The 20 Best NFL Games of All Time
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There have been some amazing football games this year, but have any of them been amongst the best NFL games of all time?
When dissecting the history that is the NFL, there is a lot of ground to cover. Over the course of over a century, the NFL has given us some of the most memorable moments in all of sports. Whether it's the Super Bowl or week 1, you never know when an iconic game might be happening on an NFL field.
Related: The Most Valuable NFL Teams
What makes the format of football so interesting is the ability for game-winning drives. In a sport like soccer you have no breaks and have to create your chances continuously. In football, if your defense can get a stop, your offense has a chance to win the game. From the immaculate reception to the helmet catch by David Tyree, here are the 20 best NFL games of all time in no order.
1. 2022 AFC Divisional Round - Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills
Image credit: (Getty Images)
Date: 1/23/22
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs 42 - Buffalo Bills 36
Location: Arrowhead Stadium
No list of best NFL games is leaving this one off! The 2022 AFC Divisional Round was so epic and so controversial that it actually caused the NFL to change a rule. After a wild comeback that saw the Chiefs tie the game with seconds remaining, they pushed the game to overtime. The Chiefs got the ball first, scored, and won the game. The NFL now allows both teams to touch the ball during the overtime period unless the first team to possess it scores a touchdown.
2. 1981 NFC Championship - San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas Cowboys
Image credit: (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images)
Date: 1/10/82
Teams: San Francisco 49ers 28 - Dallas Cowboys 27
Location: Candlestick Park
Dubbed "The Catch", the 1982 NFC championship game is one of the most iconic games in all of sports. With a mere 58 seconds left in the game, Joe Montana connected with Dwight Clark, who was streaking in the back of the end zone and made a miraculous catch. This capped off an 83-yard game winning drive and put an end to the Cowboys dynasty.
3. Week 11, 2018: Kansas Chiefs vs Los Angeles Rams
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Date: 11/19/18
Teams: Los Angeles Rams 54 - Kansas City Chiefs 51
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
In what is remembered as one of the greatest regular season games of all-time, the Rams defeated the Chiefs by a narrow 3-point margin. Both teams were 9-1 entering this game and there were numerous lead changes in the fourth quarter. This remains the third highest scoring game in NFL history.
4.) Super Bowl LI - Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots
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Date: 2/5/17
Teams: New England Patriots 34 - Atlanta Falcons 28
Location: NRG Stadium
The Patriots capped off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, erasing a 28-3 Falcons lead. This was the first and only Super Bowl to go into the overtime period and cemented Tom Brady's status as the greatest quarterback of all-time, giving him his fifth of seven Super Bowl rings.
5. Ice Bowl - Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Image credit: (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Date: 12/31/67
Teams: Green Bay Packers 21 - Dallas Cowboys 17
Location: Lambeau Field
There are few rivalries in football that stand up to that of the Packers and Cowboys. The most iconic matchup between these two powerhouses came at the 1967 NFL championship game. The Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi, narrowly edged out the Cowboys 21 to 17. This game is still the coldest game ever played in NFL history. Temperatures reached -15 Fahrenheit with a wind chill reaching -48 Fahrenheit.
6. Immaculate reception - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Oakland Raiders
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Date: 12/23/72
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers 13 - Oakland Raiders 7
Location: Three Rivers Stadium
We recently eclipsed the 50th anniversary of the iconic Immaculate Reception, just days after one of the centerpieces of the play, Franco Harris, passed away. During the 1972 AFC Divisional playoffs the Steelers trailed 7-6 with 22 seconds remaining. Terry Bradshaw threw a deep pass intended for John Fuqua, but the ball would be tipped off Raiders safety Jack Tatum's helmet. Franco Harris caught the ball right before it hit the ground and took it to the end zone, winning the game for the Steelers 13-7.
7. Super Bowl XLII - New York Giants vs. New England Patriots
Image credit: (Photo by John W. McDonough /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Date: 2/3/08
Teams: New York Giants 17 - New England Patriots 14
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium
There is only one thing in this world that can stop Tom Brady; Eli Manning and the New York Giants. The Patriots were undefeated entering the Super Bowl, touting a perfect 18-0 record. After one of the greatest catches in NFL history by David Tyree, the Patriots fell to 18-1 and the Giants were Super Bowl champs.
8. Super Bowl XXXIV - Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams
Image credit: (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)
Date: 1/30/00
Teams: St.Louis Rams 23 - Tennessee Titans 16
Location: Georgia Dome
There are only 12 teams in NFL history to have never won a Super Bowl, and the Tennessee Titans are one of those teams. They came excruciatingly close to winning in 2000. Down by a score, the Titans went on late-game drive. Kevin Dyson was sprinting to the endzone and was just inches from reaching the goal-line before Mike Jones made the stop, giving the Rams the Super Bowl victory. The most exciting ending in Super Bowl history definitely earned a place on our list of best NFL games.
9. Week 15, 2022: Minnesota Vikings vs. Indianapolis Colts
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Date: 12/17/22
Teams: Minnesota Vikings 39 - Indianapolis Colts 36
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
In week 15 of the 2022 season, the Vikings pulled off the biggest statistical comeback in NFL history. With 8 minutes remaining in the game the Vikings trailed 33-0 and had just a .6% chance to win the game. After a miraculous comeback the Vikings took home the win 39-36.
