The NFL has given you some of the greatest underdog stories in sports history. Every season, fans expect powerhouse teams to dominate weaker opponents. But football does not always follow the script. Sometimes, a team nobody believes in shocks the world and creates a moment people talk about for decades.
From unbelievable Super Bowl victories to regular-season stunners that changed NFL history, these upsets remind you why football is so exciting. One game can flip expectations upside down and turn unknown players into legends overnight.
In this list, you will look back at the 10 biggest upsets in NFL history and see why these games still stand out today.
Quick Summary Table 📋
| Rank | Upset | Year | Why It Was Shocking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giants vs Patriots – Super Bowl XLII | 2008 | Patriots were one win away from a perfect season |
| 2 | Jets vs Colts – Super Bowl III | 1969 | AFL team shocked the NFL champions |
| 3 | Seahawks vs Saints – Beast Quake Game | 2011 | 7-9 Seahawks beat defending champs |
| 4 | Titans vs Ravens Playoffs | 2020 | Titans stunned the league’s best team |
| 5 | Jaguars vs Broncos Playoffs | 1997 | Wild card Jaguars upset defending champs |
| 6 | Giants vs Bills – Super Bowl XXV | 1991 | Giants slowed down a dominant Buffalo offense |
| 7 | Patriots vs Rams – Super Bowl XXXVI | 2002 | Tom Brady’s first miracle title |
| 8 | Cardinals vs Cowboys Playoffs | 1999 | Jake Plummer shocked Dallas |
| 9 | Dolphins vs Bears | 1985 | Perfect season dreams ended |
| 10 | Browns vs Steelers Playoffs | 2021 | Cleveland dominated Pittsburgh early |
How We Ranked These Upsets ⚡
We ranked these NFL upsets using several important factors:
- Difference in team strength before the game
- Betting odds and public expectations
- Importance of the game
- Historical impact on the NFL
- Whether the upset changed a franchise forever
- How memorable the performance was
- Legacy and fan reactions over time
1. New York Giants vs New England Patriots – Super Bowl XLII 🎯
The 2007 New England Patriots looked unbeatable. They entered Super Bowl XLII with a perfect 18-0 record and one of the greatest offenses you have ever seen. Tom Brady threw 50 touchdown passes, Randy Moss broke receiving records, and many fans believed the Patriots would easily beat the Giants.
Instead, the Giants delivered one of the most shocking performances in sports history.
New York’s defensive line pressured Brady all night, something very few teams managed to do that season. The game stayed close until the final minutes when Eli Manning escaped what looked like a certain sack and threw the famous helmet catch to David Tyree.
Moments later, Plaxico Burress caught the game-winning touchdown.
The Giants won 17-14 and ended the Patriots’ dream season. Even today, many people still consider this the greatest upset in NFL history because of what was at stake.
2. New York Jets vs Baltimore Colts – Super Bowl III 🏆
Before Super Bowl III, NFL teams were seen as much stronger than AFL teams. The Baltimore Colts entered the game as heavy favorites and were expected to dominate the Jets.
Then Joe Namath made his famous guarantee.
Namath confidently promised the Jets would win, and many people laughed at him. But the Jets backed up his words with an incredible performance.
New York’s defense frustrated the Colts offense, while Namath stayed calm and controlled the game. The Jets won 16-7 and shocked the football world.
This upset changed the NFL forever because it helped prove that AFL teams could compete with NFL teams. It also helped build excitement for the AFL-NFL merger that soon followed.
3. Seattle Seahawks vs New Orleans Saints – Beast Quake Game 🌊
The 2010 Seahawks entered the playoffs with a losing 7-9 record. Most fans thought they did not even deserve to be there. Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champion Saints looked ready for another deep playoff run.
Seattle had other plans.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck played one of the best games of his career, and Marshawn Lynch delivered one of the most iconic runs in NFL history. His incredible touchdown run broke multiple tackles and caused fans inside the stadium to shake the ground with excitement.
That play became known as the “Beast Quake.”
The Seahawks won 41-36 in a game nobody expected them to win. It became one of the most entertaining playoff upsets ever.
4. Tennessee Titans vs Baltimore Ravens – AFC Divisional Round 🔥
The 2019 Ravens looked unstoppable. Lamar Jackson won MVP, Baltimore finished 14-2, and many experts predicted they would reach the Super Bowl easily.
The Titans entered the playoffs as underdogs and were not expected to survive long.
But Tennessee controlled the game from the start. Derrick Henry dominated the Ravens defense with powerful running, while the Titans defense forced key mistakes from Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore struggled to recover after falling behind early.
