List of largest comebacks in NFL games
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This is a list of the largest deficits overcome to win NFL games, from the regular season or 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 17 occurrences (two in the playoffs).[1]
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 postseason comeback was made by the Buffalo Bills, who overcame a third-quarter deficit of 35–3 to defeat the Houston Oilers 41–38 in overtime during 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 third-quarter deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to win in overtime 34–28.
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
| Rank | Largest deficit | Season | Week | Winning team | Losing team | Venue | Scores | Notes | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 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 fourth quarter, the Vikings outscored Indianapolis 36–3; they scored five touchdowns in seven possessions. In overtime, Minnesota drove 60 yards and Greg Joseph won the game on a 40-yard field goal with three seconds left in the extra period. | [3][4] | |
| 2 | 32 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 third quarter to begin the comeback. Buffalo took the lead on Andre Reed's third touchdown catch with 3:08 to in the fourth quarter, 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] | |
| 3 | 28 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] | |||
| 5 | 27 points | 2022 | Wild 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 seconds left in the second 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 two points with 5:40 to play in the fourth quarter. After forcing a Chargers punt, the Jaguars drove for Riley Patterson's 36-yard winning field goal. | [11][12] | |
| 6 | 26 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] | |
| 7 | 25 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 third quarter, New England scored 25 unanswered points from four offensive drives. They tied the game with 57 seconds left 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 a road team. The Titans ran no further plays in Cleveland territory after taking their 25-point lead in the second 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 fourth-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
| Rank | Largest deficit | Season | Week | Away team | Home team | Venue | Scores | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 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 third quarter, tying the game on a field goal with four seconds left in the game. No overtime was played.[a] | [22][23] |
| 3 | 28 points | 1947 | 2 | Cleveland Browns | New York Yankees | Yankee Stadium, New York, New York | Yankees led 28–0 tied 28–28 |
AAFC game. Beginning in the 2nd quarter and ending midway through the final quarter, Cleveland scored 28 unanswered points. New York missed out on a game-winning field goal attempt after mismanaging the clock. No overtime was played.[a] | [24][25] |
| 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 third 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.[a] | [26][27] | ||
Largest deficits overcome in postseason
| Rank | Largest deficit | Season | Round | Away team | Home team | Venue | Scores | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32 points | 1992 | AFC Wild Card | Houston Oilers | Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York | Oilers led 35–3 Bills won 41–38 |
Largest comeback in playoff history | |
| 2 | 28 points | 2013 | AFC Wild Card | Kansas City Chiefs | Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana | Chiefs led 38–10 Colts won 45–44 |
Colts scored 35 points in second half | |
| 3 | 27 points | 2022 | AFC Wild Card | Los Angeles Chargers | Jacksonville Jaguars | TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida | Chargers led 27–0 Jaguars won 31–30 |
Chargers led until final play, when Riley Patterson's 36-yard field goal was good with :00 remaining | |
| 4 | 25 points | 2016 | Super Bowl LI | New England Patriots | Atlanta Falcons | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas | Falcons led 28–3 Patriots won 34-28 |
Largest comeback in championship game in history, trailed by 19 in fourth quarter | |
| 5 | 24 points | 2002 | NFC Wild Card | New York Giants | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California | Giants led 38–14 49ers won 39–38 |
49ers scored 25 unanswered points in the last 17 minutes of the game; Giants' last-second field goal went awry due to bad snap | |
| 2019 | AFC Divisional | Houston Texans | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | Texans led 24–0 Chiefs won 51–31 |
Chiefs scored four touchdowns in the span of nine minutes to take the lead by halftime | |||
| 6 | 20 points | 1957 | Western Conference championship | Detroit Lions | San Francisco 49ers | Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California | 49ers led 27–7 Lions won 31–27 |
Lions scored 24 unanswered points in second half to reach NFL Championship Game; last road playoff win for Detroit as of 2026 | |
| 7 | 18 points | 1972 | NFC Divisional | Dallas Cowboys | San Francisco 49ers | Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California | 49ers led 21–3 Cowboys won 30–28 |
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| 1985 | AFC Divisional | Cleveland Browns | Miami Dolphins | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida | Browns led 21–3 Dolphins won 24–21 |
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| 2006 | AFC Championship | New England Patriots | Indianapolis Colts | RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana | Patriots led 21–3 Colts won 38–34 |
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| 2017 | AFC Wild Card | Tennessee Titans | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | Chiefs led 21–3 Titans won 22–21 |
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| 2021 | AFC Championship | Cincinnati Bengals | Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri | Chiefs led 21–3 Bengals won 27–24 (OT) |
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| 2025 | NFC Wild Card | Green Bay Packers | Chicago Bears | Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois | Packers led 21–3 Bears won 31–27 |
Chicago trailed 21–3 at halftime and 21–6 through three quarters, only to outscore Green Bay 25–6 in the fourth on the way to its first playoff win in 15 years. | [29] |