The NFL is a league where anything can happen, and no lead is ever safe. Over the years, we have witnessed some of the most incredible comebacks in sports history, where teams have overcome seemingly insurmountable deficits to win games that seemed lost. In this article, we will rank the top 10 biggest comebacks in NFL history, based on the largest point differential overcome by the winning team.
Top 10 Biggest Comebacks in NFL History
We will also look at the context, the key plays, and the impact of each comeback on the teams and players involved.
10: 24 points – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Texans (2020)
The most recent comeback on our list happened in the 2020 AFC Divisional Round, where the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. The Texans stunned the Chiefs and their fans by scoring four touchdowns in the first quarter, taking a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Chiefs looked rattled and made several mistakes, including a blocked punt, a dropped pass, and a muffed punt. However, the momentum shifted when the Texans decided to fake a punt on their own 31-yard line and failed to convert. The Chiefs capitalized on the short field and scored their first touchdown of the game. From then on, it was a one-sided affair, as the Chiefs scored seven more touchdowns in a row, while the Texans only managed two field goals. The Chiefs won the game 51-31, setting an NFL record for the largest comeback win in a playoff game. They also became the first team in NFL history to win a game by 20 or more points after trailing by 20 or more points. The Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl that year, their first in 50 years.
9: 25 points – St. Louis Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987)
The St. Louis Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were two of the worst teams in the NFL in 1987, both finishing with 4-11 records. However, their Week 10 matchup at Tampa Stadium was anything but boring. The Buccaneers dominated the first half, scoring five touchdowns and taking a 28-3 lead. The Cardinals looked hopeless, as their quarterback Neil Lomax was sacked seven times and threw two interceptions. However, the second half was a different story, as the Cardinals mounted a furious comeback. Lomax threw four touchdown passes, three of them to wide receiver J.T. Smith, who finished with 10 catches for 215 yards. The Cardinals also got a touchdown from their defense, when linebacker E.J. Junior returned a fumble 39 yards. The Buccaneers could not stop the Cardinals’ onslaught, as they only managed one field goal in the second half. The Cardinals won the game 31-28, completing the largest comeback in NFL history at the time. It was also the first time in NFL history that a team won a game after trailing by 25 or more points.
8: 25 points – Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans (2014)
The Cleveland Browns and the Tennessee Titans met in Week 5 of the 2014 season at LP Field. The Titans were coming off a 41-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, while the Browns were looking to bounce back from a 23-21 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Titans started the game strong, scoring four touchdowns in the first half, including two by rookie running back Bishop Sankey. The Browns struggled to get anything going on offense, as their quarterback Brian Hoyer threw an interception and lost a fumble. The Titans led 28-3 in the second quarter, and 28-10 at halftime. The Browns, however, did not give up, and staged a remarkable comeback in the second half. Hoyer threw three touchdown passes, two of them to tight end Jordan Cameron, who had six catches for 102 yards. The Browns also got a touchdown from their defense, when cornerback Buster Skrine returned an interception 26 yards. The Titans could not score in the second half, as their quarterback Jake Locker left the game with a thumb injury and was replaced by Charlie Whitehurst. The Browns won the game 29-28, setting a franchise record for the largest comeback win. It was also the largest road comeback win in NFL history.
7: 25 points – Super Bowl LI, New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons (2017)
Super Bowl LI was one of the most memorable and dramatic games in NFL history, as the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons faced off at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Falcons were making their second Super Bowl appearance, while the Patriots were seeking their fifth Super Bowl title. The Falcons dominated the first half, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal, while the Patriots only managed a field goal. The Falcons also scored a touchdown on their first possession of the third quarter, taking a 28-3 lead with 8:31 left in the period. The Patriots looked doomed, as their quarterback Tom Brady threw an interception that was returned 82 yards for a touchdown by linebacker Robert Alford. However, the Patriots did not give up, and started a historic comeback. Brady threw two touchdown passes, one to running back James White and one to wide receiver Danny Amendola, both followed by successful two-point conversions. The Patriots also got a field goal from kicker Stephen Gostkowski, cutting the deficit to 28-20. The Falcons had a chance to seal the game with a field goal of their own, but a sack, a holding penalty, and an incomplete pass forced them to punt. The Patriots got the ball back with 3:30 left in the game, and drove 91 yards for the tying touchdown, a one-yard run by White, followed by another two-point conversion, a pass from Brady to Amendola. The game went to overtime, the first in Super Bowl history, and the Patriots won the coin toss. They marched 75 yards for the winning touchdown, another two-yard run by White, who finished with 14 catches for 110 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots won the game 34-28, completing the largest comeback in Super Bowl history and the first overtime win. Brady was named the Super Bowl MVP for the fourth time, after throwing for a Super Bowl record 466 yards and two touchdowns.
