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ShareThisBuffalo continues its comeback tradition
The most famous comeback in history happened in Buffalo. The second largest comeback in regular season history occurred inside of Rich Stadium. The largest comeback in the NFL last season came via the right arm of Ryan Fitzpatrick. And now, Orchard Park was the site of another record, as the Bills became the first team to ever come back from 18+ deficits to win in consecutive weeks.
From 2002 to 2010, 22 teams overcame a deficit of 18 points or more to win a game. So far this season, the Bills have come from 18 and 21 points back to win in consecutive weeks. At the same time, the Vikings lost 17 and 20 point leads to Tampa Bay and Detroit. Jason Lisk thinks the craziness might continue, thanks to the ridiculous passing numbers so far this season (more to come on this in a future post).
From 1945 to 2010, there were 126 games where the winning team was trailing by more than 17 points at some point in the game. While the Bills became the first team to win consecutive games after trailing by 18+ points, six other teams did that feat twice over the course of a season. In '96, Bill Parcells' Patriots did the trick against his former and future employer, and in the same stadium: New England trailed the Jets 21-0 in week 11 and the Giants 22-0 in week 17, but ended up winning both games. The '95 Colts came up one play shy of the Super Bowl, but began their never-say-die ways earlier in the season. Indianapolis won two divisions games 27-24, after trailing 24-3 in both games against the Jets and Dolphins. In 1983, the Falcons trailed the (you guessed it) Jets and Packers 21-0 over the course of five weeks, but won both games by six points.
On the other side of things, it's hard to envision a more anxiety-inducing three weeks than weeks six through eight of the 1987 season for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay scored three first quarter touchdowns against the Chicago Bears, although failed to convert the PAT following the third touchdown. Tampa extended the lead to 26-14 in the third quarter, but ultimately fell 27-26. The next week, the Tampa defense held the Packers off the scoreboard in the first half. The Bucs extended the lead to 23-3 in the 4th quarter, before Green Bay scored two more touchdowns. Tampa held on for the victory. Then, against the Cardinals, the Buccaneers took a 28-3 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Cardinals scored four fourth quarter touchdowns to win the game, 31-28. Remember, folks: for every great comeback, there's an equal and opposite stomach punch.
| year | Tm | Opp | wk | H/R | PF | PA | PF_bc | PA_bc | Margin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | BUF | HOU | 18 | H | 41 | 38 | 3 | 35 | -32 | Wildcard round |
| 1980 | SFO | NOR | 14 | H | 38 | 35 | 7 | 35 | -28 | |
| 1997 | BUF | IND | 4 | H | 37 | 35 | 0 | 26 | -26 | |
| 1987 | STL | TAM | 8 | H | 31 | 28 | 3 | 28 | -25 | |
| 2002 | SFO | NYG | 18 | H | 39 | 38 | 14 | 38 | -24 | Wildcard round |
| 1992 | RAM | TAM | 14 | R | 31 | 27 | 3 | 27 | -24 | |
| 1988 | RAI | DEN | 4 | R | 30 | 27 | 0 | 24 | -24 | Monday Night |
| 1982 | RAI | SDG | 3 | H | 28 | 24 | 0 | 24 | -24 | Monday Night |
| 1979 | HOU | CIN | 4 | R | 30 | 27 | 0 | 24 | -24 | |
| 1979 | DEN | SEA | 4 | H | 37 | 34 | 10 | 34 | -24 | |
| 1977 | MIN | SFO | 12 | H | 28 | 27 | 0 | 24 | -24 | |
| 1974 | MIA | NWE | 14 | H | 34 | 27 | 0 | 24 | -24 | |
| 1960 | DEN | BOS | 6 | H | 31 | 24 | 0 | 24 | -24 | AFL |
| 1959 | PHI | CRD | 5 | R | 28 | 24 | 0 | 24 | -24 | |
| 1957 | DET | BAL | 4 | H | 31 | 27 | 3 | 27 | -24 | |
| 1946 | PHI | WAS | 5 | R | 28 | 24 | 0 | 24 | -24 | |
| 2000 | NYJ | MIA | 8 | H | 40 | 37 | 7 | 30 | -23 | Monday Night |
| 1991 | PHI | CLE | 11 | R | 32 | 30 | 0 | 23 | -23 | |
| 1988 | PHO | SFO | 10 | H | 24 | 23 | 0 | 23 | -23 | |
| 1985 | MIN | PHI | 13 | R | 28 | 23 | 0 | 23 | -23 | |
| 1984 | NWE | SEA | 3 | H | 38 | 23 | 0 | 23 | -23 | |
| 1982 | GNB | RAM | 1 | H | 35 | 23 | 0 | 23 | -23 | |
| 1978 | HOU | NWE | 11 | R | 26 | 23 | 0 | 23 | -23 | |
