The Most Shocking NFL Upsets in History

Whether you're a football fan or not, we can all agree that the National Football League (NFL) is a huge part of our culture. The Super Bowl has become like a National Holiday. Every year, we look forward to watching the game and seeing who will emerge victorious, even if we have yet to learn much about either team.

Every year, NFL happens, and as always, it had some twists and turns along the way. Of course, the most remarkable games in NFL history resulted in shocking upsets, and we've listed the greatest ones here.

The Dallas Cowboys vs. the San Francisco 49ers (2022)

The playoff rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys goes back a long way. Currently, NFL odds have America's Cowboys as the favorites every season, and their 8.51 million fans agree. However, on January 16, 2022, despite a fierce comeback attempt by the Cowboys (11-7), the San Francisco 49ers (11-7) prevailed 23-17 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. With their victory, the 49ers became the first road team to advance in the playoffs. 

Prescott completes a 20-yard gain on a quarterback sneak in 0:14 seconds, moving the ball to the 49ers' 25-yard line. They need more time as they try to form a lineup. The umpire must touch the ball. He takes out for the middle of the field and promptly loses possession of the ball. The 49ers win by a 23-17 after the center gets the ball to Prescott just as time expires. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Indianapolis Colts (2005)

In the 2005 AFC Divisional Playoff, the Steelers led the Indianapolis Colts 21-3 in the last quarter. However, the Colts came out strong in the final 15 minutes of the game. 

Over 10 minutes, they earned 15 points, cutting the deficit to three points at 21-18 with 4:24 on the clock. The next drive resulted in no points for the Steelers and increased pressure on the defense to hold back Peyton Manning and the Colts' high-scoring attack. 

The Steelers appeared to be cruising to an easy AFC Championship Game berth with 1:20 remaining and possession at the two-yard line. However, it was not the case. After receiving the handoff from the two, Jerome Bettis was sacked by Gary Brackett, and the offense recovered the ball. Nick Harper snatched it up and sprinted while the Steelers' sideline gazed in stunned awe. What was a fairly easy finale to the game quickly became a nightmare. All hope seemed lost until Ben Roethlisberger performed what would be forever named "The Tackle." At the Colts' 42-yard line, Roethlisberger made the crucial shoestring tackle on Harper, preventing what seemed like it would have been an easy touchdown.

With 1:01 remaining and the ball on their 42-yard line, the Colts appeared to be in command. Starting at the Steelers' 28-yard line, Manning completed passes of 22 and 8 yards to Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison, respectively. Next, kicker Mike Vanderjagt stepped up to make the 46-yard field goal. 

The Steelers used a timeout to try to calm him down, but the kick sailed wide. What happened after it is legend or legend itself. The Pittsburgh Steelers prevailed and advanced to the AFC Championship Game, ultimately defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

The New England Patriots vs. the New York Jets (2011)

Any game between the New York Jets and the New England Patriots will garner wide attention. There is more at stake here than a simple border battle between two regions that cannot stand the sight of each other. You can't find a better football rivalry than this.

In 2011, however, the Patriots finished the regular season with a 14-2 record, good enough to secure the AFC's top playoff spot. When the Patriots and Jets last met during the regular season, the Patriots won by a score of 45 to 3. New York won the divisional round game 28-14 thanks to a 20-yard touchdown run from Shonn Greene and five sacks of Tom Brady. 

After a drought of more than 40 years, the Jets nearly made it to the Super Bowl before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.

The Miami Dolphins vs. the New England Patriots (2008)

The 2008 Super Bowl champions are the New York Giants. They won the Super Bowl and defeated one of the best teams in history. The final result was 17–14 in favor of the Giants over the Patriots. They were able to pull out the victory thanks to Eli Manning's incredible play in the fourth quarter. He had two touchdown passes in the fourth (both of which gave his team the lead), no interceptions, and completed 9 of 14 passes.

Ultimately, the Patriots' loss came down to them being outperformed. This was demonstrated when Eli escaped a collapsed pocket, and David Tyree intercepted a pass intended for New England safety Rodney Harrison. New England's offensive momentum sometimes picked up, but the Giants' defense eventually stifled the Patriots.

Final Thoughts

Sports fans adore the NFL playoffs for several reasons, including seeing underdogs upset favored teams like the ones we've highlighted here. The history of NFL upsets only proves that each season brings its unique set of unpredictable games, which makes the NFL so exciting to watch.

Don Newcombe was more than a great Pitcher; he was a trailblazer for African Americans in baseball.

