The Comeback was a National Football League (NFL) game held on January 3, 1993, as part of the 1992–93 NFL playoffs. The Buffalo Bills overcame a 35–3 deficit to defeat the visiting Houston Oilers 41–38 in overtime and set the then-record for largest comeback in NFL history. Though surpassed by the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, the Bills' 32-point comeback remains the largest comeback in postseason history and the second largest overall. It was also the first time an NFL team with a lead of at least 30 points lost the game, and the only one until the aforementioned Colts–Vikings game in 2022.
Background
Prior to this game, the only time in NFL history that a team failed to win a game that they led by 30 or more points in was a 38–38 tie in a 1960 game between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, in which the Broncos rallied from a 38–7 deficit to tie the game at 38, which would end up being the final score.
Both teams qualified for the playoffs as wild card teams, with Buffalo as the fourth seed and Houston as the fifth seed.
The Buffalo Bills, the American Football Conference (AFC) champions for the previous two seasons, recorded an 11–5 record during the 1992 regular season and finished in second place in the AFC Eastern Division. Buffalo's no-huddle offense led the league in rushing yards (2,436) and ranked second in the league in total offensive yards (6,114 yards). The main keys to their success were their four future Hall of Fame players on offense: Quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas, and receivers Andre Reed and James Lofton. Buffalo also had a Hall of Fame defensive end, Bruce Smith, who went on to become the NFL's all-time leader in sacks.
Meanwhile, the Houston Oilers finished in second place in the AFC Central Division with a 10–6 record. Houston's run and shoot offense led the league in passing (4,231 yards) and its defense ranked third in the league, allowing only 4,532 total yards. Overall, the team boasted nine Pro Bowl selections, including their quarterback Warren Moon (selected despite missing six games with injuries) and three wide receivers, Curtis Duncan, Haywood Jeffires, and Ernest Givins. The Oilers also had a powerful running attack with Lorenzo White, who rushed for 1,226 yards and caught 57 passes.
The Bills and Oilers had faced each other for the final game of the regular season, with Houston defeating Buffalo, 27–3 in Houston. During that game, Kelly suffered strained ligaments in his knee, leaving backup quarterback Frank Reich to finish the game in his place. Reich completed a mere 11-of-23 passes for 99 yards, with two interceptions and a passer rating of 23.6. With Kelly out, Reich took the reins starting in place of Kelly the following week in the wild card game, which Buffalo hosted. Reich also started the following divisional playoff game in Pittsburgh in which Buffalo also won 24–3 to advance to the AFC Championship game the following week versus the Miami Dolphins.
In addition to losing Kelly, injuries also robbed Buffalo of one of their best defensive players for the upcoming wildcard game: linebacker Cornelius Bennett.
Reich and the biggest comeback in college football history
As the backup quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins, Reich replaced starter Stan Gelbaugh on November 10, 1984, and led the Terrapins back from a first-half deficit of 31–0 to a 42–40 victory over the Miami Hurricanes under Bernie Kosar. This college record stood until being broken by the 2006 Michigan State vs. Northwestern game.