January 3 will always be a momentous day in football history because it is the anniversary of the greatest comeback in NFL history. On Jan. 3, 1993, backup quarterback Frank Reich led the Buffalo Bills to a 41-38 overtime victory over the Houston Oilers in an AFC wildcard playoff game. To this day, the game is still known to fans as “The Comeback.”
Houston was leading 28-3 by halftime, and things got even worse when Houston strong safety Bubba McDowell intercepted a pass from Reich, who was filling in for an injured Jim Kelly, writes History. McDowell ran 58 yards and bumped the score to 35-3. Bills fans started to leave, convinced that the game was over and that it wasn’t worth sitting through the cold. But then, remarkably, things started to change. During the next possession, Buffalo began to rally, driving 50 yards in 10 plays and scoring a touchdown on a one-yard run by Kenneth Davis. Bills kicker Steve Christie then recovered his own onside kick to give Reich the ball. Reich connected Don Beebe on a 38-yard touchdown to put the score at 35-17. Bills defense contributed to the comeback by getting the Bills the ball back quickly. Reich capitalized on the possession by finding Andre Reed for a 26-yard touchdown. Then, Bills safety Henry Jones intercepted an Oilers pass for a 15-yard return, and Reich yet again found Reed for another score. They were only down by four points now and had done all this in just six minutes and 52 seconds.
The Oilers missed a field goal attempt and Reich made a 17-yard touchdown pass to Reed to put Buffalo up 38-35 with less than three minutes left in regulation. But Houston’s Al Del Greco made a 26-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game, sending the teams into overtime. Then, on a Houston drive, the Bills defensive back Nate Odomes intercepted a pass. Davis made two six-yard rushes, and Christie stepped up for a 32-yard field goal attempt. He was successful, and the Bills won 41-38. It was the largest comeback victory — 32 points — in NFL history. They made it to the Super Bowl that year, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys.
Check out some highlights from that famous game below.
3 Jan 1993: Quarterback Frank Reich of the Buffalo Bills (left) celebrates with teammate kicker Steve Christie after a playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game in overtime, 41-38.
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3 JAN 1993: Houston guard Mike Munchak talks with his offensive tackle during the Oilers 41-38 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the 1993 playoffs. (Rick Stewart/ALLSPORT)
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3 JAN 1993: Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich sets and throws during the Bills 41-38 overtime win over the Houston Oilers in the AFC playoff game at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Reich engineered a record comeback after the Bills trailed the Oilers.
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3 Jan 1993: Quarterback Frank Reich of the Buffalo Bills looks to throw the ball during a playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game in overtime, 41-38.
3 Jan 1993: Quarterback Frank Reich of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after a playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game in overtime, 41-38.
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3 Jan 1993: Wide receiver Don Beebe of the Buffalo Bills catches the ball during a playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game in overtime, 41-38.
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3 Jan 1993: Running back Kenneth Davis of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball during a playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game, 41-38. (Rick Stewart/Allsport)
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3 Jan 1993: Defensive back Nate Odomes of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball after making an interception during a playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game in overtime, 41-38.
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3 Jan 1993: Wide receiver Webster Slaughter of the Houston Oilers carries the football after making a catch during the Oilers 41-38 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. (Rick Stewart/ALLSPORT)
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At left, in a Jan. 3, 1993, file photo, Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Odoms gets a lift from teammate Henry Jones after intercepting a pass by Warren Moon of the Houston Oilers during the overtime period to set up Steve Christie’s game-winning field goal, in Orchard Park, N.Y. At right, also in a Jan. 3, 1993, file photo, Buffalo Bills kicker Steve Christie, right, celebrates his game-winning field goal with quarterback Frank Reich as the Bills beat the Houston Oilers in overtime, 41-38, in Orchard Park. The Buffalo Bills’ 17-year playoff drought roils the emotions of the franchise’s proud old guard. (AP Photo/John Hickey, File)
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In this Jan. 3, 1993, file photo, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) and Keith McKeller celebrate Reed’s third touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football wild-card playoff game against the Houston Oilers at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills came back from a 35-3 deficit to win 41-38 in overtime. Buffalo’s comeback is considered one of the all-time greatest in sports history. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes, File)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Frank Reich looks to throw during third quarter action against the Houston Oilers on Sunday, Jan. 3, 1991 at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park. Bills tackle Wil Wolford (69) blocks Oilers defensive end Ray Childress (79) as Sean Jones (96) closes in. Reich led the Bills to a 41-38 overtime victory. (AP Photo/Harry Scull, Jr.)
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The Buffalo Bills bench, including receiver Don Beebe (82) and injured quarterback Jim Kelly, behind Beebe and wearing street clothes, celebrate Steve Christie’s winning overtime field goal to beat the Houston Oilers 41-38, on Jan. 3, 1993, at Orchard Park. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)
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