The biggest upsets in the history of the NFL playoffs

Chicago entered the NFL championship at 13-0 with a plus-200 point differential. After two close games to finish the regular season, the New York Giants had their way with the Bears in the title game in a 30-13 win in the freezing cold.

The Baltimore Colts were heavily favored in the NFL championship game after going 12-2 during the regular season, facing a 10-3-1 Browns team that lost two of its final four games. Cleveland shocked the football world with a 27-0 win, as Jim Brown rushed for 114 yards and Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas was held to 95 yards passing.

The first big Super Bowl upset happened in Super Bowl III. After Jets quarterback Joe Namath guaranteed victory, he backed it up in a 16-7 shocker. The Colts were favored by 18 points heading into the game.

Despite an AFL team winning Super Bowl III, Vegas wasn't yet convinced that the conference could stand up to the almighty NFL the following year. The Vikings were favored to beat Kansas City by 12 points, but the Chiefs emerged as champs by winning, 23-7. Minnesota's quarterbacks threw three interceptions in the game.

Houston was given almost no chance to beat San Diego after losing starting quarterback Dan Pastorini, running back Earl Campbell and No. 1 wideout Kenny Burrough the previous week. However, Vernon Perry had himself a day for the Oilers with four interceptions and a blocked field goal as Houston won 17-14. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts threw five picks in total.

After winning their first playoff game in franchise history during the wild-card round, the Seahawks traveled to Miami to face the top-seeded Dolphins and rookie star quarterback Dan Marino. The Dolphins were 12-4 during the regular season and had won nine of their last 10 games but lost 27-20, as Seattle running back Curt Warner controlled the game on the ground.

The 1985 Bears were one of the great defenses in NFL history, and the following year's version wasn't far off, going 14-2 during the regular season with only 11.7 points allowed per game. They were heavy favorites vs. a 12-4 Washington squad. The Redskins outscored Chicago, 20-0, in the second half, and Bears quarterback Doug Flutie was just 11-of-31 passing, as Washington won 27-13.

Minnesota already shocked New Orleans in the wild card after sneaking into the playoffs at 8-7, but the biggest upset was yet to come. Facing the juggernaut 49ers, which went 13-2 during the regular season, Minnesota won, 36-24, behind the heroics of wideout Anthony Carter. He had the game of his life with 10 catches for 227 yards, while Joe Montana was benched for Steve Young in the second half.

Buffalo entered Super Bowl XXV as a 7-point favorite against Bill Parcell's Giants. Trailing 20-19 close to the end of the game, Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood had a chance to win it with a 47-yard field goal. The kick infamously went wide right, sealing the win for the Giants.

It seemed to be a miracle that the Jaguars even made the playoffs in their second year, going 9-7 to win a wild-card spot. They were able to beat Buffalo in the wild-card round but seemed to have no shot against the top-seeded Broncos, who were led by John Elway at 13-3. Even after trailing 12-0 in the first quarter, the Jags rallied behind Mark Brunell and Natrone Means to win, 30-27.

Brett Favre's Packers entered Super Bowl XXXII as 11-point favorites after going 13-3 during the regular season and easily winning their first two playoff games. With John Elway's heroics, including a rushing touchdown, the Broncos emerged as 31-24 winners. Running back Terrell Davis also capped off his great year with 30 carries for 157 yards and three scores.

The Rams' powerhouse offense won Super Bowl XXXIV, and St. Louis was favored by 14 points over a Patriots team that saw young Tom Brady emerge at quarterback after Drew Bledsoe went down against the Jets. Head coach Bill Belichick's aggressive defensive game plan helped hold the Rams to 17 points, and Adam Vinatieri kicked a game-winning 48-yard field goal at the end of regulation after a quick offensive drive.

Entering the playoffs at 9-6-1 as a wild card, Atlanta wasn't given much of a chance to beat 12-4 Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Brett Favre threw two picks, and the Falcons won, 27-7, with a big running day from Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett.

Everything was looking up for the Colts after going 14-2 in the regular season and earning the top seed in the AFC. A deliberate run game and a solid showing from Ben Roethlisberger allowed the Steelers to pull off the upset on the road, 21-18, even as the Colts nearly pulled even in the fourth quarter.

Arguably the most incredible upset in NFL history was New England's first loss of the year, losing, 17-14, to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. The Patriots offense had a historic year, going 16-0 during the regular season with 36.8 points per game. The Giants pass rush was up to the task, however, and Eli Manning played one of the most clutch games of his life, as New York helped the 1972 Miami Dolphins pop champagne for another year.

San Diego went 13-3 during the 2009 regular season, winning its last 11 games. The Jets were just 9-7 as a wild-card team, but they did allow the fewest points in the NFL. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers threw two picks, and LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 24 yards rushing, allowing the Jets to win 17-14 on the road despite only 100 passing yards from Mark Sanchez.

Seattle wasn't given much of a chance to win a playoff game in 2010, especially after making the playoffs as NFC West division winners at 7-9. The Seahawks were also facing the defending Super Bowl champion Saints, who were a wild-card team at 11-5. Riding the momentum of the home crowd, Seattle won, 41-36, as Matt Hasselbeck threw for four touchdowns and Marshawn Lynch ran for 131 yards. His terrific 67-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter is arguably the best run of his career.

The Jets did it two years in a row. As 9-point underdogs against the division-rival Patriots, New York's great defense was able to defeat New England's top offense, 28-21, in the divisional round at Foxborough. Mark Sanchez threw three touchdowns for the Jets.

Green Bay was an overwhelming home favorite to beat the Giants after going 15-1 during the regular season, but New York came together at the right time again. After going 9-7 during the regular season, the Giants beat the Packers, 37-20, as Eli Manning threw three touchdowns. They would go on to win the Super Bowl, beating the Patriots again, this time by a score of 21-17.

Denver went 13-3 in Peyton Manning's first year with the team and was a 9.5-point favorite to win the game as well as the favorite to advance to the Super Bowl after winning 11 straight regular-season games. However, the Ravens offense was up to the task at Mile High and tied the game with less than one minute in regulation on a 70-yard pass by Joe Flacco that was misplayed by the Denver secondary. Baltimore kicked a field goal in overtime to win, 38-35, and the Ravens ran the table to become champions of Super Bowl XLVII.

Peyton Manning had another great year in Denver come to a halt in the playoffs. The Broncos hosted Indy as 9.5-point favorites in the divisional round, but the Colts won, 24-13. Denver head coach John Fox was fired following the disappointing finish, and Manning and the Broncos would win the Super Bowl one year later under Gary Kubiak.

The Chiefs have a history of playoff woes, and their 22-21 loss to Tennessee ranks among their most shocking. Entering the wild-card round as 8.5-point favorites, the Chiefs had a 21-3 lead at halftime before their collapse. K.C. couldn't move the ball during the second half and also was impacted by Travis Kelce's injury during the game, and the Titans continued to have the ball bounce their way, including a Marcus Mariota 6-yard touchdown pass to himself after a deflection.

Jacksonville was known for its defense in the 2017 season, but it was its offense that shined against the Steelers in a 45-42 win. The Jaguars piled on in the first half, leading 28-14 at the break, and didn't let off the gas despite being 7-point underdogs. Leonard Fournette starred with three touchdown runs.