Top Seven Playoff Blowouts In NFL History

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The top seven NFL playoff blowouts in history
By Patrick Michael, Yahoo! Contributor Network


For NFL fans like me, the playoffs are the best games of the year. Usually opponents are evenly matched and the efforts of both teams are outstanding. But sometimes, for whatever reason, NFL playoff games turn out to be blowouts. Whether it's due to injuries, home field advantage or other factors, some NFL playoff games can leave a lot to be desired. Take a look back at the seven biggest NFL playoff blowouts in history.

5. (Tie) 1/15/1994: NFC Divisional playoff: San Francisco 49ers def. New York Giants 44-3

Coming off a hard-fought 17-10 win in the NFC Wild Card round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings, the Giants had to travel to the west coast to face the 49ers. Whether it was the long flight or the 49ers coming off a bye or some other reason, the Giants got smacked by San Francisco. 49ers RB Ricky Watters rushed for 5 TDs as San Francisco won this NFL playoff blowout by 41 points.


5. (Tie) 1/14/2001: NFC Championship: New York Giants def. Minnesota Vikings 41-0

As a diehard New Orleans Saints fan, 2000 was my favorite pre-Payton/Brees season. In 2000, the Saints won their first NFL playoff game in franchise history over the St. Louis Rams 31-28. Unfortunately, the Saints fell 34-16 the following week in Minnesota. Imagine my surprise when those same Vikings then fell to the Giants in a blowout in the NFC Championship. Giants QB Kerry Collins(notes) threw for 381 yards and 5 TDs in this historic NFL playoff blowout.


5. (Tie) 1/4/2003: AFC Wild Card: New York Jets def. Indianapolis Colts 41-0

The Jets and Colts have quite an NFL postseason tradition. In Super Bowl III, the Jets shocked the world by upsetting the Colts 16-7. And in 2011, the Jets defeated the Colts in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs 17-16 in a thriller. Their 2003 playoff blowout wasn't quite as thrilling. Jets QB Chad Pennington(notes) threw for 222 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs, while Colts QB Peyton Manning(notes) passed for 137 yards, 0 TDs and 2 INTs in the blowout.


4. 1/1/1984: NFC Divisional playoff: Washington Redskins def. Los Angeles Rams 51-7

The 1983 Washington Redskins are one of the greatest NFL teams in the modern era to not win the Super Bowl. Sporting a 14-2 record, with both of their losses coming by just one point each, the Redskins dominated the hapless Rams in a 44-point playoff blowout on New Year's Day. Redskins QB Joe Theismann threw for 302 yards and 2 TDs and RB John Riggins rushed for 119 yards and 3 TDs in the playoff blowout.


3. 1/4/1987: NFC Divisional playoff: New York Giants def. San Francisco 49ers 49-3

The San Francisco 49ers were the best NFL team of the 1980s. Trust me, I know. I watched the Saints play the 49ers twice every year that decade. But there was no storybook ending for the 49ers following the 1986 season; unless the story was a tragedy. The 49ers lost a 46-point blowout to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants. QB Phil Simms threw 4 TDs and outplayed QB Joe Montana who eventually left the game with a concussion.


2. 1/20/1991: AFC Championship: Buffalo Bills def. Los Angeles Raiders 51-3

Going into Super Bowl XXV, the Buffalo Bills were a serious threat to end the NFC's winning streak. After all, they were coming off a 48-point blowout win in the AFC Championship. Bills RB Thurman Thomas rushed for 138 yards and the Raiders threw 6 INTs in this epic NFL playoff blowout. In just two playoff games that year, the Bills scored 95 points. However, the Bills followed up their playoff blowout win with a one-point loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl.


1. 1/15/2000: AFC Divisional playoff: Jacksonville Jaguars def. Miami Dolphins 62-7

The most embarrassing loss in Saints history was a 62-7 blowout to the Atlanta Falcons in the 1973 season opener. It's good to know that an NFL playoff team once lost a blowout just as badly. The 1999 AFC Central was an amazing division with the Jaguars finishing 14-2 and the Tennessee Titans not far behind at 13-3. The Jaguars used their bye to good advantage as they drubbed the Dolphins by 55 points in the biggest NFL playoff blowout in history. Although RB Fred Taylor(notes) rushed for 135 yards, the true MVP was the Jaguar defense which forced seven turnovers. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, they fell to the Titans 33-14 in the AFC title game.

Endnote

For clarification, playoff games are defined here as NFL postseason games, not including NFL Championship games and Super Bowls. AFL postseason games are not included.

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