled instead. The main culprit of the Saints' collapse was the defense, which ranked last in yards and points (487) allowed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl LI</span> 2017 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl LI was an American football game played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 5, 2017, to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2016 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Atlanta Falcons, 34–28. Super Bowl LI featured the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, with the Patriots overcoming a 28–3 deficit to emerge victorious. Due to the comeback, the game is nicknamed "28–3". The game was also the first Super Bowl to be decided in overtime.

Patrick Scott DiMarco is an American former football fullback in the National Football League (NFL). He was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at South Carolina. He has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, and Buffalo Bills. DiMarco is currently an analyst on the football staff at South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeForest Buckner</span> American football player (born 1994)

DeForest George Buckner is an American football defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. With the 49ers, Buckner made a Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2019. With the Colts, he was selected to the first-team All Pro in 2020 and made the Pro Bowl the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamil Douglas</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jamil Douglas is an American football guard who is a free agent. He played college football at Arizona State. He has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Football Team.

The 2016 Alamo Bowl was an American college football bowl game played on January 2, 2016, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The 23rd edition of the Alamo Bowl featured the Oregon Ducks from the Pac-12 Conference and the TCU Horned Frogs from the Big 12 Conference. It was televised at 5:45 p.m. CST on ESPN and heard on ESPN Radio. It was one of the 2015–16 bowl games that concluded the 2015 FBS football season. The game was sponsored by the Valero Energy Corporation and was officially known as the Valero Alamo Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 NFC Championship Game</span> NFL conference title game decided by a last-minute missed field goal

The 1998 NFC Championship Game was the 29th title game of the National Football Conference (NFC). This National Football League (NFL) playoff game was played on January 17, 1999, to determine the NFC champion for the 1998 NFL season. The visiting Atlanta Falcons defeated the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings 30–27 in sudden death overtime to win their first conference championship and advance to the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance. As a result of their loss, the Vikings were eliminated from the playoffs and became the first team in the history of the NFL to compile a regular season record of 15–1 and not win the Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Indianapolis Colts–Minnesota Vikings game</span> American football game

The 2022 Indianapolis Colts–Minnesota Vikings game was a National Football League (NFL) game played at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on December 17, 2022, as part of the 2022 NFL season. The Minnesota Vikings overcame a 33–0 halftime deficit to defeat the visiting Indianapolis Colts 39–36 in overtime and complete the largest comeback in NFL history. It was the third NFL/AFL game in which a team with a lead of at least 30 points failed to win after the Denver Broncos overcame a 31-point deficit to tie the Buffalo Bills in the 1960 AFL season and the Buffalo Bills overcame a 32-point deficit to defeat the Houston Oilers in a 1992 Wild Card playoff game.

References

  1. ↑ 2022 NFL Record and Fact Book (PDF). NFL. 2022. pp. 307–309. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ Goldberg, Dave (September 23, 1997). "Buoyant Bills". Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal. AP. p. 3B.
  3. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings - December 17th, 2022". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Comeback king Vikings set NFL rally record in win vs. Colts". espn.com. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Wild Card - Houston Oilers at Buffalo Bills - January 3rd, 1993". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 4, 1993). "Reich strikes again in Bills' record rally". Fresno Bee. Associated Press. pp. C1, C4.
  7. ↑ "Wild Card - Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts - January 4th, 2014". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  8. ↑ Wells, Mike (11 January 2019). "Andrew Luck's masterpiece: Comeback vs. Chiefs in '13 playoffs". espn.com. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers - December 7th, 1980". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Trailing by 28, 49ers stun Saints in overtime 38–35". Modesto Bee. Associated Press. December 8, 1980. p. D-1.
  11. ↑ "Los Angeles Chargers at Jacksonville Jaguars - January 14th, 2023". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Chargers blow 27-point lead, Jaguars advance in AFC playoffs". espn.com. 15 January 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills - September 21st, 1997". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Buffalo comes from 26 back to defeat Indianapolis". North County Times. Associated Press. September 22, 1997. p. C-6.
  15. ↑ "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Super Bowl LI box score". footballdb.com. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans - October 5th, 2014". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  18. ↑ Sessler, Marc. "Browns' record road comeback stuns Titans". nfl.com. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Cardinals - November 8th, 1987". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Cards rally from 28-3 deficit to win". Wichita Eagle. Associated Press. November 9, 1987. p. 9C.
  21. ↑ "NFL's first experiment with OT". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos - November 27th, 1960". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Broncos tie Bills via furious rally". Delaware Morning News. AP. November 28, 1960. p. 25.
  24. ↑ "Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams - October 3rd, 1948". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  25. ↑ Finch, Frank (October 4, 1948). "Waterfield's passes give Rams 28–28 tie". Los Angeles Times. pp. IV-1, IV-3.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.