The Titans won 28-12 and stunned fans across the NFL. The upset became even bigger because the Ravens had looked nearly unbeatable during the regular season.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars vs Denver Broncos – AFC Divisional Round 🐆
In the 1996 season, the Jaguars were only in their second year as a franchise. They barely made the playoffs and faced the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
Most people expected the game to be a blowout.
Instead, Jacksonville shocked everyone. Quarterback Mark Brunell played fearlessly, and the Jaguars offense made huge plays throughout the game.
Denver could not stop Jacksonville’s momentum.
The Jaguars won 30-27 in one of the biggest playoff surprises of the 1990s. The victory helped establish Jacksonville as a legitimate NFL franchise much earlier than expected.
6. New York Giants vs Buffalo Bills – Super Bowl XXV 🎖️
The Buffalo Bills entered Super Bowl XXV with one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history. Their fast-paced no-huddle attack overwhelmed teams all season long.
The Giants knew they could not win in a shootout.
Instead, New York slowed the game down with a smart strategy focused on ball control and long drives. The Giants kept Buffalo’s offense off the field and played disciplined defense.
The game came down to the final seconds when Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed a field goal attempt that became known as “Wide Right.”
The Giants escaped with a 20-19 win and completed a massive upset.
7. New England Patriots vs St. Louis Rams – Super Bowl XXXVI ⭐
The Rams were called “The Greatest Show on Turf” because their offense was nearly impossible to stop. Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and Isaac Bruce helped make St. Louis one of the most dangerous teams in NFL history.
Meanwhile, the Patriots were led by a young quarterback named Tom Brady, who was still unknown to many fans.
New England’s defense played aggressively and disrupted the Rams offense all game long. Brady stayed calm under pressure and led a final drive that set up Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning field goal.
The Patriots won 20-17 and started a dynasty that changed NFL history forever.
8. Arizona Cardinals vs Dallas Cowboys – NFC Wild Card Game 🌵
The Dallas Cowboys were one of the NFL’s most famous and talented teams during the late 1990s. The Cardinals, on the other hand, had little playoff success and entered the game as clear underdogs.
Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer delivered a fearless performance.
The Cardinals defense also stepped up and frustrated Dallas throughout the game. Arizona controlled the momentum early and never looked intimidated by the bigger team.
The Cardinals won 20-7 and earned one of the franchise’s biggest victories ever.
For many fans, this game showed that playoff football can produce surprises no matter how strong one team appears.
9. Miami Dolphins vs Chicago Bears 🐬
The 1985 Chicago Bears are often considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history. Their defense dominated nearly every opponent, and many fans believed they would complete a perfect season.
Then they faced Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins.
Marino attacked Chicago’s defense with quick passes and smart decision-making. Miami’s offense moved the ball better than any other team had managed that season.
The Dolphins won 38-24 and handed the Bears their only loss of the year.
Even though Chicago still won the Super Bowl, this upset remains one of the most famous regular-season surprises ever.
10. Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers – AFC Wild Card Game 🟤
The Browns entered the 2020 playoffs with little postseason success in recent history. Pittsburgh had dominated Cleveland for years and entered the game as the favorite.
Then, everything went wrong for the Steelers almost immediately.
Cleveland scored on the first play after a bad snap and quickly built a huge lead. The Browns offense played aggressively, while Pittsburgh struggled with turnovers and mistakes.
By halftime, Cleveland had completely shocked the football world.
The Browns eventually won 48-37 and earned one of the biggest victories in franchise history. For Cleveland fans, the game felt like years of frustration had finally disappeared.
Conclusion 🏅
NFL history is filled with moments that remind you why sports are impossible to predict. No matter how strong a team looks, there is always a chance for an underdog to rise up and create history.
These upsets became legendary because they shocked fans, changed careers, and proved that belief and determination can overcome even the biggest odds. Some of these games launched dynasties, while others ended dreams of perfection.
Years later, football fans still talk about these moments because they captured the excitement and unpredictability that make the NFL so special.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
What is considered the biggest upset in NFL history?
Most fans and analysts consider the Giants beating the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII the biggest upset in NFL history because New England was trying to complete a perfect season.
Has a losing NFL team ever won the Super Bowl?
No losing team has ever won the Super Bowl. However, the 2010 Seattle Seahawks became the first team with a losing record to win a playoff game.
Which NFL team has caused the most famous playoff upsets?
Teams like the Giants, Patriots, and Steelers have been involved in many famous playoff upsets, both as underdogs and favorites.
Why are NFL upsets so common compared to other sports?
Football games are short seasons with single-elimination playoffs, so one great performance or one bad mistake can completely change the outcome.
What makes an NFL upset memorable?
An upset becomes memorable when the underdog beats a heavily favored team in an important game, especially when the result changes NFL history or creates an iconic moment fans never forget.
