Comeback
for the Ages
Saints Went Marching in First Half; Forty-Niners Struck Gold in Second
Half
 |
| "Montana
Magic" was behind the greatest regular-season comeback in NFL
history. |
The date
was December 7, 1980. The opponent was the San Francisco 49ers. And, the
setting was Candlestick Park. The New Orleans Saints were on fire that
day as they set team records at the time for passing (376 yards) and total
offense (519 yards). Saints' quarterback Archie Manning had one of his
best performances of his illustrious pro career as he connected on 24
of 38 passes for 377 yards and tossed three touchdowns.
There was
just one problem - the Saints forgot to win the game. After building an
impressive 35-7 halftime lead, the Saints let it slip away in the second
half as the 49ers put together the greatest comeback in regular season
history!
It all started
with second-year pro and future Hall of Famer Joe Montana. He began the
scoring onslaught in the third quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown.
Montana continued the magic with scoring strikes of 71 yards to Dwight
Clark and 14 yards to Freddie Solomon. Running back Lenvil Elliott also
helped to carry the load as he totaled 125 yards on 20 carries and scored
the game-tying touchdown with a 7-yard scamper with just 1:50 remaining
in regulation.
Placekicker
Ray Wersching put the finishing touches on San Francisco's amazing 28-point
comeback with a 36-yard field goal in overtime. Final score: 49ers 38,
Saints 35.
 |
| Running
back Lenvil Elliott helped the 49ers rally on December 7, 1980. |
Greatest
Comebacks in NFL History
(Most Points Overcome To Win Game)
REGULAR
Season Games
From 28 points
behind to win:
December 7, 1980, at San Francisco
| New
Orleans |
14 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
| San
Francisco |
0 |
7 |
14 |
14 |
3 |
38 |
NO - Harris
33 pass from Manning (Ricardo kick)
NO - Childs 21 pass from Manning (Ricardo kick)
NO - Holmes 1 run (Ricardo kick)
SF - Solomon 57 punt return (Wersching kick)
NO - Holmes 1 run (Ricardo kick)
NO - Harris 41 pass from Manning (Ricardo kick)
SF - Montana 1 run (Wersching kick)
SF - Clark 71 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)
SF - Solomon 14 pass from Montana (Wersching kick)
SF - Elliott 7 run (Wersching kick)
SF - FG Wersching 36
From 26 points behind to win:
September 21, 1997, at Buffalo
| Indianapolis |
14 |
12 |
0 |
9 |
35 |
|
| San
Francisco |
0 |
10 |
6 |
21 |
37 |
|
Ind - Bailey
10 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)
Ind - Faulk 10 run (Blanchard kick)
Ind - FG Blanchard 39
Ind - FG Blanchard 36
Ind - FG Blanchard 49
Ind - FG Blanchard 22
Buff - Johnson 16 pass from Collins (Christie kick)
Buff - FG Christie 27
Buff - A. Smith 15 run (2-pt attempt failed)
Ind - FG Blanchard 25
Buff - Early 4 pass from Collins (Christie kick)
Buff - A. Smith 1 run (Christie kick)
Buff - A. Smith 54 run (Christie kick)
Ind - Harrison 2 pass from Justin (2-pt attempt failed)
From 25 points
behind to win:
November 8, 1987, at St. Louis
| Tampa
Bay |
7 |
7 |
14 |
0 |
28 |
| St.
Louis |
0 |
3 |
0 |
28 |
31 |
TB - Carrier
5 pass from DeBerg (Igwebuike kick)
TB - Carter 3 pass from DeBerg (Igwebuike kick)
StL - FG Gallery 31
TB - Smith 34 pass from DeBerg (Igwebuike kick)
TB - Smith 3 run (Igwebuike kick)
StL - Awalt 4 pass from Lomax (Gallery kick)
StL - Noga 23 fumble recovery (Gallery kick)
StL - J. Smith 11 pass from Lomax (Gallery kick)
StL - J. Smith 17 pass from Lomax (Gallery kick)
From 24 points
behind to win:
October 27, 1946, at Washington
| Philadelphia |
0 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
28 |
| Washington |
10 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
October 20,
1957, at Detroit
| Baltimore |
7 |
14 |
6 |
0 |
27 |
| Detroit |
0 |
3 |
7 |
21 |
31 |
October 25,
1959, at Minneapolis
| Philadelphia |
0 |
0 |
21 |
7 |
28 |
| Chicago
Cardinals |
7 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
24 |
October 23,
1960, at Denver
| Boston |
10 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
24 |
| Denver |
0 |
0 |
14 |
17 |
31 |
December
15, 1974, at Miami
| New
England |
21 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
27 |
| Miami |
0 |
17 |
7 |
10 |
34 |
December
4, 1977, at Minnesota
| San
Francisco |
0 |
10 |
14 |
3 |
27 |
| Minnesota |
0 |
0 |
7 |
21 |
28 |
September
23, 1979, at Denver
| Seattle |
10 |
10 |
14 |
0 |
34 |
| Denver |
0 |
10 |
21 |
6 |
37 |
September
23, 1979, at Cincinnati
| Houston |
0 |
10 |
17 |
0 |
3 |
30 |
| Cincinnati |
14 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
27 |
November
22, 1982, at Los Angeles
| San
Diego |
10 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
| L.A.
Raiders |
0 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
28 |
September
26, 1988, at Denver
| L.A.
Raiders |
0 |
0 |
14 |
13 |
3 |
30 |
| Denver |
7 |
17 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
27 |
December
6, 1992, at Tampa
| L.A.
Rams |
0 |
3 |
21 |
7 |
31 |
| Tampa
Bay |
6 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
Postseason Games
From 32 points
behind to win:
AFC First-Round Playoff Game
January 3, 1993, at Buffalo
| Houston |
7 |
21 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
38 |
| Buffalo |
3 |
0 |
28 |
7 |
3 |
41 |
Hou - Jeffires
3 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
Buff - FG Christie 36
Hou - Slaughter 7 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
Hou - Duncan 26 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
Hou - Jeffires 27 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
Hou - McDowell 58 interception return (Del Greco kick)
Buff - Davis 1 run (Christie kick)
Buff - Beebe 38 pass from Reich (Christie kick)
Buff - Reed 26 pass from Reich (Christie kick)
Buff - Reed 18 pass from Reich (Christie kick)
Buff - Reed 17 pass from Reich (Christie kick)
Hou - FG Del Greco 26
Buff - FG Christie 32
 |
