The NFL Elite: The Five Most Exciting Game Ever

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As the regular season comes to a close. time to reflect. Which regular-season games rank as the best in NFL history?

Before teams even sniff the playoffs, they must traverse the arduous trek known as the NFL regular season. While the phrase feels rather tired, on any given Sunday (Monday, Thursday, or Saturday) still applies. In a game centering around an oblong-shaped ball, bounces, like outcomes could veer in any direction. To make this list, something extraordinary needed to occur. Some games will be high-scoring, while others will not. Either way, get your popcorn ready.

5. Saints 23, Falcons 3

September 25, 2006

Just a year prior, Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, leaving New Orleans eighty percent flooded. While official reports listed the death toll at 1,464, many more probably died. Levees and the government failed the city. A once-proud city sat in ruin, and a third of its population never returned. Yet, a year after the storm, New Orleans showed the world the heart of its citizens. Steve Gleason blocked a punt, leading to a touchdown and an outpouring of emotion. For that one evening, everything that awaited the populace existed only on the other side of the Superdome’s walls. Although ALS continues to attack his body, Gleason still holds that memory in his heart and mind. The Saints won that evening. More importantly, New Orleans, as it will always do, survived.

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4. Cowboys 35, Washington 34

December 16, 1979

With the NFC East division title hanging in the balance, John Riggins rips off a sixty-six-yard touchdown run to expand the lead to 34-21, with under four minutes to go. From the sidelines, Jack Pardee looked pleased, as he thought, his players secured a division crown. Thirty-seven-year-old Roger Staubach stepped on the field. Staubach, a legend in NFL lore, fought off Danny White to keep his job. In those three minutes and forty-nine seconds, Staubach sipped from the Fountain of Youth one more time, finding Ron Springs and Tony Hill for the last fourteen points of the game. Vince Ferragamo and the Rams eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs, two weeks later. Granted, quarterback remains the most demanding position on the field. Superhuman pressure rests on their shoulders. One last time, Roger the Dodger pulled the rabbit from the hat.

3. Raiders 35, Chargers 32

January 9, 2022

Critics will claim this game falls under the ” prisoner of the moment” grouping. However, they probably missed it and are only stuck on the date. Now, for those that actually watched this game to the thrilling conclusion, a synopsis. The Chargers and Raiders needed to either win or tie to clinch a playoff spot. After a Daniel Carlson fifty-two-yard field goal made it 29-14, the Chargers looked cooked. Justin Herbert, under heavy pressure, stood tall in the pocket. Maxx Crosby wore Storm Norton out like a new suit on Easter Sunday. Seemingly every snap, Crosby bolted into the backfield. Herbert needed two scores and a two-point conversion. Josh Palmer provided the first, Mike Williams scored with no time left in regulation. This game stands out for the worst timeout in NFL history. Brandon Staley called timeout with five seconds on the play clock. Las Vegas gained the first down, called a timeout, and kicked the game-winner at the gun. All the Chargers needed to was the exact opposite of what Staley did.

2. Jets 37, Dolphins 34, Overtime

September 21, 1986

With all the talent on this list, you wouldn’t expect a quarterback with a career completion percentage south of sixty to sit so high up. Yet, on this day, Vinny Testaverde authored one of the greatest comebacks in modern NFL history. When Lamar Smith punched in a three-yard run, Miami jumped to a 30-7 lead, heading into the fourth. To the amazement of millions, Testaverde threw twelve incomplete passes over the final twenty-one minutes and thirty-five seconds of game time. In itself, a wild feat, but consider the five passes over twenty yards that he completed in the same stretch. In particular, the one to Jumbo Elliott. Yes, Jumbo Elliott, the veteran left tackle, never caught an NFL pass until that point. The Jets stormed back, on the strength of that bobbled catch to force overtime. John Hall connects from forty yards out and the Monday Night Miracle was born.

1. 49ers 38, Saints 35

If Freddie Solomon doesn’t house a fifty-seven-yard punt, San Francisco would have entered the half, down 35-0. In the second half, Joe Montana began his iconic ascension into NFL history that afternoon. After halftime, the Niners’ offense woke up. Specifically, Dwight Clark, whose size and speed proved too much. Clark, who’d gain acclaim just one year later torched the Saint to the tune of six catches and 155 yards. Montana absorbed massive amounts of punishment. New Orleans roughed him up for five sacks. Yet, the wiry passer from Western Pennsylvania held his ground. The Niners finished 6-10. Yet, the NFL had no idea what lurked over the horizon, as the San Francisco 49ers dominated the next fifteen years.

Objection

Fans of the Rams-Chiefs scoregasm in 2018 will protest. Why applaud two teams that each scored over fifty points? At least the shootouts on this list fit within the realm of realism. Granted, the game was exciting but doesn’t fit this list.