The commencing spherical of the NFL postseason has furnished a few memorable moments. Here`s a study the high quality the Wild Card Playoffs have needed to offer.
Although the Kansas City Chiefs had been the primary group to seize a Super Bowl (IV) as a non-department winner, the remodeled NFL had an 8-group playoff subject beginning in 1970. There had been 3 department champions and a “wild card” group in every conference.
In 1978, the league went from 14 to sixteen regular-season video games and each the AFC and NFC had been provided Wild Card. This is wherein this collection begins. It consists of the 1982 Super Bowl Tournament wherein there had been 8 first-spherical video games and keeps via the modern Wild Card Weekend layout which started out in 2020.
Lists which includes these, as always, are definitely subjective. However, agree or disagree, they offer amazing memories.
NFL Playoffs: Best Wild Card game
10. Packers 28, Lions 24 (NFC: 1993)
Green Bay changed into making its first postseason look beneath neath head instruct Mike Holmgren and the franchise changed into withinside the playoffs for the primary time for the reason that strike-shortened 1982 NFL season. This come-from-at-the back of win featured a record-putting interception go-back for a landing with the aid of using protection George Teague which included a hundred and one yards.
Against the rival Lions, Packers` All-Pro extensive receiver Sterling Sharpe completed the afternoon with 5 catches for a hundred and one yards and 3 touchdowns, which includes a 40-backyard rating with simply fifty-five seconds to play to rally Green Bay to an interesting victory on the Pontiac Silverdome.
9. Steelers 26, Oilers 23 (OT) (AFC: 1989
Some referred to the 1989 season as the exceptional education task of Hall-of-Fame sideline chief Chuck Noll`s career. The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the yr off a five-eleven showing, a last-area end withinside the AFC Central, and a fourth consecutive season without a playoff look.
Things didn`t appear accurate early on. The group changed into manhandled with the aid of using the Cleveland Browns at domestic in Week 1 thru a 51-zero setback. Seven days later, the Steelers had been driven around with the aid of using the then-reigning AFC champion Bengals at Cincinnati, 41-10.
Noll rallied the troops, the group gained 9 of its very last 14 video games and earned a wild card berth. The membership might make its manner to the “House of Pain” in Houston seeking to keep away from a 3rd loss to the Oilers in `89. Pittsburgh owned a shocking sixteen-nine lead simplest to peer Houston rally to take a 23-sixteen lead.
Steelersstrolling again Merril Hoge scored on a -backyard run with simplest forty six seconds and the following PAT tied the sport and it changed into directly to overtime. In the more session, Oilers strolling again Lorenzo White changed into smacked with the aid of using CB Rod Woodson, compelled a fumble and recovered it. It brought about kicker Gary Andersons game-prevailing 50-backyard discipline aim to offer Nolls group the disenchanted victory. Wild Card
8. Seahawks 41, Saints 36 (NFC: 2010)
Sean Paytons New Orleans Saints had completed 13-three in 2009 and amazed the Indianapolis Colts in South Florida in Super Bowl XLIV. However, the membership changed into dethroned as NFC South champions a yr later as Paytons eleven-five group changed into edged out with the aid of using the 13-three Atlanta Falcons.
The Saints made their manner to the Pacific Northwest to take at the Seahawks. Pete Carroll’s membership gained the NFC West with a 7-nine record. Payton’s membership was given off to a brief 10-zero first-area lead and had been up 17-7 earlier than the competition was an again-and-forth affair. Wild Card
Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 272 yards and 4 touchdowns (1 interception) and Carrolls membership might finally take a 34-20 third-area lead. After New Orleans narrowed the space to 34-30, Seahawks strolling again Marshawn Lynch iced the sport with a memorable 67-backyard TD run wherein he broke several tackles and drove around some of the Saints` defenders on his manner to diving back into the stop zone.
Lynch completed the sport with 131 yards speeding on 19 includes and the aforementioned rating as his membership performed turnover-unfastened football. Brees might throw for 404 yards and touchdowns withinside the dropping effort. Both golf equipment received over four hundred yards of general offense. Wild Card
7. Colts 45, Chiefs 44 (AFC: 2013)
The transition from quarterback Peyton Manning came about whilst the Indianapolis Colts made Stanford University standout Andrew Luck the primary-normal select out withinside the 2012 NFL Draft. He helped manual the membership to a playoff look in his rookie season. In 2013, Chuck Paganos membership gained the AFC South and might host the Chiefs, who had been again withinside the postseason in head instruct Andy Reids first yr with the organization.
