The biggest comebacks in sports history
The unpredictability and drama of sports have been played out for well over 100 years. Those traits certain apply to the following scenarios, contests in which one team looked all but defeated only to pull off stunning comebacks of epic proportions.
Here, we feature 20 of sports' biggest comebacks, both in single games and playoff series.
June 8, 1911: Tigers come back from 12 runs down to beat White Sox
The White Sox led 13-1 in the fifth inning before Detroit came back. Ty Cobb led the way to an eventual 16-15 win.
June 15, 1925: A's come back from 12 runs down to beat Indians
Cleveland led the A's 14-2 in the fifth inning. That lead wasn't enough to beat the Philadelphia A's. They came back, culminating with an Al Simmons three-run home run to win 17-15.
April 17, 1976: Phillies come back from 11 runs down to beat Cubs
Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt hit four home runs for the Phils, as they came back from an 11-run deficit to win. Philadelphia would win in extra innings 18-15.
Nov. 25, 1977: Bucks come back from 29 points down to beat Hawks
Also the largest fourth-quarter comeback ever, Milwaukee won 117-115 over the Hawks. Junior Bridgeman led the Bucks with 24 points.
Dec. 7, 1980: 49ers come back from 28 points behind to beat Saints
The biggest comeback in regular-season history featured Joe Montana and the 49ers coming back from a 35-7 deficit at the half. Montana methodically led the 49ers, while the defense shut out Archie Manning and the Saints during the second half for a 38-35 win in overtime.
Nov. 10, 1984: Maryland comes back from 31 points down to beat Miami
Legendary comeback kid Frank Reich led the Terrapins to a 31-point comeback against the Canes. Miami was the defending national champion and led 31-0 before Reich came off the bench to engineer the comeback.
Jan. 3, 1993: Bills come back from 32 points down to beat Oilers in playoffs
History repeats itself. After Frank Reich led Maryland to an incredible comeback victory in 1984, he did the same with the Bills almost nine years later. With Jim Kelly unable to play the second half, Reich went to work on a 35-3 deficit in the third quarter. He threw four touchdowns, and Buffalo won 41-38 in overtime to advance in the playoffs.
Feb. 15, 1994: Kentucky comes back from 31 points down to beat LSU
The Wildcats went on the road and trailed by 16 points at halftime. LSU went on an 18-0 run in the second half, but Walter McCarty led the Wildcats with 23 points as they came back to win 99-95.
Nov. 27, 1996: Jazz comes back from 36 points down to beat Nuggets
Utah was down 36 points at one point and 70-36 at halftime. Led by Karl Malone's 31 points, Utah won the game 107-103.
Sept. 21, 1997: Bills come back from 26 points down to beat Colts
It wasn't Frank Reich legendary, but Buffalo's comeback early in the 1997 season was exemplary. Indianapolis led 26-0 in the second quarter, but Todd Collins and Antowain Smith led the Bills back to win 37-35.
Aug. 5, 2001: Indians come back from 12 runs down to beat Mariners
Seattle won 116 games in 2001, but the Mariners were denied a win against Cleveland in early August. Ahead 14-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Seattle eventually gave up the lead and lost 15-14.
2004: Red Sox come back from 3-0 series deficit to beat Yankees in ALCS
There has never been a more significant series comeback in sports than the one the Red Sox pulled off in 2004. Down three games with almost no hope, a Dave Roberts stolen base sparked four straight wins. The Red Sox would eventually break their World Series drought against the Cardinals after taking down their archrivals in seven games.
Oct. 21, 2006: Michigan State comes back from 35 points down to beat Northwestern
Down 38-3 to the Wildcats with 9:54 left in the third quarter, the Spartans scored 38 unanswered points on the road to defeat Northwestern 41-38.
Dec. 30, 2008: Mavericks come back from 29 points down to beat Timberwolves
Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki led the charge as the Mavs came back from 29 points down against Minnesota. Dallas would eventually win 107-100.
Dec. 21, 2009: Kings come back from 35 points down to beat Bulls
Sacramento made the second largest comeback in NBA history, led by Tyreke Evans. The Kings won on the road 102-98.
2010: Flyers come back from 3-0 series deficit to beat Bruins in Eastern Conference Semfinals
Philadelphia had its back against the wall vs. Boston, needing to win four games straight. The Flyers did just that, despite falling behind 3-0 in the first period of the decisive Game 7, followed by a five-game series win over Montreal to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Their Cinderella story ended with a six-game loss to the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final.
Jan. 4, 2014: Colts come back from 28 points down to beat Chiefs in playoffs
Andrew Luck established himself with the second biggest comeback in NFL history, which was also in the AFC Wild Card Round. The Chiefs led 38-10 in the third quarter, but Indianapolis was able to regularly beat K.C.'s secondary. The win culminated with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Luck to T.Y. Hilton in the fourth quarter to win 45-44.
Jan. 2, 2016: TCU comes back from 31 points down to beat Oregon in Alamo Bowl
It's easy to remember this Alamo Bowl. Down 31-0 at halftime without starting quarterback Trevone Boykin, the Horned Frogs came back in the second half. A furious comeback by Bram Kohlhausen against a listless Ducks defense ended with a 47-41 win in three overtimes.
Feb. 5, 2017: Patriots come back from 25 points down to beat Falcons in Super Bowl
Super Bowl LI could go down as the most memorable single-game comeback ever. Down 28-3 in the third quarter, Tom Brady and the Patriots had a second half filled with huge plays and miracle catches. New England was able to send the game to overtime, tied at 28, before James White scored his third touchdown of the game to win 34-28.
Sept. 3, 2017: UCLA comes back from 34 points down to beat Texas A&M
Josh Rosen was already a top NFL prospect before his comeback in Week 1, but he built his legend with an incredible showing against the Aggies. Trailing 44-10 in the third quarter, Rosen led the Bruins to a 45-44 win.
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