10.) 1993 AFC Wild Card Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Houston Oilers
Image credit: (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Date: 1/3/93
Teams: Buffalo Bills 41 - Houston Oilers 38
Location: Rich Stadium
Since we're on the topic of comebacks, you can't leave out the 1993 Bills. Trailing the Oilers 35-3 at the start of the second half, the Bills took over the momentum. They would engineer the greatest postseason comeback of all-time, winning the game 41-38, eventually advancing to the Super Bowl. If you come back from being down 32 points in the playoffs, there's no chance we're leaving you off our list of best NFL games.
11. Music City Miracle - Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills
Image credit: (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)
Date: 1/8/00
Teams: Tennessee Titans 22 - Buffalo Bills 16
Location: Adelphia Coliseum
The Music City Miracle gave us one of the greatest and most shocking ends to an NFL game. The Bills hit a field goal with 16 seconds remaining to take a 16-15 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the Titans lateraled the ball several times before taking it 85 yards for a touchdown, winning the game.
12.) Miami Miracle - Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots
Image credit: (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
Date: 12/9/18
Teams: Miami Dolphins 34 - New England Patriots 33
Location: Hard Rock Stadium
During Tom Brady's entire stint in New England, they owned the Dolphins. However, on this particular Sunday, the Dolphins stole a miraculous victory. Trailing 33-28 with the ball on their own 31 yard line, Kenyan Drake took the ball in for a game-winning touchdown after multiple laterals, sending the Hard Rock Stadium crowd in to a frenzy.
13. Super Bowl XLIX - New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks
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Date: 2/1/15
Teams: New England Patriots 28 - Seattle Seahawks 24
Location: University of Phoenix Stadium
It looked as though the Patriots dynasty was coming to an end, as the Seahawks sat at the 1-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the game poised to take the lead. However, instead of giving the ball to star running back Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks shockingly threw the ball and it was intercepted by the Pats' Malcolm Butler, sealing the win.
14. Week 8: 2015 - New Orleans Saints vs. New York Giants
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Date: 11/1/15
Teams: New Orleans Saints 52 - New York Giants 49
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome
In the fourth highest scoring game of all-time, the New Orleans Saints took down the New York Giants 52-49. Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw for 6 touchdowns, but that wouldn't match the 7 touchdowns and 505 passing yards that Drew Brees put up.
15. 1982 AFC Divisional Round - San Diego Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins
Image credit: Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Date: 1/2/82
Teams: San Diego Chargers 41 - Miami Dolphins 38
Location: Orange Bowl
The 1982 AFC Divisional Playoff meeting between the Chargers and Dolphins is one of the most remembered playoff games of all-time. Kellen Winslow dealt with numerous injuries throughout the game and still put up an outstanding 166 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Chargers hit a game-winning field goal in overtime from 29 yards out to walk off with the win.
16. Super Bowl XLIII - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Image credit: (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Date: 2/1/09
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers 27 - Arizona Cardinals 23
Location: Raymond James Stadium
There are so many iconic plays from this game it's hard to choose one. From James Harrison's 100 yard pick-six to Larry Fitzgeralds 64-yard touchdown reception, this game was action-packed. No play is as remembered as the toe-tapping touchdown by Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes to give the Steelers the lead with just seconds remaining.
17. 1958 NFL Championship - Baltimore Colts vs. New York Giants
Image credit: (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images)
Date: 12/28/58
Teams: Baltimore Colts 23 - New York Giants 17
Location: Yankee Stadium
The 1958 NFL Championship is viewed by many as the most important game in NFL history. This was one of the first games televised by the NFL, leading to a great surge in popularity. Colts receiver Raymond Berry would bring in 12 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown, a record that wouldn't be broken for over 50 years.
18.) Super Bowl XXV - New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills
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Date: 1/27/91
Teams: New York Giants 20 - Buffalo Bills 19
Location: Tampa Stadium
Super Bowl XXV was the first of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Buffalo Bills, with this being their closest. Buffalo had a chance to win the game with a 47 yard field goal, but Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed the kick wide right.
19. 1971 AFC Divisional Round - Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins
Image credit: (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Date: 12/25/71
Teams: Miami Dolphins 27 - Kansas City Chiefs 24
Location: Kansas City Municipal Stadium
The 1971 AFC Divisional matchup between the Chiefs and Dolphins gave us the longest game in NFL history. The game was a total of 82 minutes and 40 seconds, and included two overtime periods. Garo Yepremian hit a 37 yard field-goal in the second overtime to give the Dolphins the victory.
20. Super Bowl III - New York Jets vs. Baltimore Colts
Image credit: (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Date: 1/12/69
Teams: New York Jets 16 - Baltimore Colts 7
Location: Orange Bowl
Super Bowl III marked the first official year the NFL championship game would be trademarked as the "Super Bowl". The Jets entered the game 19.5 point underdogs. Joe Namath guaranteed victory three days before the big game and delivered. The Jets entered the fourth quarter with a 16-0 lead and never looked back, eventually winning 16-7 in one of the most shocking upsets in the history of professional sports. This game is credited with being responsible for the merger of the AFL and NFL, creating the landscape of the modern NFL. For that reason, it can't be left off of my list of best NFL games.
Did we miss one of the best NFL games on this list? Shoot us a message on Twitter @137pm and let us know!