| 1996 | NWE | NYG | 17 | R | 23 | 22 | 0 | 22 | -22 | Saturday |
| 1952 | RAM | GNB | 3 | R | 30 | 28 | 6 | 28 | -22 | |
| 2010 | PHI | NYG | 15 | R | 38 | 31 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 2010 | BUF | CIN | 11 | R | 49 | 31 | 7 | 28 | -21 | |
| 2009 | DET | CLE | 11 | H | 38 | 37 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 2009 | NOR | MIA | 7 | R | 46 | 34 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 2008 | TAM | KAN | 9 | R | 30 | 27 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 2006 | TEN | NYG | 12 | H | 24 | 21 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 2006 | SDG | CIN | 10 | R | 49 | 41 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 2005 | MIA | BUF | 13 | H | 24 | 23 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 2005 | STL | HOU | 12 | R | 33 | 27 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 2003 | TEN | ATL | 12 | R | 38 | 31 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 2003 | IND | TAM | 5 | R | 38 | 35 | 0 | 21 | -21 | The Sheriff |
| 2002 | NWE | CHI | 10 | R | 33 | 30 | 6 | 27 | -21 | |
| 2000 | OAK | IND | 2 | R | 38 | 31 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1999 | WAS | CAR | 4 | H | 38 | 36 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1999 | NWE | IND | 2 | H | 31 | 28 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1999 | ARI | PHI | 1 | R | 25 | 24 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1999 | DAL | WAS | 1 | R | 41 | 35 | 14 | 35 | -21 | |
| 1998 | SFO | IND | 7 | H | 34 | 31 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1997 | PIT | BAL | 6 | R | 42 | 34 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1996 | NWE | NYJ | 11 | R | 31 | 27 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1996 | SFO | CIN | 8 | H | 28 | 21 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1995 | CIN | MIN | 17 | H | 27 | 24 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 1995 | IND | MIA | 6 | R | 27 | 24 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 1995 | IND | NYJ | 2 | R | 27 | 24 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 1993 | PHI | NYJ | 5 | R | 35 | 30 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1990 | WAS | DET | 9 | R | 41 | 38 | 14 | 35 | -21 | |
| 1989 | GNB | NOR | 2 | H | 35 | 34 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1987 | NOR | CIN | 14 | R | 41 | 24 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 1987 | BUF | MIA | 6 | R | 34 | 31 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1985 | PIT | BUF | 15 | H | 30 | 24 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1984 | DAL | NOR | 8 | H | 30 | 27 | 6 | 27 | -21 | |
| 1983 | ATL | GNB | 13 | H | 47 | 41 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1983 | ATL | NYJ | 8 | R | 27 | 21 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1983 | SDG | SEA | 6 | H | 28 | 21 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1982 | DEN | RAM | 6 | R | 27 | 24 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1981 | OAK | SEA | 13 | R | 32 | 31 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 1981 | CIN | SEA | 1 | H | 27 | 21 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1979 | OAK | NOR | 14 | R | 42 | 35 | 7 | 28 | -21 | Monday Night |
| 1978 | NYJ | DEN | 10 | R | 31 | 28 | 7 | 28 | -21 | |
| 1975 | BAL | BUF | 8 | R | 42 | 35 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1969 | NOR | SFO | 10 | H | 43 | 38 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1965 | WAS | DAL | 11 | H | 34 | 31 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1965 | MIN | SFO | 6 | R | 42 | 41 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1957 | RAM | GNB | 8 | R | 31 | 27 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 1953 | SFO | CHI | 4 | R | 35 | 28 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1953 | PIT | CRD | 3 | H | 31 | 28 | 7 | 28 | -21 | |
| 1949 | CRD | RAM | 11 | R | 31 | 27 | 3 | 24 | -21 | |
| 1949 | NYY | NYG | 7 | R | 31 | 24 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1949 | NYG | CRD | 6 | R | 41 | 38 | 7 | 28 | -21 | |
