The Minnesota Vikings He capped off the biggest comeback in NFL history, erasing a 33-point halftime deficit to complete a 39-36 overtime win over Indianapolis Colts. Kirk Cousins threw for 417 yards in the second half and overtime, the most by a player in NFL history—fitting for the largest running back in league history.
Since the Vikings decided to rewrite NFL records, let’s take a look at the five biggest running backs in NFL history—including a record surpassed by Minnesota in the process.
1. Minnesota Vikings 39, Indianapolis Colts 36 (OT) – 33 points (Week 15, 2022 regular season)
The biggest comeback in NFL history belongs to the Vikings, who overcame a 33-0 halftime deficit to pull off an improbable comeback and clinch the NFC North title. Cousins threw four touchdown passes in the second half as the Vikings erased a 36-7 deficit with 4:53 left in the third quarter to score their last 32 points of the half.
Minnesota scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, tying the game on Dalvin Cook’s 64-yard reception from Cousins with 2:15 to play in regulation. The Vikings got the ball in overtime – after having their first possession of overtime – with 1:41 to play as Cousins drove the Vikings 60 yards down the field leading to a 40-yard Greg Joseph field goal to win with three seconds remaining in overtime. .
Cousins overcame two interceptions throwing for 460 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Colts quarterback Matt Ryan ended up being the starting quarterback by 25 points, the only player in league history with that distinction.
2. Buffalo bills 41, Houston Oilers 38 (overtime) – 32 points (1992 FIFA World Qualifiers)
What was the biggest comeback in NFL history remains one of the most unlikely comebacks the league has ever seen. Bills backup quarterback Frank Reich engineered the game known as “the comeback” as Buffalo erased a 35-3 deficit in the third quarter to seal the win.
Reich threw four touchdown passes in the second half, three to Andre Reed and one to Don Pepe as the Bills led 38-35 with 3:08 to play (Reich threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Reid). The Oilers rallied to tie it up as Warren Moon led them on a 63-yard touchdown run that led to an Al Del Greco field goal to send the game into overtime.
Houston got the ball first in overtime, but Moon threw an interception to Nate Odomes who gave the Bills the ball at the Oilers’ 20-yard line. Replays showed that the intended target was Ernest Givens being held by Darrell Talley, but no flag was thrown. Steve Christie hit a 32-yard field goal to complete the improbable comeback as the Bills would end up going to their third straight Super Bowl a few weeks later.
3 – Indianapolis Colts 45, Kansas City Chiefs 44-28 points (AFC Wild Card Playoffs 2013)
In his first season with the Chiefs, Andy Reed appeared to be on his way to a playoff victory after taking a 38-10 lead early in the third quarter after Knile Davis caught a 10-yard pass from Alex Smith. The Colts outscored the Chiefs 21-3 for the remainder of the quarter to cut the deficit to 41-31 entering the fourth.
Indianapolis actually fumbled the ball trying to cut the lead to three when Andrew Luck recovered the fumble and ran the ball in one of the strangest plays in NFL history. Luck hit TY Hilton for a 64-yard touchdown pass with 4:21 left to give Indianapolis a 45-44 lead, as the Colts held the Chiefs on their ensuing possession to crown the comeback.
Luck threw for 443 yards with four touchdowns, overcoming three interceptions in the process. Hilton caught 13 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns as both teams finished with over 500 yards of offense.
The legend of Joe Montana started in San Francisco in this game. San Francisco was outscored 324-21 at halftime and trailed 35-7 at halftime, with the 49ers only touchdowns on a 57-yard return by Freddie Solomon.
Montana threw two touchdown passes in the second half, a 71-yard pass to Dwight Clark and then a 14-yard pass to Solomon to make it 35-28. Lenvil Elliott tied the game with a 7-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
Montana capped the comeback in overtime, as the 49ers sealed the win with Ray Wersching drilling 36 yards. Montana threw two touchdown passes and rushed for one in the second half, finishing 24 of 36 for 285 yards. The Saints fell to 0-14 with the loss, the infamous ‘Aints’ worst defeat.
5. Buffalo Bills 37, Indianapolis Colts 35-26 points (Week 4, 1997 regular season)
Buffalo trailed by 26 points in the second quarter before Todd Collins led the Bills to 10 unanswered points before halftime to make the deficit manageable. Antoine Smith rushed for three touchdowns in the second half, including a 54-yard run with 5:21 to play to give Buffalo a 37-29 lead.
The game wasn’t over, however, as Colts quarterback Paul Justin hit Marvin Harrison on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left in the game. The Colts went on to convert from two points and tie the game to force overtime, but Kurt Schultz broke up Justin’s pass to Harrison to keep the lead 37-35.
Indianapolis recovered the onside kick and attempted two desperate passes, but the final pass toward the end zone was picked off by Ken Irvin. Buffalo won despite five turnovers and two unfavorable kicks.
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