NFL's Greatest Games

The NFL formed in 1920. So, here are the best games in NFL history by decade. I thought it might be fun to do it this way instead of the usual method. Also, each game says a little about the league at the time.

1920s: Pottsville Maroons: 9 Notre Dame: 6 (December 13, 1925): No one took the NFL seriously. The pro game was looked down upon. Then, the Pottsville Maroons beat the Fighting Irish in an exhibition game. The NFL had instant credibility.

1930s: Giants: 30 Bears: 13 (The Sneaker Game: December 9, 1934): This was the second NFL Championship Game. Freezing rain iced over the Polo Grounds. Giants Head Coach Steve Owen sent the equipment manager to the store to buy sneakers. The manager could not find an open store, so he borrowed 8 pair from a local college basketball team. While trailing 13-3 in the middle of the third quarter, the Giants changed into the sneakers and outscored Chicago 17-0 the rest of the game.

1940s: Rams: 15 Redskins: 14 (The NFL Championship Game: December 16, 1945): This was the Rams last game in Cleveland before moving to LA. With game time temperatures reaching 8 below zero, the Rams pulled out to a 15-7 lead. Washington cut it to one, but did not score again. The Redskins missed two field goals. The margin of victory was a Ram safety. Redskin quarterback Sammy Baugh dropped back into the end zone to pass, and hit the goal posts with his pass. In 1945, this was a safety. It led to a rule change, but did not help the skins and provided the Rams with the margin of victory.

1950s: Colts: 23 Giants: 17 (The NFL Championship Game: December 28, 1958 ): This was the first NFL Game to go into overtime. It is known as the Greatest Game Ever Played because of the game’s impact and the game itself. The Colts scored in overtime to win the game. The game was on television and showed the medium’s potential. The NFL’s popularity exploded after the game. This put the NFL on the road to becoming the country's most popular sport.

1960s: Packers: 21 Cowboys: 17 (The Ice Bowl: December 31, 1967): With a wind chill factor approaching 48 below zero, the Pack and Cowboys went to war. With 16 seconds to go, and Dallas leading 17-14, Bart Starr called timeout. He asked to run a sneak to win the game. Vince Lombardi summed up everyone’s misery in his response, "Well, run it and let's get the hell out of here." The Pack won and went to the Superbowl.

1970s: Raiders: 37 Colts: 31 (Ghost to the Post: December 24, 1977): Ken Stabler connected with Dave Casper on a 42-yard completion setting up a game-tying field goal. The game went two overtimes and witnessed eight lead changes. Casper later scored the game winning touchdown on a 10 yard pass. The play became known as “Ghost to the Post” because Casper shared a name with a certain friendly ghost.

1980s: 49ers: 20 Bengals: 16 (Hey! Isn’t that John Candy? January 22, 1989 Super Bowl XXIII): In the best Superbowl of the period, Joe Montana led San Francisco down the field to defeat Cincinnati with two fourth quarter touchdowns. On the final game winning drive, Montana broke up the tension by pointing out John Candy in the crowd. The huddle loosened up and the 49ers marched like Sherman through Georgia.

1990s: Bills: 41 Oilers: 38 (The Comeback: January 3, 1993): I turned this one off early. I was really excited that the Bills were not going to make it to another Superbowl. Silly me. The Bills game back from a 35-7 deficit behind a backup quarterback. The Bills scored 28 in the third quarter and outscored Houston 7-3 in the 4th to force overtime. Steve Christie kicked the game winning field goal in overtime and his shoe is now enshrined in Canton.

2000s: Giants: 17 Patriots: 14 (Superbowl XLII: February 3, 2008): So much for the undefeated season. New England had not lost all year. They led 7-3 at halftime and then 14-10 with 2:42 left. Eli Manning channeled his inner Joe Montana and led a drive down field. Facing a third and five with 1:15 remaining, Eli avoided a certain sack and chucked the ball downfield. David Tyree made the greatest catch in Superbowl history by grappling the ball to his helmet and landing on the Pat 24 yard line. Plaxico “I wear sweatpants to the clubs” Burress made the game winning TD catch with 5 seconds to go. Eli was MVP and the Pat Dynasty came to an end.

2010: Cardinals: 51 Packers: 45 (January 10, 2010): Ok, not many to choose from yet. It was either this one or the NFC Championship Game. Warner's last game or yet another Favre choke? hmmmm