The NFL Playoffs are, without a doubt, the best part of each season. These thrilling matchups feature the league’s best teams, those that have demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the year. The games are often nothing short of spectacular, leaving fans with unforgettable moments and memories. As we gear up for another exciting postseason, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most memorable games in NFL playoff history.
2018 AFC Championship Game: New England Patriots 37, Kansas City Chiefs 31 (OT)
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This matchup between the old guard and the new challenger may age well as Patrick Mahomes continues to climb the all-time QB ladder. The defense of Bill Belichick and Brian Flores shut out the emerging superstar in the first half, but the MVP’s second-half performance nearly gave him a relief pass.
The Patriots minimized Tyreek Hill, but couldn’t stop the rest of the Chiefs’ machine-gun attack (24 points in the fourth quarter). However, the Pats converted 13 third downs. While two controversial plays in the fourth stanza went against the Chiefs before Dee Ford committed one of the costliest penalties in history, their vulnerable secondary couldn’t stop Tom Brady in overtime.
2003 NFC Wild Card Playoff Game: Seattle Seahawks 27, Green Bay Packers 33
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The Seahawks and Packers met on January 4, 2004, when one of the most enigmatic moments in the confrontations between these two franchises occurred. It was expected due to the confrontation between Brett Favre and the one who would one day be his substitute, Matt Hasselbeck, who drew attention to an alleged bad relationship between both players. However, at game time, we could see a vibrant 27-27 score that took us to overtime.
Prior to the possession toss in the quarter that a winner must necessarily deliver, the Seattle quarterback had the idea of saying “We want the ball and we are going to score” after having won the coin toss. Next, Hasselbeck was intercepted by Al Harris who took the ball to the score to end the game.
Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT)
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The Falcons’ unraveling remains surprising. Kyle Shanahan’s offense still moved the ball amid the collapse, but was unable to score any points after the floodgates opened. It was the signature game of GOAT Tom Brady, the Patriots icon. The Falcons moved out of field goal range twice, via penalties, and the Pats didn’t let them escape.
Down 28-3, New England scored 25 unanswered points in the final 17 minutes of regulation before winning the first overtime in Super Bowl history. The unprecedented comeback was fueled by Dont’a Hightower’s critical forced fumble on Matt Ryan, Julian Edelman’s fingertip catch, and Danny Amendola’s 2-point conversion to force overtime. James White’s 2-yard touchdown run in overtime capped the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
2006 AFC Championship Game: Indianapolis Colts 38, New England Patriots 34
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After losing the first of his four AFC title matchups against Tom Brady, Peyton Manning has won the last three. The Colts’ comeback from an 18-point first-half deficit made the second game the most memorable.
While the game between the AFC’s No. 3 and No. 4 seeds features a confusing score with three lineman touchdowns, Manning’s 349-yard lead on the day was enough to turn the tide against the Patriots. Indianapolis overcame a Reggie Wayne fumble on its winning drive, and after Joseph Addai’s touchdown, a Marlin Jackson interception sealed the Colts’ trip to Super Bowl XLI.
1992 AFC Wild Card Game: Buffalo Bills 41, Houston Oilers 38 (OT)
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Not only did the Bills not have Jim Kelly in this game, but they also lost Thurman Thomas midway through the game. However, Frank Reich led the biggest comeback in league history: 32 points over an Oilers team that had beaten Buffalo a week earlier. Warren Moon threw four touchdown passes in the first half, but Jack Pardee’s Run and Shoot attack cooled off after building a seemingly infallible 35-3 lead.
Reich found Andre Reed three times in the second half to give the Bills a 38-35 lead. While Moon helped the Oilers save overtime, Nate Odomes’ OT INT set up Steve Christie’s game-winning field goal to start another Bills run in the Super Bowl.
2013 AFC Wild Card Playoff Game: Kansas City Chiefs 44, Indianapolis Colts 45
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On January 4, 2014, we were able to see one of the most incredible games in memory in recent seasons when the Colts were able to beat the Chiefs with an incredible comeback after having led in the third quarter by 38-10.
That day, those led by Andy Reid were still living through the years prior to Mahomes’ arrival and with Alex Smith in charge, it seemed that they were already certain of their place in the divisional round. However, on that day, Andrew Luck gave the best game of his short but great career. The Indianapolis team managed to score 35 points in the second half of the game to end up beating the Chiefs, completing one of the most epic comebacks.
Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
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The closest Super Bowl in history, a game that began with Whitney Houston’s emotional rendition of the national anthem and ended with Scott Norwood missing a game-winning field goal attempt. Down 12-3 in the first half, the Giants got back into the game by controlling the ball for a Super Bowl record 40 minutes and 19 seconds.
Despite barely having the ball, the Bills were in position to win the game with eight seconds left. Thurman Thomas paced the Giants for 190 total yards in a losing effort. The Giants received a valiant effort from backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who completed a series of critical throws on third down to help the Giants win their second Super Bowl under Bill Parcells.
As we look forward to this season’s playoffs, we can only hope for more unforgettable moments that will join the ranks of these legendary games. The NFL playoffs have a unique way of delivering drama, excitement, and sheer unpredictability, making it a treasure trove of memories for fans. Whether it’s a stunning comeback, a nail-biting finish, or a historic performance, the postseason is where legends are born and unforgettable stories unfold. So, gear up, football fans! The best part of the season is just around the corner.
