Which is the largest comeback in NFL history?

As the Minnesota Vikings came back from 33-0 at halftime to tie the game 36-36 against the Indianapolis Colts, attention automatically turned to the largest comeback in NFL history. As the Minnesota Vikings eked out a win in overtime with a field goal as time expired, we were treated to what is now the biggest comeback.

The greatest comeback before this game was a 32 point comeback in the AFC Wild Card game, when the Buffalo Bills overcame the Houston Oilers. Widely regarded as the greatest choke job in NFL history, it was a time when the Buffalo Bills were the best team in the league, despite never winning the Super Bowl.

The match took place on January 3, 1993. The first quarter was close in that both teams scored with one possession each. The Oilers led 7-3 and the match had barely begun. In the second quarter, Houston scored three converted touchdowns, leading to a 28-3 lead going into halftime. They came back in the third quarter and scored first to take a 35-3 lead with the help of another converted touchdown. That 32-point lead was the largest it ever got. The Buffalo Bills scored 28 points in the third quarter enroute to the largest comeback in NFL history. The lead had shrunk to 35-31 at the end of the third quarter. As the Buffalo Bills scored a touchdown in the final quarter and the Houston Oilers could only get a field goal, the scores were tied 38-38 at the end of regulation time.

What followed was a choke on top of the choke by the Houston Oilers. They won the coin toss and got the ball. Prior to the rule change, the first score in overtime won the game, unlike now when both teams get the ball at least once. Instead of leading them to field goal range, Oilers quarterback Warren Moon threw an interception. That led to the Bills having the chance to score a field goal, which they did and won the game 41-38. Superstar quarterback Jim Kelly did not start for the Buffalo Bills, and it was left to backup quarterback Frank Reich to take care of this comeback.

Biggest comebacks in regular season and Super Bowl history

The above game is the biggest comeback in NFL history. In the Super Bowl, of course, who can ever forget Matt Ryan's choke and Tom Brady's genius? Patriots fans would not have been surprised to see Matt Ryan at the Colts helm in this game. In Super Bowl LI, the Patriots came back from a 28-3, 25 point deficit to win 34-28 in overtime.

The biggest regular-season comeback win was in 1980. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the New Orleans Saints. They trailed 35-7 and erased 28 points to win 38-35 in overtime. All of that was before the game today.