The Comeback (1993 NFL Wild Card)

:For the TV series, see The Comeback (TV series).

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The Comeback is the term used to describe the AFC Wild Card game of January 3, 1993, between the Buffalo Bills, and the Houston Oilers. The Bills came back from a 32 point deficit to claim victory in overtime. The comeback represents the most points overcome to win a game in the history of the National Football League.

Related Topics:
January 3 - 1993 - Buffalo Bills - Houston Oilers - National Football League

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Buffalo, AFC champions for the past two seasons, had gone 11-5. Their fifth loss occurred in the regular season finale, against 10-6 Houston. The Bills lost 27-3.

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The matchup would place the fearsome No-huddle offense of the Bills, the NFL's top-ranked rushing team, against the Run & Shoot of Houston, owners of the NFL's top-ranked passing game. However, Bills starting quarterback Jim Kelly was unable to play due to injury, and in his place, coach Marv Levy had to start back-up Frank Reich.

Related Topics:
No-huddle offense - NFL - Run & Shoot - Quarterback - Jim Kelly - Marv Levy - Frank Reich

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The game, played in the Bills' outdoor home of Rich Stadium (known today as Ralph Wilson Stadium), saw Houston take charge early, as Warren Moon, the Oilers quarterback, was nearly flawless. Moon shredded the Bills' dime defense for 220 yards and 4 first half touchdowns. The misfortunes of the Bills were compounded early in the first half when star running back Thurman Thomas went out of the game with an injury. At halftime, Houston held a commanding 28-3 lead, increasing it to 35-3 early in the third quarter after Reich threw an interception with his first pass of the second half that was returned 58 yards for a touchdown, and handed the reins to the league's 3rd ranked defense to close it out.

Related Topics:
Rich Stadium - Warren Moon - Running back - Thurman Thomas

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With a second string backfield of Frank Reich and running back Kenneth Davis, a 32-point deficit, and with less then 2 quarters left to play, the Bills changed tactics to avoid being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Buffalo switched to a base 3-4 defense, and Houston's pass-first offense was stifled by the adjustment. In the meantime, the Bills, fueled by Reich's three touchdown passes to wide receiver Andre Reed and inconsistent play by the Oilers, scored five touchdowns to pull ahead 38-35 with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Moon finally got the Oilers offense back in gear, leading a last minute drive downfield to score the tying field goal, and sending the game into overtime.

Related Topics:
Kenneth Davis - Wide receiver - Andre Reed - Touchdowns

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Early in overtime, the Bills' defense intercepted a Moon pass and a few plays later would win 41-38 on a 32 yard field goal by placekicker Steve Christie. Buffalo would win the following two AFC playoff games to advance to the 3rd of their four consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

Related Topics:
Placekicker - Steve Christie - Super Bowl

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As a sidenote, Frank Reich was not only responsible for the biggest comeback in the history of the NFL, but also of NCAA football. In 1984, when Reich was the backup quarterback for the University of Maryland, College Park, he came off the bench to replace the injured Boomer Esiason and lead them back from a 31-0 first half deficit to a 42-40 victory over the Miami Hurricanes.

Related Topics:
NFL - NCAA - University of Maryland, College Park - Boomer Esiason - Miami Hurricanes

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