largest comeback in super bowl history

February 15, 2026

The largest comeback in Super Bowl history is the New England Patriots erasing a 25‑point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, turning a 28–3 hole into a 34–28 overtime win.

Largest Comeback in Super Bowl History – Quick Scoop

What was the comeback?

Game: Super Bowl LI (51)
Date: February 5, 2017
Teams: New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons
Halftime / third‑quarter score: Falcons led 28–3 late in the third quarter.

Deficit: 25 points, the biggest any team has ever overcome in a Super Bowl.

Final score: Patriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT).

This 28–3 swing is so iconic that fans often just call the game “28–3” instead of “Super Bowl LI.”

How the comeback unfolded

The Falcons dominated early, building a 28–3 lead behind a high‑powered offense.

Late in the third quarter, Tom Brady hit James White for a touchdown to make it 28–9 (after a missed extra point).

In the fourth quarter, New England mounted multiple scoring drives, including:
- A touchdown plus a two‑point conversion to cut it to 28–20.
- A late drive capped by a James White rushing TD and another two‑point conversion to tie the game 28–28 with under a minute left.

The game went to the first overtime in Super Bowl history, where the Patriots received the ball and drove downfield. James White scored from two yards out to win 34–28.

Many outlets describe it as not just the biggest Super Bowl comeback, but one of the greatest comebacks in NFL or even sports history.

Other notable (but smaller) Super Bowl comebacks

While none match the 25‑point rally, several famous Super Bowls featured double‑digit comebacks.

Here’s a quick look:

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<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Super Bowl</th>
      <th>Teams</th>
      <th>Deficit Overcome</th>
      <th>Final Score</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>LI (2017)</td>
      <td>Patriots vs. Falcons</td>
      <td>25 points (28–3)</td>
      <td>34–28 (OT), NE</td>
      <td>Largest comeback in Super Bowl history; first OT Super Bowl. [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>XXII (1988)</td>
      <td>Washington vs. Broncos</td>
      <td>10 points (10–0)</td>
      <td>42–10, WAS</td>
      <td>Washington turned a 10–0 deficit into a blowout behind Doug Williams. [web:1][web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>XLIX (2015)</td>
      <td>Patriots vs. Seahawks</td>
      <td>10 points (24–14)</td>
      <td>28–24, NE</td>
      <td>Patriots rallied in the 4th; Malcolm Butler’s goal‑line INT sealed it. [web:1][web:3][web:8]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>LIV (2020)</td>
      <td>Chiefs vs. 49ers</td>
      <td>10 points (20–10)</td>
      <td>31–20, KC</td>
      <td>Chiefs scored 21 unanswered in the 4th quarter. [web:1][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>LVII (2023)</td>
      <td>Chiefs vs. Eagles</td>
      <td>10 points</td>
      <td>38–35, KC</td>
      <td>Mahomes led a second‑half comeback to win a shootout. [web:1][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Why this comeback is so legendary

Stage and stakes: A 25‑point rally in any NFL game is huge; doing it in the Super Bowl with a title on the line is what makes it historic.

Legacy impact: The win gave New England its fifth Lombardi Trophy and further cemented Tom Brady’s reputation as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.

Cultural footprint: “28–3” has become meme shorthand in NFL culture, instantly evoking this game and the collapse/comeback dynamic.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.