As Sunday afternoon began, football fans were thinking that they just witnessed one of the most mundane Wild Card weekends in recent memory. Then, fans were treated to the highest scoring playoff game of all-time in Arizona's 51-45 win over Green Bay. With the inspiration of last night's thrilling shootout in the desert, we thought it would be a perfect excuse to list our 10 Greatest Wild Card Games of all-time. Where does last night's game rank amidst the wild Wild Card thrillers of all-time? Check out our list and leave us your thoughts below.
(10) 2007: Seattle Seahawks 21 Dallas Cowboys 20
-Ah, these were much happier times for those of us in the sports world that aren't in love with the mystique of Tony Romo and America's Team. In the 2007 Wild Card Game, Dallas was within a chip shot FG of a win in Seattle. The first playoff win since 1996. But, new sensation Tony Romo botched the snap in one of the more infamous goofs in playoff history. Romo finally won that elusive playoff game this weekend, but is it such a good idea to have him holding kicks again?
(9) 2008: Jacksonville Jaguars 31 Pittsburgh Steelers 29
-In one of the more overlooked great games of the recent past, the Jags and Steelers battled on a frosty night in the Steel City in 2008. After 19 Steelers points in the 4th quarter, Pittsburgh had come all comeback from 28-10 down to take the lead by a point. The Jags and QB David Garrard had one last chance to salvage the game, and Garrard took off on a stunning 32 yard run on 4th and 2. Josh Scobee kicked a FG and the Jags won 31-29.
(8) 2004: Green Bay Packers 33 Seattle Seahawks 27 (OT)
-Our 8th best wild card game is remembered only for one quote by a cocky, but misguided QB. The Packers had a chance to win the game in regulation after being led by Brett Favre, but a Ryan Longwell miss meant overtime. Apparently wishing to impress his former mentor Favre, Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck uttered the famous line, "We want the ball. We're going to score", after his team won the OT coin toss. Naturally, there was only one way the game could end...
(7) 1999: San Francisco 49ers 30 Green Bay Packers 27
-While stars like Steve Young, Jerry Rice, and Brett Favre all starred in a tight, thrilling contest, the game-winning play would be made by a young 3rd year receiver named Terrell Owens. Brett Favre had already driven the Pack 89 yards to take a 27-23 lead. But, with game on the line and seconds remaining, Steve Young looked not for the Hall of Famer Rice, but for #81. Despite several dropped passes and a crucial fumble, the name Owens (not T.O.) would be burned into 49ers fans memories for years to come.
(6) 2003: Pittsburgh Steelers 36 Cleveland Browns 33
(5) 2003: San Francisco 49ers 39 New York Giants 38
-Amazingly, the next two games occurred on the same day back in 2003 (just check out the great NFL Films compilation below). Going in to the day's first wild card showdown between the Browns and Steelers, not much was expected between QBs Kelly Holcomb and Tommy Maddox. However, the two turned in two of the best performances in playoff history with Maddox passing for 367 yards and 3 TDs (perhaps inspired by his XFL MVP!) and Holcomb passing for 429 yards and 3 TDs (perhaps inspired the Browns didn't trot out Tim Couch). The difference turned out to be a Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala TD with just under a minute left.
-The latter game was even more exciting though, with the 49ers completing the 2nd greatest comeback in NFL history. Late in the 3rd quarter, the Giants had gotten out to a 38-14 lead with just under 20 minutes left. But, Jeff Garcia and the Niners rallied scoring the next 25 points to take a one-point lead with 1 minute left. The Giants and QB Kerry Collins drove again, then the world unfortunately learned the name of Giants long snapper Trey Junkin...
(4) 2001: New Orleans Saints 31 St. Louis Rams 28
-Saints fans waited a long time for this day. One of the early noughties' best rivalries climaxed with this shootout in the Superdome. Aaron Brooks (yes, he was a success at one point) threw 3 TDs to Willie Jackson and had the Cinderella Saints up 31-7 in the 4th Quarter. However, the Greatest Show on Turf scored 3 quick TDs to draw within a field goal, and were in line to get the ball back with plenty of time to tie or win. For a franchise that had been through so many tragic moments, Saints fans surely thought that their first playoff win would go by the wayside in one of the worst chokes ever. Then, fate intervened, and Hakim dropped the ball...