| 1948 | RAM | DET | 5 | R | 34 | 27 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 1945 | NYG | PHI | 9 | H | 28 | 21 | 0 | 21 | -21 | |
| 2006 | CHI | ARI | 6 | R | 24 | 23 | 0 | 20 | -20 | "TAWWTTW" |
| 2002 | NOR | CHI | 3 | R | 29 | 23 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1995 | SEA | DEN | 15 | R | 31 | 27 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1994 | NWE | MIN | 11 | H | 26 | 20 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1992 | MIN | CHI | 5 | H | 21 | 20 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1989 | PHI | WAS | 2 | R | 42 | 37 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1988 | PHI | DAL | 8 | H | 24 | 23 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1987 | CHI | TAM | 6 | R | 27 | 26 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1983 | DAL | WAS | 1 | R | 31 | 30 | 3 | 23 | -20 | Monday Night |
| 1966 | CLE | NYG | 12 | H | 49 | 40 | 14 | 34 | -20 | |
| 1958 | BAL | SFO | 10 | H | 35 | 27 | 7 | 27 | -20 | |
| 1957 | DET | SFO | 13 | R | 31 | 27 | 7 | 27 | -20 | Division round |
| 1953 | SFO | RAM | 2 | H | 31 | 30 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 1950 | NYG | BAL | 9 | R | 55 | 20 | 0 | 20 | -20 | |
| 2006 | BAL | TEN | 10 | R | 27 | 26 | 7 | 26 | -19 | |
| 2001 | CHI | SFO | 7 | H | 37 | 31 | 9 | 28 | -19 | |
| 1983 | DEN | BAL | 15 | H | 21 | 19 | 0 | 19 | -19 | |
| 1982 | BUF | MIN | 2 | H | 23 | 22 | 0 | 19 | -19 | Thursday Night |
| 1970 | NYG | WAS | 9 | H | 35 | 33 | 14 | 33 | -19 | |
| 1965 | RAM | CHI | 2 | H | 30 | 28 | 9 | 28 | -19 | Saturday |
| 2008 | SDG | KAN | 15 | R | 22 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 2006 | CLE | OAK | 4 | R | 24 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 2006 | IND | NWE | 20 | H | 38 | 34 | 3 | 21 | -18 | Championship round |
| 2005 | PHI | KAN | 4 | R | 37 | 31 | 6 | 24 | -18 | |
| 2004 | HOU | TEN | 12 | H | 31 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 2002 | CLE | NYJ | 8 | R | 24 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 2001 | BUF | CAR | 13 | H | 25 | 24 | 6 | 24 | -18 | |
| 2001 | NOR | STL | 7 | R | 34 | 31 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1998 | STL | BUF | 3 | R | 34 | 33 | 10 | 28 | -18 | |
| 1997 | SEA | OAK | 16 | R | 22 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1997 | CIN | ARI | 1 | H | 24 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1996 | CIN | BAL | 10 | R | 24 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1996 | IND | DAL | 3 | R | 25 | 24 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1995 | PIT | CIN | 12 | R | 49 | 31 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1994 | MIA | NYJ | 13 | R | 28 | 24 | 6 | 24 | -18 | |
| 1994 | SDG | DEN | 1 | R | 37 | 34 | 6 | 24 | -18 | |
| 1992 | PHO | WAS | 5 | H | 27 | 24 | 6 | 24 | -18 | |
| 1986 | WAS | SDG | 3 | R | 30 | 27 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1985 | MIA | CLE | 17 | H | 24 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | Division round |
| 1981 | SEA | PIT | 10 | H | 24 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1980 | ATL | STL | 10 | R | 33 | 27 | 6 | 24 | -18 | |
| 1977 | BAL | NWE | 14 | H | 30 | 24 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1977 | BAL | MIA | 4 | H | 45 | 28 | 10 | 28 | -18 | |
| 1973 | WAS | NYG | 12 | H | 27 | 24 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1972 | DAL | SFO | 15 | R | 30 | 28 | 3 | 21 | -18 | Division round |
| 1971 | MIA | PIT | 9 | H | 24 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1967 | NOR | ATL | 11 | H | 27 | 24 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1965 | GNB | DET | 5 | R | 31 | 21 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1963 | NYG | BAL | 1 | R | 37 | 28 | 3 | 21 | -18 | |
| 1955 | SFO | DET | 4 | R | 27 | 24 | 6 | 24 | -18 |
This entry was posted on Monday, September 26th, 2011 at 8:59 pm and is filed under Trivia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills! I'm not a fan of the Bills but for some reason its great to see them winning again.
