What is a comeback in football?

Answer 1

While I cannot answer fully because I have not reviewed all comback games ever played, I suspect the answer is the 1980 Holiday Bowl where BYU came back from a 20 point deficit with less than 4 minutes to go, to win by one point. The action (summarized in more detail below) included the drama of an unsuccessful on-side kick, a successful on-side kick, an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt, a scuccessful two-point conversion, a blocked punt with seconds to go, and then when down by 6 points and on the 41 with 13 seconds left, an incomplete long pass, followed by another incomplete long pass. The last play of the game started with 3 second left on the clock. Jim McMahon, under some pressure, dropped back to more than 50 yards from the end zone at let fly with the ball (after the clock expired) on an arc to the end zone, where Clay Brown, who was mobbed by 3 defenders also fighting for the ball, managed to pull it in to tie the game. The extra point was good (don't know how the kicker was able to focus!), giving BYU the win. I don't know if this was the best football comeback ever, but a more thrilling comeback is unimaginable to me. 29 years later, I still get excited about it. BYU, trailing 45-25 with less than 4 minutes to go in the game, cut the deficit when quarterback Jim McMahon hit wide receiver Matt Braga with a 15-yard touchdown pass with 2:33 remaining. The two-point conversion attempt failed, and it was 45-31. BYU recovered an onside kick at midfield and McMahon completed two passes to the 1-yard line before running back Scott Phillips ran it in with 1:58 remaining. McMahon passed to Phillips for the two-point conversion to make it 45-39.

BYU tried another onside kick, but it was recovered by SMU at the Cougars' 47-yard line. The Mustangs' drive stalled and a fourth down punt was blocked by BYU's Bill Schoepflin. The Cougars were 41 yards from the endzone with 13 seconds remaining. McMahon threw two incomplete passes before arching a Hail Mary pass towards the endzone on the game's final play.

The ball came down in the hands of Clay Brown, who made the catch despite being surrounded by three SMU defenders. Kurt Gunther's extra point gave BYU its first bowl victory in five tries.

Answer 2

On October 23, 2000, the New York Jets (5-1) came back 30-7 over the Miami Dolphins (5-1) during the fourth quarter at Meadowlands stadium. During the fourth quarter, the Jets scored 23 unanswered points. The Dolphins then scored 7 points, but the Jets scored 7 points to tie the game. During overtime, the Jets kicked the game-winning field goal with 8:13 remaining to win the game 40-37.

This was also the biggest comeback ever in the Jets franchise history. This game is known as "Monday Night Miracle." I think it's a great shame that not many people were watching this game just because it was the Dolphins playing the Jets.

Answer 3

A comeback is when you are so far behind, neither you nor the audience believes there is a chance for victory - yet you do!