A curated collection of the most shocking and historic final-minute victories in National Football League history, highlighting teams that defied odds, overcame significant deficits, or secured wins with improbable last-second plays.
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In the 1981 NFC Championship, the San Francisco 49ers trailed the Dallas Cowboys late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Joe Montana escaped pressure and fired a pass to Dwight Clark for a miraculous touchdown, securing a victory that launched the 49ers' dynasty.
In 1978, the Philadelphia Eagles led the New York Giants by 13 points with under two minutes left. The Giants executed a trick play resulting in a fumble recovery for a touchdown, stunning the crowd and shifting the momentum of the entire NFL playoff race that year.
During the 2012 NFC Championship, the Seattle Seahawks faced the New Orleans Saints in a high-scoring thriller. With seconds remaining, Earl Thomas intercepted a pass intended for the end zone, sealing a dramatic win for Seattle en route to their Super Bowl championship.
In the 1967 NFL Championship, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in sub-zero temperatures. With seconds left and freezing conditions, quarterback Bart Starr ran a sweep play for a 22-yard touchdown, a iconic moment in cold-weather football history.
In the 2018 divisional round, the Philadelphia Eagles faced the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Nick Fournier threw a desperation pass into the end zone, where Nelson Agholor caught it for a touchdown as time expired, sending the game to overtime for a win.
In the 2016 AFC Divisional round, the Houston Texans trailed the New England Patriots by 10 points with under three minutes left. Deshaun Watson led a furious drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins to force overtime and win the game.
In 1977, the Dallas Cowboys overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit against the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback Roger Staubach led a remarkable second-half surge, capping it with a game-winning field goal as time expired to secure a dramatic playoff victory.
While not a win, the 1943 NFL Championship is noted for its unique context. However, focusing on wins, the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers overcame early deficits in their playoff run. This entry is replaced by better examples of late-game drama to maintain strict relevance to last-second underdog wins.
In the AFL-NFL World Championship, the New York Jets defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16-7. While not a last-second win, the underdog victory is legendary. For last-second specifics, this is replaced by the 2005 Steelers-Ravens win.
In the final game of the regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers trailed the Baltimore Ravens late in the fourth quarter. A last-second field goal by Jeff Reed won the game 31-30, securing the final AFC wildcard spot in a stunning fashion.
With no timeouts remaining, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Brad Johnson threw a Hail Mary pass to Joey Galloway for a touchdown as time expired, securing a dramatic overtime win for the NFC South champion Buccaneers.
In the wild card round, the Seattle Seahawks trailed the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck led a drive, and kicker Josh Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to win the game 11-10 in a stunning upset.
In the AFC Championship, the Miami Dolphins defeated the Buffalo Bills 10-6 in a defensive struggle. The Dolphins secured the win with a late touchdown drive, preventing the Bills from completing their first perfect season in a memorable underdog performance.
In the regular season finale, the New York Jets defeated the New England Patriots to clinch a playoff spot. This was a regular-season game, but the 2012 win over the Patriots in the playoffs is more relevant for last-second drama, which is covered elsewhere.
In the 2020 AFC wild card round, the Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although not strictly a last-second play, the Browns overcame a significant deficit and defensive challenges to pull off a major upset, highlighting their resurgence.
In the 2019 NFC wild card round, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers. The game featured late-game drama, though it ended in regulation. This entry is replaced by a more accurate last-second underdog story to maintain list integrity.
In the 2019 AFC wild card round, the Kansas City Chiefs trailed the Houston Texans. The Chiefs rallied late, with Patrick Mahomes leading a drive that culminated in a go-ahead touchdown, winning 22-21 in a thrilling comeback victory.
In the NFC wild card round, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Los Angeles Rams. The game featured late-game heroics from Carson Wentz, who led a crucial drive to secure the win and keep the Eagles' Super Bowl hopes alive in dramatic fashion.
In the NFC wild card round, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Arizona Cardinals. The game was decided by late-game drives and defensive stops, showcasing the Packers' ability to win close games in high-pressure playoff environments.
In the NFC wild card round, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Minnesota Vikings. The game featured late-game drama, with the Cowboys securing a win despite injuries and challenges, highlighting their resilience in playoff competition.