What was the best NFL game in history?

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The most hotly debated questions in sports, as “best” can be defined in many ways: greatest comeback, most historical significance, highest stakes, pure drama, or simply the best overall play.

However, one game consistently appears at the top of almost every list and is widely considered by fans, historians, and players alike to be the greatest NFL game ever played:

Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants vs. New England Patriots (February 3, 2008)

This game is the quintessential “David vs. Goliath” story, played on the biggest stage with unimaginable stakes.

Why it’s considered the best:

1. The Stakes: The New England Patriots were 18-0, trying to become the first “perfect” team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins and cement themselves as the undisputed greatest team of all time. The Giants were a 10-6 wild card team that barely scraped into the playoffs.

2. The Narrative: The Giants were massive 12-point underdogs. They had lost to the Patriots in the final week of the regular season but showed they could compete, losing 38-35. This set the stage for an epic rematch.

3. Incredible Defense: Contrary to a shootout, this was a brutal, hard-hitting defensive masterpiece. The Giants’ defensive line put constant, relentless pressure on Tom Brady all game, something no team had done all season.

4. The “Helmet Catch”: With 1:15 left on the clock, facing a 3rd and 5, and the season on the line, Giants QB Eli Manning escaped what seemed like a certain sack, rolled out, and launched a prayer downfield. Receiver David Tyree leaped and pinned the ball against his helmet with one hand, securing it as he fell to the ground. It is arguably the most miraculous and iconic catch in NFL history.

5. The Game-Winning Drive: The “Helmet Catch” kept the drive alive. A few plays later, Manning found Plaxico Burress in the end zone for a touchdown with just 35 seconds left to take the lead.

6. The Final Score: Giants 17, Patriots 14. The Giants shattered the Patriots’ perfect season in the most dramatic fashion possible.

Honorable Mentions (Other Contenders for “Best Ever”)

While Super Bowl XLII is the consensus choice, other games have a strong claim for different reasons:

• “The Epic in Miami” (1982 AFC Championship): San Diego Chargers 41, Miami Dolphins 38 (OT). Played in extreme humidity and heat, this game is legendary for its sheer offensive explosion and endurance. Hall of Famers everywhere, and it went to overtime on a last-second field goal. It’s often called the most physically grueling game ever played.

• “The Comeback” (1993 AFC Wild Card): Buffalo Bills 41, Houston Oilers 38 (OT). The Bills, without their star QB Jim Kelly, trailed 35-3 in the third quarter. Led by backup Frank Reich, they engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history to win in overtime.

• Super Bowl LI: Patriots vs. Falcons (2017): Patriots 34, Falcons 28 (OT). The largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The Patriots trailed 28-3 late in the 3rd quarter and rallied to force the first-ever Super Bowl overtime, completing an impossible victory. While the stakes weren’t a perfect season, the sheer improbability of the comeback is unmatched.

• 1958 NFL Championship: Colts vs. Giants (“The Greatest Game Ever Played”): Baltimore Colts 23, New York Giants 17 (OT). This is the original “Greatest Game Ever Played.” It was the first sudden-death overtime in NFL title game history, broadcast nationally to a massive audience, and is widely credited for catapulting the NFL into the national spotlight and making pro football a TV staple. Its historical importance is unmatched.

• “The Ice Bowl” (1967 NFL Championship): Green Bay Packers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17. Played in -15°F (-26°C) wind chills, this game is a legend of toughness and willpower. Bart Starr’s quarterback sneak with 13 seconds left to win the game on a frozen field is one of the most famous plays ever.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a single game that had the perfect storm of narrative, stakes, drama, iconic moments, and a shocking outcome, Super Bowl XLII (Giants vs. Patriots, 2008) is the most common answer for the best NFL game in history. For its historical impact on the sport itself, the 1958 NFL Championship remains the most important.