NFL: Coming Back from the Dead in the Conference Championship Game
There can be no denying the unparalleled drama that comes with the NFL Playoffs. Whether it is yet another Dallas Cowboys collapse or seeing a regular season heavyweight fall early such as last season’s Minnesota Vikings being stunned at home to the lowly New York Giants, nothing quite compares to postseason football. This season, we had both of those situations as theTexas outfit was handily defeated by the Green Bay Packers, while the Philadelphia Eagles were trounced by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
However, as the weeks progressed, the genuine contenders were able to distance themselves from the pack. As we reached the conference championships, all four remaining teams had genuine Lombardi aspirations.
However, one of them had it much harder than the others and had to come back from the dead. That unforgettable moment came during this year’s NFC Championship game, where the San Francisco 49ers orchestrated a stunning resurrection from the brink of defeat against the Detroit Lions.
Lions Live By the Sword and Ultimately Die By It As Well
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has gained a reputation for his daring approach. It drew plenty of plaudits from the neutrals and also led his lowly Michigan outfit all the way to the conference championships after not picking up a postseason victory in 32 years. However, that risk-taking nature also cost the Ford Field side a date with the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LVIII inside Las Vegas’ stunning Allegiant Stadium.
At the halfway mark in their NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers, the NorCal hosts were behind 24-7 against the visiting quarterback Jared Goff, who delivered an impressive performance at Levi’s Stadium. The former Los Angeles Rams man was directing all sorts of chaos and carving through the hosts at will, helping his team build a commanding lead. However, the Niners were on the comeback trail, and with the Lions on fourth down, coach Campbell opted for the risky approach and went for broke, rather than take an easy field goal.
The outcome was a turnover, and that triggered a San Francisco rally, with the hosts scoring 17 points without reply to level the score. They then moved into the lead with a field goal as well as a touchdown from Christian McCaffrey early in the fourth. That was enough to secure an incredible comeback win, marking only their third victory in their last seven matchups at this stage of the postseason. The football betting odds makers make the newly minted NFC champions a narrow -124 betting favorite in the Big Game, and it would take a brave to bet against them getting over the line after such a comeback.
The Kansas City Chiefs, the current title holders, find themselves in the unusual role of underdogs, just as they have done twice already in the playoffs, games that resulted in awaywins against the Bills and the Ravens. But the Niners aren’t the only team to mount improbable conference championship comebacks. Here are three such others from over the years.
Colts vs. Patriots
Back in 2007, fans witnessed another awe-inspiring turnaround as a Peyton Manning-powered Indianapolis Colts staged a remarkable comeback. In the first half, the visiting New England Patriots dominated, repeatedly scoring and shutting down the hosts’ offense to rack up an insurmountable looking 21-point lead. However, the second half told a completely different tale, and their four-time MVP-winning quarterback turned the tide almost single-handedly.
The Crossroads of America outfit, started the second half with a bang, scoring three touchdowns on their first three drives. Their ace under center was firing on all cylinders and it was his cannon-like arm that repeatedly found the endzone on all three occasions. With a resounding 17-6 surge in the final quarter, the Colts sealed their incredible comeback victory, winning the game 38-34. And they would repeat their heroics a fortnight later, overturning a 14-6 deficit to defeat the Chicago Bears and lift the Lombardi at Super Bowl XLI.
49ers vs. Giants
The San Francisco 49ers were behind the New York Giants by 24 points during the third quarter of their NFC Championship game back in 2003. However, the renowned quarterback Jeff Garcia orchestrated a remarkable comeback by throwing three touchdown passes and scoring another with a run, leading the 49ers to a victory in overtime. The game showcased numerous impactful plays and defining moments, such as Garcia’s 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and the game-winning field goal kicked by Jose Cortez.
Bills vs. Dolphins
The 1993 AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins witnessed one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of the NFL. The Bills found themselves trailing by a staggering 32 points in the third quarter, and the situation appeared dire. However, quarterback Frank Reich orchestrated an extraordinary resurgence, throwing four touchdown passes and rushing for another.
In the second half, the Bills managed to score 35 points, while the Dolphins failed to score any. Ultimately, the Bills clinched a thrilling victory in overtime, with a final score of 41-38. This game exemplified the unwavering determination of the Bills, embodying the spirit of “never give up.”
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com