The Biggest Comebacks in NFL Playoff History (Excluding Super Bowls)

During the 1973 Major League Baseball season, with New York behind in the pennant race, Yogi Berra famously told Yankee skeptics, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” We’ve all heard this.

And while this Yogi-ism eventually took hold in the soil of our culture, growing roots that span from sports to business, politics, and the challenges of everyday life, the line was initially met with laughter and get-a-load-of-this-guy banter.

That’s because on its face, what Yogi said was linguistically meaningless. It was nonsense. “It’s not dark until it’s dark” or “It’s not February until it’s February” … these are not profound statements.

Yet, Yogi hit on something, and it extended far beyond baseball. He’d struck a cultural nerve.

The fact is certainty is fragile, and outcomes are rarely final when humans are involved. Leads shrink, momentum swings, and pressure can change the nature of even the most lopsided situations.

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” became shorthand for resilience, chaos, and the idea that control is often an illusion. For a sports comparison, just look at the NFL.

The NFL Playoffs, especially, has a habit of reminding us why Yogi’s “nonsense” line endured. Here’s our list of the five top comeback games in the NFL postseason — excluding the Super Bowl — proving that even in postseason football, Yogi Berra knew what the heck he was talking about. 

Bills vs. Oilers, AFC Wild Card (1992)

Final: Buffalo 41, Houston 38 (OT); Deficit: 32 points

Trailing 35-3 in the 3rd quarter, backup Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich (who typically played in the shadow of Jim Kelly) engineered what many agree was the greatest comeback in NFL playoff history.

After falling behind 35-3, Reich threw four second-half touchdown passes — three of them to Andre Reed — as the Bills rallied to a 38-35 lead. A late Oilers field goal forced the game into overtime, but Reich had one my drive up his sleeve.

A Steve Christie field goal sealed the win for Buffalo, making this game an instant classic.

The Bills’ resilience, sparked by clutch throws by Reich and key defensive stops and a big interception in OT, stunned the football world and sent Buffalo to the next round — and eventually the Super Bowl.

Colts vs. Chiefs, AFC Wild Card (2013)

Final: Indianapolis 45, Kansas City 44; Deficit: 28 points

Down 38-10 in the second half, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was able to overcome three early interceptions to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in this shootout of a Wild Card game.

Luck threw four second-half touchdowns and was able to scoop a fumble and dive into the end zone for a fifth TD to keep the comeback rolling. But the game wasn’t all about Luck.

Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton was seemingly unstoppable throughout the game, catching 13 passes for 224 yards. This included a 64-yard game-winning touchdown reception with about four minutes left on the clock.

Luck’s heroics, Hilton’s sticky hands, and a tightened Colts defense shut out KC in the final quarter, sealing the improbable 28-point rally.

Jaguars vs. Chargers, AFC Wild Card (2022)

Final: Jacksonville 31, San Diego 30; Deficit: 27 points

After a nightmare first half in which Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions and the team fell behind 27-0, the Jaguars came out of the halftime locker room as a different team, leading to a comeback for the ages.

In the second half, Lawrence clawed his way back into the game with three touchdown passes. The Jaguars defense stiffened in the meantime, allowing the then San Diego Chargers to score just one field goal in the final 30 minutes.

Still down 30-20 in the fourth quarter, the Jags scored a TD and converted a bold two-point conversion attempt to pull within two with just over 5 minutes remaining. Then after another defensive stop, Lawrence set kicker Riley Patterson up for a 36-yard field goal as time expired, completing the victory in the tale of two halves.

49ers vs. Giants, NFC Wild Card (2002)

Final: San Francisco 39, New York 38; Deficit: 24 points

San Francisco 49ers stormed back from a 38-14 third-quarter hole to capture the win in this one-point postseason thriller.

Niners quarterback Jeff Garcia ignited the rally with both his arm and his legs, and All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens dominated with two touchdowns, 177 receiving yards, and a pair of two-point conversions, fueling the epic comeback.

After taking the big early lead, the New York Giants defense unraveled and their offense stalled. Sure-handed tight end Jeremy Shockey dropped a sure TD pass that would have put New York up by 27, perhaps putting the game out of reach.

Instead, the Niners scored 25 unanswered points in a frantic second-half surge.

New York kicker Matt Briant missed a 42-yard field goal in the final seconds (after a botched snap) which would have given the Giants a victory. Instead, San Francisco moved on to the divisional round where they lost to Tampa Bay — a team that would go on to win the Super Bowl.

Lions vs. 49ers, Western Conference Championship (1957)

Final: Detroit 31, San Francisco 27; Deficit: 20 points

In this pre-Super Bowl-era showdown to reach the NFL title game, the Detroit Lions fell behind by 20 points late in the third quarter, 27-7.

In fact, with just a 17-point halftime lead (24-7), Niner team officials were so confident a victory was eminent that an in-game announcement was made that championship game tickets were already on sale at Kezar Stadium.

This fired up the trialing Lions.

Led by backup quarterback Tobin Rote (who replaced injured Bobby Lane), Detroit motored back with 24 unanswered points. Rote’s 36-yard strike to Steve Junker sparked the comeback, as did Lions running back Tom Tracy, who broke free for two rushing touchdowns, including the tying score.

Lions kicker Jim Martin booted a field goal in the final minutes to complete the rally, stunning the San Francisco home crowd. Detroit ended up winning the 1957 championship game.

Why NFL Playoff Comebacks Endure

If there’s one thing the NFL playoffs have taught us over the decades, it’s that certainty is a myth — especially once the pressure hits. Leads that look insurmountable can vanish in a matter of minutes, and heroes can emerge from the most unexpected places. That’s why Yogi Berra’s “It ain’t over ’til it’s over” still feels less like a cliché and more like a rule of postseason football.

Each of these comebacks shares a common thread: belief. Whether it was Frank Reich stepping in under center, Andrew Luck shaking off interceptions, or a team refusing to fold despite history saying otherwise, these moments remind us why playoff football grips fans so tightly. They aren’t just wins and losses — they’re emotional swings, collective disbelief, and proof that momentum can flip at any second.

And that’s what makes these games timeless. Long after the final score fades, the feeling remains — the shock, the roar, the sudden realization that you just watched something that would be replayed every January for generations. Because in the NFL playoffs, no clock, no score, and no deficit ever truly tells the whole story.