Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Hey Guys:

Was the greatest comeback on Monday Night Football the Raiders-Saints game in 1979, or was there a greater one with a greater fourth quarter deficit since then? I'm thinking that Colts-Bucs game (not sure of the date). Were there more? Thanks for any info that you can give me.

Sincerely,
Joe Zagorski

Joe Zagorski wrote:Hey Guys:

Was the greatest comeback on Monday Night Football the Raiders-Saints game in 1979, or was there a greater one with a greater fourth quarter deficit since then? I'm thinking that Colts-Bucs game (not sure of the date). Were there more? Thanks for any info that you can give me.

Sincerely,
Joe Zagorski

I was watching that Raiders game and turned the TV off. I thought the game was over. The next morning I read the paper and saw that the Raiders won and could not believe it.

I think the Colts vs. Tampa Bay game (which was in October 2003, by the way) was 35-14 with less than ten minutes to play, so that would probably be the biggest comeback of any Monday night.

The other one that comes to my mind was a game I didn't see, so my memory of it is hazy. But didn't the Jets win one when they'd been behind by 20 points fairly late in the game? I don't remember the opponent, or anything else about it, but I think there was a Monday night game that fit that (very loose) description.

Bob Gill wrote:I think the Colts vs. Tampa Bay game (which was in October 2003, by the way) was 35-14 with less than ten minutes to play, so that would probably be the biggest comeback of any Monday night.

The other one that comes to my mind was a game I didn't see, so my memory of it is hazy. But didn't the Jets win one when they'd been behind by 20 points fairly late in the game? I don't remember the opponent, or anything else about it, but I think there was a Monday night game that fit that (very loose) description.

Jets were trailing Dolphins 30-7 in the 4th quarter in 2000. Jets won 40-37 in OT.

Bryan wrote:Jets were trailing Dolphins 30-7 in the 4th quarter in 2000. Jets won 40-37 in OT.

Ah-ha. I was going to say it was against the Dolphins, but it still would've been a half-guess. Anyway, since they trailed by 23 in the fourth quarter, I guess that beats the Colts -- although the Colts did it against the defending champs, so maybe that puts them back on top, by degree of difficulty. Depends what you're looking for, I guess.

Bob Gill wrote:Anyway, since they trailed by 23 in the fourth quarter, I guess that beats the Colts -- although the Colts did it against the defending champs, so maybe that puts them back on top, by degree of difficulty. Depends what you're looking for, I guess.

True, and the Dolphins were coached by Dave Wannstedt, which lessens the degree of difficulty even further.

Thanks Guys! Much appreciated!

Joe Z.

Don't know any off top of my head that can top what seems to be 'the Holy Trinity' of MNF comebacks - Oak/NO '79, Jets/Mia '00, Indy/TB '03. Not sure if this would match either these three anyway, but here's an 'almost' MNF comeback for what it's worth. Remember Neil O'Donnell's "coming out" party, of sorts, in '91 at home vs defending-Champ Giants?

Coming in for Bubby Brister end of 3rd Q and down 0-20, #14 rallied the Steelers to 20-20 with less than a minute to go in regulation. Eric Green, who scored the game-tying TD, was penalized along with teammates, Louis Lipps and Dwight Stone, for illegally celebrating in the end-zone. Jim Finks, rules chief, himself would confess days later that the call should not have been made in that particular case. In either event, Pittsburgh had to kick from their own 30 but the real issue was that it went out of bounds, thus giving Giants ball at their own 40. They were able to drive into FG-range just before regulation with Matt Bahr kicking the game-winner.

Ray Handley (like Kotite weeks prior - I was AT that game at the Vet) beat Chuck Noll in his final season... ...ehh!

The 2006 Bears-Cardinals game probably fits. A couple years ago there was the Broncos comeback against SD, too.

In 1988, I think that the Raiders were down 24-7 to the Broncos before coming back and winning it in OT.