Laughing at TAWWTTW
Okay, I figured out what "TAWWTTW" once I looked at the teams, but I'm not familiar with The Sheriff. Googling it I found it's a nickname for Peyton Manning, but why that game in particular? Just because it's Peyton's first big comeback?
James,
Jon Gruden, whenever he talks about Peyton Manning, seems to say "Peyton Manning.... I like to call him The Sheriff." Since that Manning comeback came against Gruden's Bucs (Gruden has joked about that game in his career as a commentator), I figured it was appropriate.
@ James,
That was the Monday Night Game wherein America was introduced to the "leaping" penalty. The colts rallied to score 28 points in the 4th quarter to tie the game (3 TD in the final 4 minutes, and I think there. In OT, The Colts drove into FG range and set up for a Vanderjagt FG attempt. He missed, but Simeon Rice was called for "leaping." It was controversial because he jumped mostly straight up, but he landed slightly on top on one of his guys (it's not like he blatantly threw himself over the line) or anything. Vanderjagt was given another chance and drilled it. Comeback complete. That was one of Manning's first big comebacks in the national spotlight, and it was also big because I think it was Dungy's first game back at Tampa as a visiting coach.
Brain not working. Need more coffee....
what is TAWWTTW?
Never mind...coffee kicked in...
How big a comeback was the Heidi game?
Oneblankspace,
Not very: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811170rai.htm
The key there was the Jets kicked a FG with 1:05 to go, and it gave NY a 3-point lead. Then the KO was a touchback. It was at that point that the game switched. But then Oakland completed two passes to score a TD, the Jets fumbled the KO, and Oakland scored again.
/offtopic
I've found AV to be pretty valuable because it seems to. match the eyeball test for most positions & players that I've tracked on the 49ers except, to my recent discovery -- olinemen.
It's hard to understand how RT Anthony Davis -- who allowed 10.5 sacks & was tagged for 10 flags in 2010 -- rated an "8" while LT Joe Staley rated a "4" (allowing only 3/2). Ditto Guards. RG Chilo Rachal struggled throughout 2010, yet managed a "6" while LG Mike Iupati, who quickly became San Francisco's most reliable OL in run or pass as a rook, rated a -- ZERO?
What gives? Any clues would be appreciated.
@10 Latopia
Staley only played/started 9 games. So is AV is less.
Iupati was a rookie and some of the rookies are miscalculated as a Zero. Frank Zombo and Rolando McClain have the same thing.
I remember watching the 1999 game between Washington and Carolina. The game had huge scoring swings.
First, Carolina pulled ahead 21-0.
Then Washington came back and pulled ahead by 11: 35-24.
Carolina came back and retook the lead 36-35...
before Washington finally won 38-36.
It might be fun to check whether any other team both gave up a 20+ point lead, and overcame a 10+ point deficit in the same game.
@11 Johnny -
Thanks for the reply. In 2008, Staley started 16, allowed 8.5 sacks, flagged 4 times, 9ers finished 7-9 (vs. 6-10 in 2010), logged an AV of "7".
David Baas -- arguably San Francisco's best OL in 2010 -- started 16, logged an AV of "6" last year at C.
Davis was bad last year and *especially* bad in pass protect. Gore ran left last season more than right; his average was also probably (need to find 2010 splits) better going left than right.
I guess I'm not getting how AV is massaged or modified, if at all, for olinemen.
how many time has what the vikings done(lose after leading by 17 or more in back to back weeks) been done and how long is the longest streak for that
Jeff: similar, but arguably more dramatic, was the '07 game in which Bironas set the FG mark of 8 in a game.