Kansas City regarded find it irresistible to change its manner to its first playoff win considering 1993 regardless of the truth that Reids group saved on dropping big name gamers withinside the contest, maximum considerably Pro Bowl strolling again Jamaal Charles withinside the first area. Thanks to a large day out from veteran quarterback Alex Smith, the Chiefs might construct a 38-10 third-area lead. The former 49ers’ first-spherical select-out did lose a critical fumble in that area however he completed the afternoon with 378 yards via the air and 4 scores. Wild Card
As for Luck, he might throw for 443 yards and 4 touchdowns however his 3 interceptions had been one motive the group saved digging themselves into diverse holes. His 5-backyard fumble go back for a TD with simply over 10 mins to play changed into huge, and his 64-backyard landing byskip to T.Y. Hilton with 4:21 to play (and Adam Vinatieri PAT) proved to be the distinction withinside the second-largest comeback in NFL postseason history.
6. 49ers 39, Giants 38 (NFC: 2002)
On the identical day that the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied from 17 factors down to overcome the Cleveland Browns, 36-33, withinside the AFC Wild Card Playoffs, the Gold and Red did the Black and Gold seven factors better. Wild Card
The San Francisco 49ers had been down, 38-14, to the touring New York Giants withinside the 1/3 sector whilst quarterback Jeff Garcia staged one of the finest postseason comeback in NFL annals. Steve Mariucci`s membership scored 25 unanswered factors. Terrell Owens stuck a 26-backyard landing byskip and Garcia observed that with a 14-backyard scoring run. After each of these journeys to the stop zone, Garcia determined Owens for -factor conversions.
Jeff Chandler kicked a 25-backyard area intention and Garcia linked with wideout Tai Streets with one minute to play to provide San Francisco a one-factor lead.
The Giants moved down the sphere and the sport resulted in controversy following a botched snap via way of means of lengthy snapper Trey Junkin on a area intention strive and a non-name on feasible byskip interference whilst the Giants attempted to salvage the play.
Garcia completed the sport with 331 yards thru the air and 3 scores (1 interception) and changed into additionally the 49ers` main rusher courtesy of 60 yards and a landing. Wild Card
5. Packers 33, Seahawks 27 (OT) (NFC: 2003)
This returned-and-forth affair at Lambeau Field had pretty the ending. However, the start and the center had been enormously desirable as well. Mike Holmgren and the Seattle Seahawks seemed to upend Brett Favre and head educate Mike Sherman.
Down thirteen-6 at intermission, the Seahawks seized the instant withinside the 1/3 sector and took a 20-thirteen lead way to a couple of one-backyard landing runs via way of means of Shaun Alexander. Down via way of means of seven factors withinside the very last sector, Green Bay spoke back with one-backyard TD runs via way of means of Ahman Green. Trailing via way of means of seven as soon as again, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck guided his group sixty seven yards in seven performs and Alexander capped the force together along with his 1/3 one-backyard TD run of the sport with most effective fifty one seconds to play. It changed into time for a few more soccer at Lambeau Field.
“We need the ball, and were going to rating,” yelled Hasselbeck as Seattle gained the beyond regular time coin toss. However, Packers cornerback Al Harris reputedly desired the ball lots more. He picked off the Seahawkssignal-caller at the proper facet of the sphere and again the prize fifty two yards for the sport-prevailing landing simply 4:25 into the more consultation. Hasselbecks miscue changed into the most effective turnover of the contest. Wild Card
4. Titans 22, Bills sixteen (AFC: 1999)
The Buffalo Bills had been withinside the playoffs for the tenth time in 12 seasons relationship returned to 1988. The group completed with an 11-five file and in 2d location withinside the AFC East. The membership`s beginning quarterback for the primary 15 video games that 12 months changed into creative Doug Flutie.
However, Buffalo Bills` head educate Wade Phillips opted for Rob Johnson withinside the season finale, a victory over the Colts. Johnson could additionally be the starter on this conflict with the Tennessee Titans, the artist previously referred to as the Houston Oilers. Seven seasons in advance in Orchard Park, New York, the Super Bowl XXVII-sure Bills rallied from 32 factors down to overcome the Oilers, 41-38 in beyond regular time, withinside the wild card round.
