"What people love about the NFL," says New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, "is that every game, every week, no matter who is playing, anything can happen. So many games come down to that last possession."
That has certainly been the case this season.
Through the first three weeks, there have been eight games in which a team was trailing and scored the game-winning points in the final minute of the fourth quarter. That is the most such games through the first three weeks of a season since at least the 1970 merger.
| Week | Winning Team | Opponent | Game-Winning Score | Time Remaining | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL | |||||
| 1 | New England | Buffalo | Field goal | 0:05 | W 23-21 |
| 1 | New York Jets | Tampa Bay | Field goal | 0:02 | W 18-17 |
| 2 | Buffalo | Carolina | Touchdown | 0:02 | W 24-23 |
| 2 | Chicago | Minnesota | Touchdown | 0:10 | W 31-30 |
| 2 | New Orleans | Tampa Bay | Field goal | 0:00 | W 16-14 |
| 3 | Cleveland | Minnesota | Touchdown | 0:51 | W 31-27 |
| 3 | Miami | Atlanta | Touchdown | 0:38 | W 27-23 |
| 3 | Tennessee | San Diego | Touchdown | 0:15 | W 20-17 |
In six of those eight games, the winning points were scored in the final 10 seconds.
"That's football," says Brees, whose team came from behind to defeat Tampa Bay in Week 2 with a field goal as time expired. "That's why we love it. And that's why we never give up. We always feel like we have a chance to win."
Adding to the excitement is that in five of the eight contests, the game-winning points were scored via touchdown.
"A lot of games in this league come down to the end," says Buffalo Bills running back FRED JACKSON, whose team scored the game-winning touchdown with two seconds remaining in the Bills' Week 2 victory over Carolina.
A look at the five games this season in which a team was trailing and scored a game-winning touchdown in the final minute of the fourth quarter:
Week 2: Buffalo 24, Carolina 23.
Trailing 23-17, Bills rookie quarterback EJ MANUEL throws a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver STEVIE JOHNSON with two seconds remaining.
Week 2: Chicago 31, Minnesota 30.
Trailing 30-24, Bears quarterback JAY CUTLER throws a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end MARTELLUS BENNETT with 10 seconds remaining.
Week 3: Cleveland 31, Minnesota 27.
Trailing 27-24, Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer throws a seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end JORDAN CAMERON with 51 seconds remaining.
Week 3: Miami 27, Atlanta 23.
Trailing 23-20, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill throws a one-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end DION SIMS with 38 seconds remaining.
Week 3: Tennessee 20, San Diego 17.
Trailing 17-13, Titans quarterback Jake Locker throws a 34-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver JUSTIN HUNTER with 15 seconds remaining.
NFL Football News & Analysis
NFL Football News & Analysis [...]
- NFL 2013 Week 5 Preview
- NFL 2013 Week 5: What to Look For
- Ben Roethlisberger Hopes Steelers Bounce Back from Awful Start
- Buccaneers Release Quarterback Josh Freeman
- Seahawks Claim 49ers Draft Pick B.J. Daniels Off Waivers
- Broncos Start Fast, Manning Climbs NFL Record Books
- NFL 2013 Week 5: Big Play Excitement
- NFL 2013 Week 4: AFC Players of the Week
- NFL 2013 Week 4: NFC Players of the Week
- NFL 2013 Week 4: The Week That Was
- NFL 2013 Week 4: Seven from Sunday
- NFL 2013 Week 4 Preview
- NFL 2013 Week 4 NFL Picks
- Chiefs and Dolphins Lead Crop of AFC Turnaround Teams
- Come-From-Behind Victories Highlight NFL's Unpredictability
- NFLPA Questions Raiders Handling of Terrelle Pryor's Concussion
- Mike Glennon Takes Bucs Starting QB job from Josh Freeman
- Cowboys to miss Anthony Spencer for remainder of season
- NFL 2013 Week 3: AFC Players of the Week
- NFL 2013 Week 3: NFC Players of the Week
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirms Jacoby Jones incident
- 49ers Linebacker Aldon Smith enters alcohol rehab facility
- Lions wideout Nate Burleson suffers broken arm in car crash
- Bears Henry Melton out for season with ACL tear
- NFL 2013 Week 3: The Week That Was
- NFL 2013 Week 3: Seven from Sunday
- Brian Hoyer, Jordan Cameron Shine as Browns Edge Vikings
- Colts Running Game Silences 49ers
- Broncos Von Miller allegedly corrupted NFL's urine-collection method
- NFL 2013 Week 3 Preview
- Five AFC Teams Look to Stay Perfect
- Passing Stats on the Rise as NFL Enters Week 3
- Chiefs Travel To Philadelphia to Face Eagles in Thursday Night Contest
- Browns Trade Trent Richardson to Colts for Draft Pick
- Bucs Safety Dashon Goldson Escapes Suspension
- Broncos sign Winston Justice with Ryan Clady out for season
- Darrelle Revis Unhappy with Bucs Coach Greg Schiano
- NFL 2013 Week 2: AFC Players of the Week
- NFL 2013 Week 2: NFC Players of the Week
- Jaguars fans rally, call on team to sign Tim Tebow
- Fourteen NFL Team Owners on Forbes Richest List
- Four 49ers Starters Leave Game With Injuries Against Seahawks
- Alex Smith Tosses Two TD Passes to Lift Chiefs over Cowboys
- Joe Flacco Leads Ravens over Browns
- NFL 2013 Week 2: A Look Back at the Week that Was
- NFL 2013 Week 2 - Seven from Sunday
- Colts Vick Ballard out for season with torn ACL
- Clay Matthews Insists He's Not a Dirty Player
- Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald: Calvin Johnson is Best Wideout in the NFL
- Jets QB Mark Sanchez Likely Out for Season
- Patriots Edge Jets Despite Tom Brady's Struggles
- After Exciting Kickoff Week, Here Comes NFL 2013 Week 2
- NFL 2013 Week 2: Brandon Jacobs Back with Giants
- Lions Tackle Ndamukong Suh Fined $100K for Illegal Hit
- NFL Clears Giants of Accusations about Faking Injuries
- NFL 2013 Week 1: AFC Players of the Week
- NFL 2013 Week 1: NFC Players of the Week
- The Week That Was - NFL Kickoff Weekend 2013
- NFL 2013 Week 1: Seven from Sunday
- Cowboys Force Six Turnovers, Down Giants
- Colin Kaepernick Tosses Three TDs as 49ers Edge Packers
- Ryan Tannehill Leads Dolphins Past Browns
- Peyton Manning Tosses Seven TDs as Broncos Dump Ravens
Article: Copyright ©, iHaveNet.com
Come-From-Behind Victories Highlight NFL's Unpredictability