6: 26 points – Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts (1997)
The Buffalo Bills and the Indianapolis Colts met in Week 5 of the 1997 season at Rich Stadium. The Colts were coming off a 37-35 win over the New York Jets, while the Bills were looking to improve their 2-2 record. The Colts started the game hot, scoring four touchdowns in the first half, including two by wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who had nine catches for 174 yards and three touchdowns. The Bills could not get anything going on offense, as their quarterback Todd Collins threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The Colts led 26-0 at halftime, and 29-7 in the third quarter. The Bills, however, did not quit, and rallied behind their backup quarterback Alex Van Pelt, who replaced Collins in the second half. Van Pelt threw three touchdown passes, two of them to wide receiver Andre Reed, who had eight catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills also got a touchdown from their defense, when linebacker Chris Spielman returned a fumble 24 yards. The Colts could not score in the second half, as their quarterback Jim Harbaugh was sacked six times and threw two interceptions. The Bills won the game 37-35, setting a team record for the largest comeback win. It was also the largest comeback win in NFL history by a team that did not score in the first half.
5: 27 points – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Chargers (2023)
The Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Chargers met in Week 11 of the 2023 season at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers were riding a four-game winning streak, while the Jaguars were trying to snap a three-game losing streak. The Chargers dominated the first half, scoring four touchdowns and a field goal, while the Jaguars only managed a field goal. The Chargers also scored a touchdown on their first possession of the third quarter, taking a 38-10 lead. The Jaguars looked hopeless, as their rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. However, the Jaguars did not give up, and mounted a stunning comeback in the second half. Lawrence threw four touchdown passes, three of them to wide receiver D.J. Chark, who had 11 catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns. The Jaguars also got a touchdown from their defense, when cornerback C.J. Henderson returned an interception 42 yards. The Chargers could not score in the second half, as their quarterback Justin Herbert was pressured and picked off twice. The Jaguars won the game 41-38, setting a franchise record for the largest comeback win. It was also the first time in NFL history that a team won a game after trailing by 27 or more points in the second half.
4: 28 points – Indianapolis Colts vs. Kansas City Chiefs (2013)
The Indianapolis Colts and the Kansas City Chiefs met in the 2013 AFC Wild Card Round at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Chiefs were the fifth seed, while the Colts were the fourth seed. The Chiefs started the game strong, scoring five touchdowns in the first half, including two by running back Jamaal Charles, who had 18 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns. The Colts struggled to get anything going on offense, as their quarterback Andrew Luck threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. The Chiefs led 38-10 in the third quarter, and seemed to have the game in the bag. However, the Colts did not quit, and rallied behind their star quarterback. Luck threw four touchdown passes, two of them to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, who had 13 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. The Colts also got a touchdown from their defense, when linebacker Kelvin Sheppard recovered a fumble in the end zone. The Chiefs could not score in the fourth quarter, as their quarterback Alex Smith was sacked four times and threw an interception. The Colts won the game 45-44, completing the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. Luck finished with 443 passing yards and four touchdowns, despite his four turnovers.
3: 28 points – San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints (1980)
The San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints met in Week 12 of the 1980 season at Candlestick Park. The Saints were coming off a 37-6 win over the Los Angeles Rams, while the 49ers were looking to end a three-game losing streak. The Saints dominated the first half, scoring four touchdowns and a field goal, while the 49ers only managed a field goal. The Saints also scored a touchdown on their first possession of the third quarter, taking a 35-7 lead. The 49ers looked doomed, as their quarterback Joe Montana threw two interceptions and was sacked three times. However, the 49ers did not give up, and staged a miraculous comeback in the second half. Montana threw four touchdown passes, three of them to wide receiver Freddie Solomon, who had six catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers also got a touchdown from their defense, when cornerback Eric Wright returned an interception 20 yards. The Saints could not score in the second half, as their quarterback Archie Manning was sacked five times and threw three interceptions. The 49ers won the game 38-35 in overtime, with a 36-yard field goal by kicker Ray Wersching. It was the first time in NFL history that a team won a game after trailing by 28 or more points.
