With the NFL Divisional Spherical within the playoffs getting underway this weekend, we’re looking at among the greatest upsets at this stage of the postseason.
Historical past has proven that upsets, together with some very large ones usually happen within the divisional spherical, and after among the leads to the Wild Card spherical, together with the Detroit Lions big upset win towards the Minnesota Vikings, might now we have one other upset on the playing cards this weekend?
Jan. 5, 1986: Patriots 27-20 Raiders
In a reasonably historic season for the New England Patriots, they grew to become the primary group in NFL historical past to make all of it thw option to the Tremendous Bowl by profitable three straight video games on the highway.
This victory in LA was vital, because the Raiders had gone 12-4 and had been one of many league’s most dominant groups. The Patriots additionally gained on the highway towards the Miami Dolphins the next week, nonetheless misplaced within the Tremendous Bowl last to the Chicago Bears in a dangerous 46-10 defeat.
Jan. 13, 2008: Chargers 28-24 Colts
In a recreation that the Chargers had been punished with accidents, together with their quarterback Philip Rivers, they persevered to carry on for an enormous upset progressing to the subsequent spherical.
The Chargers went 11-5 within the common season, while the Colts, lead by Peyton Manning had gone 13-3 and had been the present holding Tremendous Bowl champions.
San Diego’s defence (now often known as Los Angeles) was the important thing to their victory, they usually shut down two fourth-quarter drives by the Colts on the fourth down and ultimately held out for the win.
Dec. 30, 1979: Rams 21-19 Cowboys
In a recreation that had the Dallas Cowboys taking dwelling the win throughout it, properly, it was the alternative with the LA Rams progressing with an enormous upset.
The Cowboys had already overwhelmed the Rams 30-6 in the course of the common season, and within the earlier yr’s Convention Title recreation, Dallas beat Los Angeles 28-0 in a whole whitewash.
Rams QB Vince Ferragamo threw three landing passes, together with a game-winner with simply over two minutes remaining on the clock. It was additionally a recreation that turned out to be the final of Dallas QB Roger Staubach.
Jan. 11, 2009: Eagles 23-11 Giants
Coming into the sport, the New York Giants had been the highest seed, the defending Tremendous Bowl champions, and had home-field benefit on a reasonably heat day.
Nevertheless, the Philadelphia Eagles defence performed an enormous recreation and stepped up forcing three turnovers, and kicker David Akers made three area targets, and it was the fifth time in eight seasons that the Eagles had made the NFC title recreation. Eli Manning and the Giants had been surprised.
Jan. 16, 2011: Jets 28-21 Patriots
In the course of the common season, the Patriots boasted a file of 14-2, they usually hammered the 11-5 Jets 45-3 in a nationally televised recreation, permitting for the entire nation to see simply what the Patriots might do.
The identical was anticipated to comply with on this Divisional spherical recreation, nonetheless it was removed from that. Ultimately, the Jets pulled off an unlikely upset, with quarterback Mark Sanchez throwing for 3 touchdowns, and the New York defence additionally sacked Patriots star Tom Brady 5 occasions, in a legendary defensive efficiency.
Jan. 10, 2009: Cardinals 33-13 Panthers
The Arizona Cardinals had been fortunate to even safe a playoff spot, after going 2-4 of their final six video games of the common season, solely simply getting in with a 9-7 file.
They dispatched of the Falcons within the Wild Card spherical, after which took on a extremely rated Carolina Panthers squad within the Divisional spherical who went 12-4 within the common season, and had been a powerful contender for the Tremendous Bowl.
Arizona had been lead by Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald and performed as much as their “Shock the World” slogan, and beat the Panthers, ultimately making the Tremendous Bowl, however misplaced to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the last hurdle.
23. Jan, 2022: 49ers 13-10 Packers
On a snowy Inexperienced Bay day, the Packers had been knocked outrageously knocked out by the San Francisco 49ers in an enormous upset and wild comeback.
The Packers had been prime seed and 13-4 for the season with an 8-0 dwelling file too. Robbie Gould of the 10-7 49ers helped full an unbelievable comeback, and the group scored 10 unanswered factors within the final 5 minutes of thew recreation to return from behind and knock out one of many Tremendous Bowl favorites.
San Francisco’s win, paired with the Cincinnati Bengals’ 19-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans earlier on within the day marked the primary time that each No. 1 seeds misplaced within the Divisional spherical in the identical season since 2010.
Jan. 9, 1988: Vikings 36, 49ers 24
Joe Montana hardly ever performed a nasty recreation for San Francisco, nonetheless on this explicit recreation, he did and it was punished by the Minnesota Vikings who intercepted Montana 4 occasions at Candlestick Park, and he ultimately received benched.
Nevertheless, the Vikings had been readily available to dish out an upset, and had been led by Anthony Carter’s 227 receiving yards to defeat the 49ers, however then misplaced to the Redskins within the following NFC Championship Sport.
Jan. 7, 1996: Colts 10, Chiefs 7
The Indianapolis Colts had been within the playoffs this yr after profitable their final 5 video games to get into the playoffs at 9-7 for the season, they usually had been up agains the No. 1 seed 13-3 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
It was anticipated to be a straightforward win for the Chiefs, nonetheless it didn’t end up that approach.
The Colts defence was on level, they usually intercepted Steve Bono 3 times within the second half, and Kansas kicker Lin Elliot additionally missed three field-goal makes an attempt in a horrible efficiency for the Chiefs total.
Jan. 4, 1997: Jaguars 30, Broncos 27
The Jacksonville Jaguars solely got here into the NFL as an growth group the yr earlier than, and shocked many by ending 9-7 within the common season.
They confronted a powerful Tremendous Bowl candidate within the Denver Broncos who had been 13-3 forward of the postseason. The Broncos did begin the sport properly and went right into a 12-0 lead, nonetheless they then appeared to lose all momentum, and the Jags scored 23 straight factors.
Mark Brunell three for 245 yards and two touchdowns, and Natrone Means rushed for 140 yards because the Jaguars received by means of to the AFC Championship Sport rounding off one of many greatest upsets within the Divisional spherical historical past earlier than being defeated by New England.
