As you can imagine, the task of selecting each NFL team's greatest win was daunting. What ultimately helped make some decisions was looking at the magnitude of the win, the impact on the franchise (both short and long term) and the fan base's reaction to said win. The quality of the opposition was also a factor.
Surprisingly, many teams' greatest wins did not come in a Super Bowl, even for some franchises that have won multiple Super Bowls. In addition to naming each NFL franchise's greatest win, a second-greatest victory category is included. Greatest win: 1947 NFL Championship: Cardinals 28, Eagles 21 Runner-up: 2008 NFC Championship: Cardinals 32, Eagles 25 Ironically, the Cardinals' two greatest victories came against the same opponent.
In the '47 title game, the Cardinals' Elmer Angsman, born the year the Cardinals won their first title (1925), ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cardinals to their second title. While their offense ran the ball at will, the Cardinals' defense held Eagles Hall of Fame halfback Steve Van Buren to just 26 yards rushing on 18 carries. Van Buren would then lead Philadelphia to back-to-back championships, while the Cardinals continue to wait for their next NFL title.
Greatest win: 1998 NFC Championship: Falcons 30, Vikings 27 (OT) Runner-up: 2016 NFC Championship: Falcons 44, Packers 21 In one of the most surprising upsets in NFL postseason history, Atlanta's "Dirty Birds" overcame a 13-point deficit to stun the Vikings, who went 15-1 during the regular season. Trailing 27-20, the Falcons caught a break when Vikings kicker Gary Anderson, who did not miss a field goal during the regular season, missed a 38-yard attempt with 2:07 left. Atlanta capitalized on Anderson's miss, as Chris Chandler hit Terance Mathis for the game-tying touchdown with 57 seconds left in regulation.
The teams exchanged punts in overtime before two Chandler completions to tight end O.J. Santiago and two runs by Jamal Anderson set up Morton Andersen's game-winning, 38-yard kick. Greatest win: 1992 AFC wild card: Bills 41, Oilers 38 (OT) Runner-up: 1964 AFL Championship: Bills 20, Chargers 7 Three of Buffalo's four consecutive AFC title wins from 1990-93 included victories over Hall of Fame quarterbacks John Elway, Dan Marino and Joe Montana.
But it was the Bills' improbable wild-card comeback win over the Oilers that stands as the Bills' greatest win. Trailing 35-3 at the start of the second half, four touchdown passes from backup quarterback Frank Reich gave the Bills a fourth-quarter lead. After the Oilers forced overtime, an interception by Nate Odomes set up Steve Christie's game-winning, 32-yard field goal.
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