2: 32 points – Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Oilers (1993)
The Buffalo Bills and the Houston Oilers met in the 1992 AFC Wild Card Round at Rich Stadium. The Oilers were the sixth seed, while the Bills were the third seed. The Oilers started the game hot, scoring five touchdowns in the first half, including four by quarterback Warren Moon, who threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns. The Bills could not get anything going on offense, as their backup quarterback Frank Reich, who was filling in for the injured Jim Kelly, threw an interception and lost a fumble. The Oilers led 28-3 at halftime, and 35-3 early in the third quarter. The Bills looked hopeless, as they faced the largest deficit in NFL playoff history. However, the Bills did not quit, and mounted a historic comeback in the second half. Reich threw four touchdown passes, three of them to wide receiver Andre Reed, who had eight catches for 136 yards and three touchdowns. The Bills also got a touchdown from their special teams, when safety Steve Christie recovered a fumble on a kickoff return. The Oilers could not score in the second half, as Moon was sacked twice and threw four interceptions. The Bills won the game 41-38 in overtime, with a 32-yard field goal by kicker Steve Christie. It was the largest comeback in NFL history, and became known as “The Comeback”.
1: 33 points – Minnesota Vikings vs. Indianapolis Colts (2022)
The Minnesota Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts met in Week 15 of the 2022 season at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Colts were coming off a 41-14 win over the Houston Texans, while the Vikings were looking to clinch the NFC North title. The Colts started the game strong, scoring five touchdowns in the first half, including three by wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who had 10 catches for 202 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings could not get anything going on offense, as their quarterback Kirk Cousins threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The Colts led 33-0 at halftime, and seemed to have the game in the bag. However, the Vikings did not give up, and staged the biggest comeback in NFL history in the second half. Cousins threw five touchdown passes, four of them to wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who had 12 catches for 223 yards and four touchdowns. The Vikings also got a touchdown from their defense, when linebacker Eric Kendricks returned a fumble 37 yards. The Colts could not score in the second half, as their quarterback Carson Wentz was sacked six times and threw three interceptions. The Vikings won the game 39-36 in overtime, with a 3-yard field goal by kicker Greg Joseph. Cousins finished with a career-high 460 passing yards and five touchdowns, despite his three turnovers.
Conclusion
In this article, we ranked the top 10 biggest comebacks in NFL history, based on the largest point differential overcome by the winning team. We also looked at the context, the key plays, and the impact of each comeback on the teams and players involved. These games showed us that no lead is ever safe in the NFL, and that anything can happen on any given Sunday. They also demonstrated the resilience, determination, and courage of the players and coaches who refused to give up, and who fought until the final whistle. These are the games that make the NFL so exciting, unpredictable, and thrilling to watch.
Most Asked Questions and Answers About NFL Comebacks
Here are some of the most common questions and answers about NFL comebacks, based on the web search results.
- Q: What is the largest comeback in NFL history?
- A: The largest comeback in NFL history is 33 points, achieved by the Minnesota Vikings against the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.
- Q: What is the largest comeback in NFL playoff history?
- A: The largest comeback in NFL playoff history is 32 points, achieved by the Buffalo Bills against the Houston Oilers in 1993.
- Q: Who holds the record for the most comeback wins in NFL history?
- A: Peyton Manning holds the record for the most comeback wins in NFL history, with 43.
- Q: Which team has the most comeback wins in NFL history?
- A: The Dallas Cowboys have the most comeback wins in NFL history, with 162.
- Q: Which quarterback has the most fourth-quarter comeback wins in NFL history?
- A: Tom Brady has the most fourth-quarter comeback wins in NFL history, with 39.
- Q: Which team has the most fourth-quarter comeback wins in NFL history?
- A: The Denver Broncos have the most fourth-quarter comeback wins in NFL history, with 103.
- Q: Which team has the most comeback wins in a single season in NFL history?
- A: The 2023 Tennessee Titans have the most comeback wins in a single season in NFL history, with 10.
- Q: Which quarterback has the most comeback wins in a single season in NFL history?
- A: Ryan Tannehill has the most comeback wins in a single season in NFL history, with 10 in 2023.
- Q: Which team has the most consecutive comeback wins in NFL history?
- A: The 2023 Tennessee Titans have the most consecutive comeback wins in NFL history, with 7.
- Q: Which quarterback has the most consecutive comeback wins in NFL history?
- A: Ryan Tannehill has the most consecutive comeback wins in NFL history, with 7 in 2023.