(3) 2000: Tennessee Titans 22 Buffalo Bills 16
-Forever known by one play, the Music City Miracle, this game was actually dramatic long before that historic play. With just over 90 seconds left, Titans K Al Del Greco booted the Titans ahead 15-13. But, the Bills led by Rob Johnson (yeah, they probably should've played Doug Flutie), retook the lead on a Steve Christie field goal with 16 seconds left. That's when the most famous kickoff return in NFL history happened...
(2) 2010: Arizona Cardinals 51 Green Bay Packers 45 (OT)
-Amazingly, the highest scoring playoff game in NFL history doesn't top our list, but it certainly comes close. Maybe if either team could have played a shred of defense, it would be higher. But, the shootout between Aaron Rodgers (28/42 422 yards 4TDs 1 INT) and Kurt Warner (29/33 379 yards 5TDs) will be a hard act to follow in the new decade. Strangely enough, Y1 and I were able to successfully predict both Neil Rackers choke and the game ending on a defensive TD...far-fetched, but there are witnesses! Here's the higlights if you've been in a cave the last few hours...
(1) 1993: Buffalo Bills 41 Houston Oilers 38 (OT)
-The greatest wild card game has to be, despite a stiff challenge from last night's shootout, the greatest comeback in NFL history. Already without Jim Kelly, the Bills lost RB Thurman Thomas to injury early in the game. After a Bubba McDowell Pick 6 early in the 3rd quarter, it was 35-3 Oilers. But, the Bills weren't out of it thanks to the heroics of backup QB Frank Reich. In college at Maryland, Reich had led the Terps to the biggest comeback in college football history, coming back from 31-0 to beat The U 42-40 in 1984. On this day, Reich would lead the Bills to 5 unanswered TDs, including 3 to Andre Reed. Incredibly, it was Oilers K Al Del Greco who tied the game at 38 at the end of regulation. But, fate was with the Bills that day, as Steve Christie booted the game-winner following a Warren Moon INT. Here's the Primetime highlights, it's amazing how less annoying the 1993 version of Chris Berman is...
What are your favorite Wild Card games of all-time? Does yesterday's thriller top the Bills' comeback? Is there a Wild Card game that we're forgetting? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think!
8 comments:
I still remember the Browns-Steeler game. Anger washed over me when Dennis Northcutt, that era's Braylon Edwards, let the game-sealing catch go right through his arms. Little did I realize that January day would be the last time I would see the Browns in a playoff game to this day. The magic of "Run William Run" was gone, replaced with despair, agony and grief.
- Brother Yohey
A complete lack of defense does not make for a great football game.
BY: Run William Run?? I'm going to avoid the temptation to make the Gus Johnson joke there, it's too easy...
Anonymous: did you turn the game off before overtime and miss the defensive TD that won the game? You can make the argument that it was just as much amazing offense as it was crappy defense (see Jennings, Greg and Fitzgerald, Larry and their one handed TD catches)
I appreciate great D as much as anyone, but as far as entertainment and memorable games go, yesterday's game is certainly among the all time greats. Thanks for the comments.
LOL one defensive play makes up for over 1000 yards of offense.....football is made up of 3 things and there was NO defense last night. It was a pathetic game and how quickly people are willing to attach "Instant Classic" to a game that clearly missed one of the most important things about football shows how far gone sports fan are from truly appreciating the game.
And that one defensive play was marred by both a missed face mask and a questionable fumble call that should have been at least reviewed.
Nobody is questioning the fumble - it was caught in the air, no controversy there. The facemask could have been called; if you're a Green Bay fan you might be upset at the no-call in that spot.
Last night was an instant classic because 98% of America was thoroughly entertained by two outstanding offenses playing at their absolute best. I don't think anyone was complaining when USC and Texas put up 1,130 yards in the 2006 Rose Bowl. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy yesterday's game - but I don't think you're going to find a game where the offense, defense, and special teams of both teams play perfectly. If that's the test of a classic, I don't know what game would pass it on this list or any other. Thanks for the comments.
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