Stats & Facts You Need To Know (FAQ)

Researchers: K. Anders Ericsson, Ralf Krampe, Clemens Tesch-Römer

Elite performers spend substantially more time in highly structured, feedback-driven practice ("deliberate practice") than average performers. Performance differences are strongly associated with practice quality and quantity. 

Variable - Deliberate practice hours

Elite Athletes - Significantly Higher 

Average Athletes - Lower 

Variable - Structured Coaching 

Elite Athletes - Higher

Average Athletes - Lower 

Variable - Frequency Feedback 

Elite Athletes - Higher 

Average Athletes - Lower

• PubMed: Expert Performance Research https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31718526/
• MIT Expert Performance Paper: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://web.mit.edu/6.969/www/readings/expertise.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com 

Researchers: Jonah Berger and Devin Pope

• 18,000+ NBA games 
• 45,000+ NCAA basketball games 

Teams that were slightly behind (Less than 6 points) at halftime were more likely to come back and win than teams slightly ahead. Researchers concluded that being narrowly behind can increase motivation and effort. 

Situation at Halftime - Likelihood of Winning

Slightly Behind - Increased

Slightly Ahead - Lower than expected

• Management Science Papaer (PDF) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.devingpope.com/assets/files/Website_Losing_Winning.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.comManagement Science Paper (PDF): 

Research Team: Matthew Lochbaum and colleagues

Hundreds of sport psychology studies were analyzed.

Mental training positively affects athletic performance across sports. Important variables included:

• Confidence 
• Goal setting 
• Self-regulation 
• Mental imagery 
• Emotional control 

The overall effect of sport psychology interventions on performance was statistically significant. 

• NIH Meta-Analysis on Sport Psychology: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8849618/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

1) 33 Points – Dec. 17, 2022 | Minnesota Vikings 39, Indianapolis Colts 36 (OT)

• Colts led 33-0 at halftime before Kirk Cousins and the Vikings mounted the largest comeback in league history. [1]

  2) 32 Points – Jan. 3, 1993 | Buffalo Bills 41, Houston Oilers 38 (OT)

• "The Comeback." Oilers led 35-3 in the third quarter before Frank Reich led the Bills to the greatest postseason rally ever. [1, 2]

3) 28 Points – Dec. 7, 1980 | San Francisco 49ers 38, New Orleans Saints 35 (OT)

• Saints led 35-7 at halftime before Joe Montana engineered a 28-point comeback. [1, 2]

4) 28 Points – Jan. 4, 2014 | Indianapolis Colts 45, Kansas City Chiefs 44

• Chiefs took a 38-10 lead early in the third quarter before Andrew Luck and the Colts rallied in this AFC Wild Card matchup. [1, 2]

5) 28 Points – Super Bowl LI, Feb. 5, 2017 | New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 (OT)

• The infamous "28-3" game. Atlanta led by 25 points late in the third quarter before the Patriots completed the largest Super Bowl comeback. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

6) 26 Points – Sept. 21, 1997 | Buffalo Bills 37, Indianapolis Colts 35

• The Colts led 26-0 in the second quarter before Todd Collins led the Bills to 37 unanswered points. [1, 2, 3]

7) 25 Points – Nov. 8, 1987 | St. Louis Cardinals 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28

• The Buccaneers led 28-3 in the fourth quarter before Neil Lomax led a massive 25-point comeback. [1, 2]

8) 25 Points – Oct. 5, 2014 | Cleveland Browns 29, Tennessee Titans 28

• Titans led 28-3 in the first half before Brian Hoyer led the Browns to the biggest road comeback in NFL history. [1, 2, 3]

9) 24 Points – Oct. 27, 1946 | Philadelphia Eagles 24, Washington Redskins 24

• Washington led 24-0 before the Eagles rallied to tie the game. [1, 2, 3]

10)  24 Points – Multiple Games | Various Teams

• Colts vs. Lions (1957), Cardinals vs. Bears (1959), Patriots vs. Broncos (1960), and Patriots vs. Dolphins (1974) all featured 24-point blown leads. [1, 2, 3]

• Sources - Pro Football Hall of Fame:  https://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/greatest-comebacks-in-nfl-history
• Pro Football Reference.com:  https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/blown_leads.htm
• CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/biggest-comebacks-in-nfl-history-jaguars-playoff-win-over-chargers-earns-spot-amongst-largest-rallies-ever/
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_comebacks_in_NFL_games
• 93.1 Coast Country: https://931coast.com/biggest-blown-lead-in-every-nfl-teams-history/

 MLB (Baseball)

1) Largest Playoff Series Comeback: The 2004 Boston Red Sox remain the only team to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, beating the New York Yankees. [1, 2]

2) Largest Single-Game Comeback: The Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) overcame a 12-run, 14-2 deficit to defeat the Seattle Mariners 15-14 in 2001. [1, 2]

NBA (Basketball)

   1) Largest Regular Season Comeback: The Utah Jazz erased a 34-point second-half deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets in 1996.

2) Largest Finals Series Comeback: The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers became the first team to rally from a 3-1 series deficit, defeating the Golden State Warriors.

NHL (Hockey)

1) Largest Playoff Series Deficit: Several teams have overcome 3-0 series deficits in NHL history, including the 1942 Maple Leafs, 1975 Islanders, 2010 Flyers, and 2014 Kings. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Sources - Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comeback_(sports)

Bleacher Report:  https://bleacherreport.com/articles/623285-50-greatest-comebacks-in-sports-history

Reddit.com:   https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1moascn/sports_fans_whats_the_greatest_comeback_in_sports/

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