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Year in review: The biggest sports comebacks of 2021
USA Today Images

Year in review: The biggest sports comebacks of 2021

Is there anything more exciting in sports than a great comeback? These teams overcame extremely poor probabilities for memorable comebacks during the 2021 sports calendar.

 
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Jan 2: Colorado States comes back from 36-10 deficit to shock San Diego State

Jan 2: Colorado States comes back from 36-10 deficit to shock San Diego State
Orlando Ramirez / USA Today Sports Images

The Colorado State Rams were down but not out, trailing 36-10 to the Aztecs with 8:15 left in the first half. The team had the biggest comeback in school history to win 70-67. Guard David Roddy starred, with 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Rams.

 
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Feb 17: Pistons blow 25-point lead vs. Bulls

Feb 17: Pistons blow 25-point lead vs. Bulls
Kamil Krzaczynski / USA Today Sports Images

Detroit's shocking loss in February was emblematic of their terrible 2020-21 season. They led Chicago 59-34 with 2:37 left in the second quarter before the offense went out. The Pistons scored only 12 points in the third quarter and lost 105-102, as Zach LaVine took over the game with 37 points.

 
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Feb 21: Pels beat Celtics after being down 24 points

Feb 21: Pels beat Celtics after being down 24 points
Stephen Lew / USA Today Sports Images

New Orleans trailed Boston 79-55 in the middle of the third quarter but were able to come back with the help of a great fourth quarter from Brandon Ingram and company to send the game to overtime. The Pelicans emerged with a 120-115 overtime win, as Ingram scored 33 points and Zion Williamson added 28 points.

 
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Mar 2: Milwaukee upsets Wright State in 19 point comeback

Mar 2: Milwaukee upsets Wright State in 19 point comeback
Dave Kallmann / USA Today Sports Images

The underdog Milwaukee Panthers trailed Wright State 72-48 with 6:15 left in the second half of the Horizon League Quarterfinal but were able to make a huge late rally to send the game to overtime. The Panthers capped off the comeback in overtime, winning 94-92. DeAndre Gholston had a spectacular game with 31 points and nine rebounds for Milwaukee.

 
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Jun 4: Golden Knights stun Avs in Game 3

Jun 4: Golden Knights stun Avs in Game 3
Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today Sports Images

Vegas has had plenty of playoff heroics in its brief history, and that continued in 2021. The team scored two goals in the final 5:18 of the third period to beat Colorado 3-2 in Game 3 of the second round of the playoffs.

 
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Aug 19: Angels erase 10-2 deficit at Detroit

Aug 19: Angels erase 10-2 deficit at Detroit
Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports Images

The Tigers led the Angels 10-2 through five innings before LA's bats woke up. The Angels got late home runs from Max Stassi and Phil Gosselin and won comfortably 13-10.

 
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Sep 3: Jays comeback from 8-2 in eighth inning

Sep 3: Jays comeback from 8-2 in eighth inning
Nick Turchiaro / USA Today Sports Images

The uber-talented Blue Jays seemed to have little hope of pulling out a win against Oakland, but their bats woke up down 8-2 in the eighth inning. Toronto put up a six-spot to tie the game with the help of a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. grand slam. After Oakland scored two runs in the ninth inning, the Blue Jays answered with a walk-off three-run home run from Marcus Semien to win 11-10.

 
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Sep 4: Mississippi State comes back from 20-point deficit vs. LA Tech

Sep 4: Mississippi State comes back from 20-point deficit vs. LA Tech
Matt Bush / USA Today Sports Images

Mississippi State opened their season with a bang. Trailing 34-14 to Louisiana Tech in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs scored three unanswered touchdowns to win 35-14, capped off with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Will Rogers to Jaden Walley.

 
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Sep 19: Titans comeback from 13 down at halftime at Seattle

Sep 19: Titans comeback from 13 down at halftime at Seattle
George Walker IV / USA Today Sports Images

Tennessee shocked the Seahawks with a comeback on the road after trailing 24-9 at halftime. Derrick Henry rushed for three touchdowns in the second half, including a touchdown that tied the game with 29 seconds left in regulation. Randy Bullock kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime to win 33-30.

 
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Sep 19: Cardinals beat Vikes after trailing by 13

Sep 19: Cardinals beat Vikes after trailing by 13
Billy Hardiman / USA Today Sports Images

The magic of Arizona's 2021 season really kicked off in Week 2, when they overcame 13-point first half deficit to beat Minnesota 34-33. The thrilled culminated with a 27-yard Matt Prater field goal with 4:25 remaining, and the Cardinals defense was able to hold late in the game.

