What are the biggest comebacks in NFL history?

Spare a thought for the Los Angeles Chargers. 27-0 up approaching half-time in their Wild Card Weekend game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, they surely thought that they could put their feet up, whip the cigars out and cruise to a comfortable victory in the last two quarters (and a bit). Trevor Lawrence was the key man for the Jaguars, overcoming four interceptions in the first half to throw four touchdowns in the second to four different receivers. Riley Patterson’s 36-yard winning field goal within just under 90 seconds remaining completed one of the great comebacks in NFL history, as Jacksonville ran out 31-30 winners.

One of the greatest but not the greatest. And, curiously enough, not even the biggest comeback in the last month. The Jaguars win over the Chargers is fifth on the all-time list, let’s take a look at the top four.

What are the NFL’s greatest comebacks?

3=) San Francisco 49ers 38-35 New Orleans Saints (1980 season, week 14): 28-point deficit

Can we say that this was the moment Joe Montana, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, announced himself to the world? I think we can.

This was very much the ‘game of two halves’. The Saints hadn’t won all season but somehow raced into a 35-7 lead at half-time. But Montana came to the fore in the second half, throwing for two touchdown passes for Dwight Clark and Freddie Solomon as the 49ers rallied to force overtime. Again, Montana was the star, throwing for another two touchdown passes and rushing for another. Ray Wersching kicked the game-winning field goal and the Saints, now 0-14, became the ‘Aints’.

3=) Indianapolis Colts 45-44 Kansas City Chiefs (2013 AFC wild-card playoffs): 28-point deficit

This is the biggest ever NFL comeback victory which didn’t require overtime. Andy Reid was in his first season as Chiefs head coach and the team were on course for an impressive victory at 38-10 ahead early in the third quarter. But by the time there was still 4:21 remaining, the Colts were already in front, with quarterback Andrew Luck, despite three interceptions, throwing for four touchdowns and scoring another on a fumble recovery on what has been called one of the ‘weirdest’ plays in NFL history.

2) Buffalo Bills 41-38 Houston Oilers (1992 AFC wild-card playoffs): 32-point deficit

The largest comeback in NFL history until recently and the biggest ever in the playoffs. This game has become known as ‘The Comeback’ – will that change now that it’s no longer number one? – although you might argue that it didn’t follow the ‘standard’ comeback format.

Backup quarterback Frank Reich, with four touchdown passes, inspired the Bills to what looked to be a historic victory in regular time, only for the Oilers to hit back and force overtime thanks to an Al De Greco field goal. The game was settled early in overtime as Nate Odomes intercepted a Warren Moon pass, which ended up with Steve Christie hitting a 32-yard field goal.

The Bills would go on to their third straight Super Bowl just a few weeks later but were heavily beaten by the Dallas Cowboys.

1) Minnesota Vikings 39-36 Indianapolis Colts (2022 regular season): 33-point deficit

Will this game now be deemed ‘The Comeback’ a few years down the line? The new ‘greatest comeback in NFL’ history, which took place little over a month ago, on 17 December 2022. And, on top of that, one which clinched the NFC North title for the Vikings.

To say that it looked unlikely at half-time, however, would be something of an understatement, with the Colts 33-0 ahead. Step forward Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who threw for four touchdown passes – for some reason, that seems to be a common theme throughout these – in the second half, while Minnesota scored five touchdowns in the space of seven possessions; talk about efficiency.

The greatest comeback on the list in terms of points deficit and also the most dramatic as Greg Joseph won the game thanks to a 40-year field goal with only three seconds left in overtime.