It changed into a gradual affair in Nashville as each defenses dominated the afternoon, however matters were given extraordinarily exciting in the sport`s very last moments. Leading sixteen-15 with simply sixteen seconds to play, the Bills kicked off after a 41-backyard area intention via way of means of kicker Steve Christie.
Titans` strolling returned Lorenzo Neal fielded the ball, exceeded it returned to tight stop Frank Wycheck, who lateraled to huge receiver Kevin Dyson. He ran down the left facet of the sphere and scored on a 75-backyard kickoff go back with simply 3 seconds last. The “Music City Miracle” changed into complete.
3. Cardinals fifty one, Packers 45 (OT) (NFC: 2009)
In a recreation that featured 1,024 yards of general offense and a NFL postseason-file thirteen blended touchdowns, the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers teamed for ninety six factors in what stays the highest-scoring recreation in playoff history.
The then-protecting NFC champion Cardinals were given a incredible overall performance from quarterback Kurt Warner, who could throw for 379 yards and 5 scores. Ken Whisenhunt`s membership took benefit of a few early Green Bay turnovers and spread out a 31-10 1/3-sector lead.
However, Packers could rating 5 touchdowns withinside the 2d half, the very last with 1:fifty two last to tie the rating at 45-45l. Arizona could force for a prevailing area intention strive however kicker Neil Rackers neglected a 34-backyard strive withinside the very last seconds and the groups had been headed into beyond regular time.
Talk approximately the maximum not likely of endings? Packersquarterback Aaron Rodgers (making his NFL playoff debut as a starter) wound up throwing for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns (1 interception) and additionally ran for some other rating. He changed into sacked withinside the more consultation and fumbled. The ball changed into kicked withinside the air via way of means of Rodgers and wound up withinside the palms of Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby, who again the prize 17 yards for the sport-prevailing rating.
2. 49ers 30, Packers 27 (NFC: 1998)
Green Bay and San Francisco had been assembly withinside the postseason for the fourth directly yr. The Packers had gotten the nice of the 49ers in each the 1995 and 1996 NFC Divisional Playoffs in addition to the 1997 NFC name recreation. The `ninety six postseason conflict passed off at Lambeau Field and the alternative contests had been in San Francisco.
Mike Holmgrens crew had dethroned the then-Super Bowl champion Niners inninety five and went directly to hoist a Lombardi Trophy a yr later. Hence, the Packers had been trying to attain the Super Bowl for the 1/3 consecutive season. The Packers accompanied their Super Bowl XXXI name with a loss to the wild card Denver Broncos a yr later (XXXII).
Hence, Green Bay become a wild card crew withinside the NFC Central in the back of the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings. Likewise the 49ers, who completed in the back of the 14-2 Atlanta Falcons withinside the NFC West.
For a lot of the afternoon, 49ers` extensive receiver Terrell Owens struggled. But the destiny Hall of Famer might shop his nice for whilst it counted most. With the Packers down 23-20 withinside the fourth zone. Brett Favre led a march that concluded with a 15-backyard TD byskip to WR Antonio Freeman with most effective 1:fifty six to play, giving Green Bay a 27-23 advantage.
Steve Young retaliated with a 76-backyard march and observed Owens in a crowd down the center with a 25-backyard strike ultimately sector with simply 3 seconds to play.
1. Bills 41, Oilers 38 (OT) (AFC: 1992)
Its difficult to consider its been 30 years considering the fact that this memorable contest. This recreation owned the name of the finest comeback in NFL records till 2022 whilst the home-status Minnesota Vikings fell in the back of the Indianapolis Colts, 33-0, in Week 15 and rallying for a 39-36 additional time victory.
In any case, this wild card matchup noticed Warren Moon and the Houston Oilers open up a 35-three 1/3-zone lead in opposition to Marv Levys membership. The latter become led through backup quarterback Frank Reich, beginning for an injured Jim Kelly. Houstons 5th landing of the sport got here whilst Reich had an interception lower back fifty eight yards for a landing through Oilers` protection Bubba McDowell.
Then matters were given interesting. The Bills might come all of the manner lower back and scored 35 consecutive factors to take a 38-35 lead withinside the fourth zone. However, Jack Pardees membership wasnt completed and a discipline aim despatched the groups into additional time. On the 1/3 play from scrimmage of the greater session, Moon become intercepted through Nate Odomes and the Bills picked up an additional 15 yards on a non-public foul.
Billskicker Steve Christies 32-backyard boot capped a super rally that noticed Reich end with 289 yards via the air and 4 touchdowns.