The Texans led 3-7 early, and the Titans reeled off 29 unanswered points to lead 32-7 at the end of the 3rd.
Journeyman Sage Rosenfels passed for 4 TD in the 4th quarter, and even a 2-pt conversion, including two in the final 2 minutes, to put Houston ahead 36-35 with 57 seconds to play, but Collins lead a quick drive that culminated with Bironas' winning kick as time expired.
I'd be surprised if that 25 point comeback is not the biggest one "made too soon", meaning the trailing team took the lead but lost anyway.
Anybody have any insight as to why the Bills are mere 3 point favorites against the Bengals this week? Am I missing something??
I would have thought maybe -12 or -13.
Archer, the Colts/Bengals had the same kind of game in 1980
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198012070cin.htm
Bengals were up 31-6 after the 3rd QT. The Colts came back to take a 33-31 lead. The Bengals get the GW FG (34-33).
That game, the 07 HOU/TEN game and the 87 CRD/TB game are the only ones I've ever found when a team came back from a 25 point deficit in the 4th QT, and only one of those teams still won the game.
Buffalo was involved in another team's huge comeback in 1960, the first year for the AFL. This game is virtually unknown for that reason, plus it ended in a tie.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196011270den.htm
Buffalo led 38-7 in the 3rd QT. Denver came back with 31 straight points to tie. Denver decided to take a 19 yard field goal with 0:04 left to tie it up, instead of going for the TD and the win.
Thanks, Scott, I didn't know about the 1980 game.
As for Denver's decision, I believe goalposts were still located on the goal line back then, so they weren't on the 1 yard line, rather on the 11-12.
The second biggest comeback for a tie (28 points):
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/194810030ram.htm
Thanks Archer,
I had not realized that the Rob Bironas Game involved a large comeback.
I tried to think of a similar game, and here is the best I could think of. In the 1983 playoffs, Washington beat San Francisco 24-21. San Francisco came back from a 21-0 fourth-quarter deficit a little too quickly. With the score 21-21, Washington kicked a late field goal to win. Instead of making 8 field goals, Mark Moseley from Washington did something almost as difficult. He missed 4 field goals (I could not confirm that detail so it might be slightly off).
Moseley was 1/5 in that game: he was wide right from 45, 34 and 38. He was short from 41. He only made the game-winning from 25.
49ers' kicker Ray Wersching was 0/2 that day, coming up short, but from 50 and 55.
Those teams combined for 28 possessions in that game.
And to think he of all kickers was the only one to win MVP...
There was actually a worse kicking performance not so long ago (and no, I'm not talking about Kaeding playoff "heroics"):
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200609170atl.htm
Not only was Koenen 0/4, all misses were inside 40.
Koenen, a punter, got a temp kicking job for the Falcons after they became overly excited about a 58 yarder he drilled a week before. He must have the worst stats for anyone with >10 FGA since at least 1990 (4/13).
Opposing him, Matt Bryant did his share with 1/3 (the one made was from 22).
No comeback (or anything near it) here, so sorry for getting off-topic
I guess my question didnt mater
Viking Fan re. #14:
I don't know how to search for a lead at any time during a game (I mean mid-quarter margins), but no team has ever dropped two 17+ halftime leads in an entire season before the Vikes made it back-to-back over the past two weeks.
http://pfref.com/tiny/YWcqh
Lisk proved right, again - add two to the list, including one to the top 5.
And a week after the Bills became the first team to win consecutive games after trailing by 18+ points, the Lions (who would've thought) better the mark and become the first team to win consecutive games after trailing by 20+ points.
The table above shows that only the '53 Niners, '83 Falcons and '95 Colts had two such wins in a season.
On the topic of kicking fails, Tom Dempsey once missed three extra points in a row. It didn't really matter, because the game ended 59-0. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612040ram.htm
Also, I have found three games with 5 missed field goals by one player, two of which ended as losses by 3 points or less and one of which was a win. One of the losses, surprisingly, was HOFer Paul Hornung!
In the only NFL game I have ever attended in person (I was not a Packer fan at the time, but I hate to remember that game today), Bob Thomas missed 2 PATs. He made the other 7 and the Bears won 61-7.