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NFL Playoff Meltdowns Fans Can Never Forget

Darren - January 15, 2020
Lists

NFL Playoff Meltdowns Fans Can Never Forget

Darren - January 15, 2020

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

5. Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants

Yet another Brett Favre meltdown. This one was a real shocker because he couldn’t hide from it. On a bitterly cold night in Green Bay, all eyes were on the legendary quarterback. A place in the Super Bowl was at stake and it was Favre’s final chance to guide his team to glory. But it didn’t end that way.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Favre faded very badly in the second half of the NFC Championship game. Then his Packers career ended earlier than he hoped after an overtime interception to Corey Webster. The Giants converted that into the winning field goal and that was all she wrote for Favre in Green Bay. It was a wretched way for their hero to depart.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

4. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts

The Chiefs had a massive comeback in 2020, but they’re perfectly capable of a ridiculous meltdown too. In early 2014, the two sides met in the AFC Wild Card game. The Chiefs took a surprisingly huge lead early on and it looked like they were out of sight. They were up 31-10 at halftime, a massive deficit for the Colts to try and overcome.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

When the Chiefs stretched their lead to 28 points, the game seemed done and dusted. But then, their defense melted and they suffered key injuries. Insanely, the Colts came storming back to win the game 45-44. It was one of the worst moments in the history of the Chiefs.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

3. New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons

In the 2017 Super Bowl, it looked like the Falcons were on course for a shock victory over the Patriots. After a scoreless first quarter, Atlanta racked up 21 points with the Patriots putting just three on the scoreboard before the break. Then the Falcons came back out after halftime and extended their lead to 28-3. A humiliation looked on the cards.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

That’s exactly what ended up happening, only not the way you expected. The Patriots came back with 25 unanswered points as the Falcons went into total meltdown. While the whole team was at fault, Falcons coach Dan Quinn took most of the blame. Finally, the Patriots won in overtime.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

2. Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs

What a remarkable comeback this was in Kansas City in 2020. The Chiefs had lost to the Texans in the regular season but came into the AFC playoffs with a better record. Nobody expected their revenge to look like this, though. The Texans built a 24-0 lead before the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes finally shifted into gear.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Mahomes produced one of the performances of the season and even overall, with seven straight offensive possessions producing seven touchdowns. The Texans were hapless in trying to stop him and totally melted down as the Chiefs built up an unassailable lead. When you’ve got a generational talent like Mahomes, then anything is possible.

Mandatory Credit: Sports Illustrated

1. Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Oilers

Literally nicknamed ‘The Comeback,’ this iconic game went down in 1993. It’s the perfect combination of both brilliant perseverance and a massive meltdown. The Oilers were out in front 28-3 by halftime. In short, they were coasting towards victory. Then they scored another touchdown after the break.

Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports

However, the Bills weren’t out of this. In the space of just seven minutes of game time, they reduced the deficit to four points.  After the severely rattled Oilers turned the ball over again, Al Del Greco tied the game from a field kick. Then in overtime, they secured the most miraculous of wins from a 32-yard field kick. The game somehow ended 41-38.

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