A chronological collection of the most thrilling and improbable victories in National Football League history, where teams overcame significant deficits in the final seconds of regulation or overtime. These games are celebrated for their high stakes, iconic plays, and unforgettable moments of athletic resilience.
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In the 1972 AFC Divisional playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers trailed the Oakland Raiders 14-7. With seconds remaining, a deflected pass by Terry Bradshaw was caught by Franco Harris, who dove into the end zone for a game-winning touchdown that remains iconic.
During the 1999-2000 AFC Divisional Round, the Tennessee Titans were down by four points. Jack Lambert threw a lateral to Frank Wycheck, who lateraled to Kevin Dyson for a 75-yard touchdown return with three seconds left, securing a stunning victory over the Buffalo Bills.
In the 1982 NFC Championship game, the San Francisco 49ers trailed the Dallas Cowboys 28-27. With less than two minutes left, Joe Montana threw a pass between two defenders to Dwight Clark for a touchdown, setting up the '49ers dynasty and a Super Bowl win.
Trailing the Minnesota Vikings 10-3 in the 1969 NFL Championship Game, the New York Jets found themselves on their own 10-yard line with no timeouts. Joe Namath threw a sideline pass to Curtis Jones, who dodged multiple tacklers to score the game-winning touchdown.
In the 2001 AFC Divisional playoffs, the New England Patriots trailed the Oakland Raiders 16-3. A critical call that Tom Brady's pass was an incomplete forward pass (tuck rule) rather than an interception allowed New England to stay alive, eventually winning in overtime.
The Philadelphia Eagles blew a 14-point lead with two minutes left in a 1978 game against the New York Giants. The Giants muffed a snap intended for the running back, which was recovered by the Eagles' Darryl Stingley, who lateraled to another player who fumbled again, giving the Giants a last-second field goal win.
In a 2022 playoff game, the Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Cincinnati Bengals 24-17 with seconds remaining. Patrick Mahomes led a drive and scored on a trick-play two-point conversion, followed by an onside kick recovery to win the game and advance to the AFC Championship.
During the 2011 NFC Championship game, the New York Giants trailed the Green Bay Packers 17-10 with minutes left. Eli Manning threw a pass that was caught by Victor Cruz while pinned against the goalpost, keeping a drive alive that resulted in a game-winning touchdown.
In the 1978 NFC Divisional playoffs, the Dallas Cowboys trailed the Los Angeles Rams 21-19. Roger Staubach led a miraculous 98-yard drive in the final minutes, culminating in a touchdown pass to Ickey Woods to win the game and send Dallas to the Super Bowl.
In Super Bowl LII, the Philadelphia Eagles trailed the New England Patriots 41-33 with minutes remaining. On a critical fourth-and-short, Nick Foles threw a pass to tight end Brent Celek, who lateraled to Corey Clement for a touchdown, showcasing a daring trick play.