What has been the greatest comeback in an NFL conference finals?
Last night, The NFC Championship Game saw the Detroit Lions take on the San Francisco 49ers. Detroit started strong and went into the locker room at halftime with a 24-7 lead, thanks to a field goal they had scored just before the end of the first half. This was a substantial lead, and according to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Lions had a 90.4% chance of winning the Game at that point.
However, the second half started with the Lions struggling to maintain their lead, and the infamous Lion’s third-quarter curse surfaced again. They had been struggling with their performance in the third quarter throughout the season, and this game was no different. Detroit had allowed 111 third-quarter points in 2023, which was the most by any team in the NFL, while they had only scored 73 points, which ranked them 15th in the league.
San Francisco took advantage of Detroit’s poor performance in the third quarter and came out all guns blazing in the second half, scoring 27 consecutive points. This led them to a 34-31 victory, making their comeback from a 17-point halftime deficit the greatest in NFC Conference championship history. Even more impressively, this was tied for the third-largest rally overall in a conference title game.
However, the question remains: was this the biggest comeback ever seen in Conference championship games?
2007 AFC Conference championship: Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
The year was 2007, and the Indianapolis Colts were pitted against the New England Patriots in a conference championship game that went down in history. The Patriots, led by Tom Brady, were a formidable opponent, and they managed to establish a commanding 18-point lead midway through the second quarter. However, the Colts, led by the legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, refused to give up. They orchestrated a stunning comeback that secured their place in the Super Bowl and etched their name in the annals of conference championship history.
Despite trailing by a significant margin, the Colts managed to turn the Game around and secure a 38-34 victory in a display of resilience that stunned fans. Peyton Manning’s leadership and prowess on the field were instrumental in securing the victory, as he threw three touchdown passes and completed 27 of 47 passes for 349 yards.
This remarkable comeback secured the Colts’ place in the Super Bowl and stands as the largest rally in the History of conference championship Games. Peyton Manning’s ability to inspire his team and lead them to victory is widely recognized as proof of his skill and dedication to the Game, which finally led him to become a part of the NFL’s Hall of Fame. The Colts went on to win the Super Bowl that year, and their remarkable comeback against the Patriots remains a shining example of the power of determination and teamwork.
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