 
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Sep 25: UTSA keeps perfect season alive after trailing 21-0 vs. Memphis

Sep 25: UTSA keeps perfect season alive after trailing 21-0 vs. Memphis
Joe Rondone / USA Today Sports Images

UTSA trailed Memphis 21-0 in the first quarter but were able to ride running back Sincere McCormick to victor 31-28. McCormick rushed 41 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

 
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Sep 30: Bengals comeback from 14-point deficit vs. Jags

Sep 30: Bengals comeback from 14-point deficit vs. Jags
Kareem Elgazzar / USA Today Sports Images

Cincinnati showed that they weren't the same old Bengals with a huge second-half comeback on Thursday Night Football after trailing 14-0 at halftime. The team won 24-21 with no time remaining on a 35-yard Evan McPherson field goal.

 
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Oct 9: Oklahoma overcomes 18-point deficit in Red River Showdown

Oct 9: Oklahoma overcomes 18-point deficit in Red River Showdown
Bryan Terry / USA Today Sports Images

Oklahoma wasn't having its best day early in the Red River Showdown, trailing 38-20 to Texas at halftime. The teams went back and forth late in the fourth quarter, but Kennedy Brooks had a 33-yard touchdown run with 1:20 left to break the tie, as Oklahoma eventually won 55-48.

 
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Oct 10: Mac Jones brings Patriots back at Houston

Oct 10: Mac Jones brings Patriots back at Houston
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones truly established himself in October at Houston. New England trailed 22-9 in the third quarter before the Pats came roaring back with four scores. A 13-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Henry tied the game in the fourth quarter, then Nick Folk kicked the game-winning field goal with 15 seconds remaining.

 
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Oct 10: Chargers comeback from 14 down vs. Browns in shootout

Oct 10: Chargers comeback from 14 down vs. Browns in shootout
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

The Chargers overcame a 14-point deficit to beat Cleveland 47-42 in what was arguably the most exciting game of 2021. Cleveland took a 27-13 lead early in the third quarterback, and the teams traded punches the rest of the way. Austin Ekeler scored two touchdowns late to help the Chargers win.

 
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Oct 11: Ravens comeback from 22-3 deficit to beat Colts

Oct 11: Ravens comeback from 22-3 deficit to beat Colts
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Lamar Jackson's magic was on full display in Baltimore's incredible 19-point comeback against Indy. The Ravens trailed 22-3 late in the third quarter, but Jackson threw three second-half touchdowns to send the game to overtime. He threw one more touchdown in overtime to win 31-25.

 
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Oct 27: Thunder comeback from 26 points down to shock Lakers

Oct 27: Thunder comeback from 26 points down to shock Lakers
Alonzo Adams / USA Today Sports Images

The Lakers suffered an embarrassing defeat to OKC, especially given the circumstances. The Thunder trailed 56-30 in the second quarter before waking up. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred with 27 points and nine rebounds as the Thunder won 123-115.

 
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Oct 31: Titans comeback from 14 points vs. Colts

Oct 31: Titans comeback from 14 points vs. Colts
Christine Tannous / USA Today Sports Images

Tennessee picked up a huge win against the divisional-rival Colts on Halloween. The Colts took an early 14-0 lead, but the Titans came storming back to take the lead in the fourth quarter, including a pick-six by Elijah Molden. The Colts were able to tie the game late, but Tennessee won 34-31 on a Randy Bullock field goal in overtime.

 
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Nov 7: Ravens orchestrate another comeback vs. Minnesota

Nov 7: Ravens orchestrate another comeback vs. Minnesota
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

Baltimore's amazing 2021 season continued with another heart-pounding comeback win. They trailed Minnesota 24-10 after the Vikings took the opening kickoff of the second half back for a touchdown. The Ravens were able to score 21 unanswered points before the Vikings tied the game 31-31 with 1:03 remaining. The reliable Justin Tucker kicked the game-winning field goal with only 16 seconds remaining in overtime.

 
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Nov 27: Bryce Young leads Alabama back in Iron Bowl

Nov 27: Bryce Young leads Alabama back in Iron Bowl
Jake Crandall / USA Today Sports Images

Alabama only overcame a 10-point deficit at Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but that number doesn't do the game justice. The Crimson Tide didn't score until there was 8:44 remaining in regulation, and Young threw a 28-yard touchdown with 24 seconds left to send the game to overtime tied at 10. The four-overtime affair was capped up with a two-point conversion from Young to John Metchie, as Bama won 24-22.

Seth Trachtman

Seth Trachtman is a sportswriter, digital marketer, and fantasy sports expert based in St. Louis, Missouri. He’s a two-time winner of the Tout Wars Fantasy Baseball Expert’s League, and his work has appeared in hundreds of fantasy baseball and fantasy football newsstand and online publications

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