After a brief time with Newark in the Negro Leagues, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  After a few seasons in their minor league system, Newcombe was called up for the 1949 season, making him the third black pitcher in the Majors.  Newcombe proved his worth instantly, winning the Rookie of the Year with a 17-8 record and an All-Star Game trip.  Newcombe was again an All-Star in 1950 and 1951 with a 19-11 and 20-9 season, respectively, but he was forced to leave the game temporarily.

Newcombe was drafted into the U.S. Military and went to Korea for two years.  He came back and had a mediocre 1954, but he came back with a vengeance.  Newcombe went 20-5 in 1955 and helped the Dodgers win their only World Series in Brooklyn.  The following year, he went 27-7, leading the NL in Wins and WHIP (0.989), and he won both the Cy Young and MVP, making him the first player to do that in the same season.

That 1956 season was why he made it on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for 15 years.  He never had anything close to an All-Star season again, and he played until 1960, finishing up with stints in Cincinnati and Cleveland.  He retired with a 149-90 record, with a 123-66 with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers would honor Newcombe in 2019 as one of four names receiving plaques as "Legends of Dodger Baseball."

Mike Piazza’s story is a baseball impossibility, a 62nd-round draft pick whose entry into the professional ranks was a personal favor from Tommy Lasorda to his father. Initially a first baseman with a specialized bat but no defensive home, he made a tactical switch to catcher in the minors, a move that ultimately made him the greatest offensive force to ever play the position.

After a brief stint in 1992, Piazza took over the starting role in 1993 and delivered one of the most impressive debut seasons ever. He showed a rare ability to consistently hit to all fields, finishing with a .318 average, 35 home runs, and 112 RBIs, earning the National League Rookie of the Year Award unanimously. This breakout season set a new standard for a Dodger catcher, indicating that the organization had unintentionally discovered a once-in-a-generation talent with immense potential.

Between 1996 and 1997, Piazza achieved a historic surge in offensive efficiency, earning back-to-back second-place MVP finishes. His 1997 season stands out as a unique anomaly in franchise history; he hit an astonishing .362 with 40 home runs and 124 RBIs—a statistical feat that seems almost mythical for a full-time catcher. During this period, he was a regular All-Star and Silver Slugger, demonstrating his ability to anchor the middle of the lineup while managing a pitching staff featuring legends like Hideo Nomo and Pedro Martinez. Although some criticized his defensive skills, his offensive contributions largely made those concerns irrelevant.

As a Dodger, he posted a remarkable .966 OPS, a high-volume achievement that still stands as a franchise record for catchers. He demonstrated exceptional durability for the organization, regularly catching over 130 games annually while delivering a powerful bat that compelled opposing managers to adjust their entire game plan.

The departure from Los Angeles in May 1998 is one of the most divisive moments in the franchise's recent history. After a tense contract dispute and a change in team ownership to Fox, the Dodgers traded their star player to the Florida Marlins. This move was a bold sign of a rebuilding phase, although Piazza only spent a week in Florida before being traded again to the Mets.

Piazza compiled 177 home runs, a .331 average, and a .966 OPS in Dodger blue.

One of the most spectacular defensive careers came to an end today as J.J. Watt, who announced two weeks ago that this would be his final NFL season.  With the Arizona Cardinals out of playoff contention, today’s game against the San Francisco 49ers saw Watt ride off into the sunset.

Watt dominated as a Senior at Wisconsin, winning the Lott Trophy and earning All-American honors.  The Houston Texans used their 11^th Overall Pick to take the Defensive End, and he instantly became the face of the franchise.

After a good rookie year, Watt went on a four-year tear where he was easily the best defensive player in football.  A First Team All-Pro in all four of those campaigns, Watt won three Defensive Player of the Year Awards (2012, 2014 & 2015), twice led the league in Sacks (2012 & 2015) and three times in Tackles for Loss (2012, 2014 & 2015).  Watt was so dominant, that he won the 2014 Bert Bell Award, that institution’s version of the MVP.

Injuries held him to only eight Games in 2016 & 2017, but he added another monster season in 2018, adding a fifth First Team All-Pro, on the strength of a 16-Sack year.

Watt played more two more seasons with the Texans before signing with the Arizona Cardinals.  Injured again for much of 2021, Watt’s final year was solid, accumulating 12.5 Sacks giving him 114.5 in total.  His 195 Tackles for Loss also places him second overall.

As phenomenal as Watt was on the field, he was even more incredible off of it.  Watt won the 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year, after having raised $37 million in relief for those suffering from Hurricane Harvey, and his philanthropic efforts also including covering the funeral costs for the six victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade Attack.

Watt is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028, and he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.  He was ranked #5on our pre-2022 Season Ranking of active players, and bluntly, anyone that high is getting a bust in Canton right away.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com wish J.J. Watt the best in his post-playing career.