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Red Zone Rewind: One for the history books?

By Eddie Griffin ⋅ February 6, 2008 ⋅ Subscribe to The Red Zone Report

There might be some who would consider New York’s win over New England to be one of, if not, the biggest upset in history.

While I’m of a different opinion on that one, simply because there shouldn’t be any surprise about how competitive the Giants were - and the fact that they actually won (or maybe I‘m alone there) - it was undoubtedly one of the most historic upsets in history, considering that it denied the Patriots of a perfect season.

In terms of the spread, it was one of the biggest upsets in history, that much is true.

What are some of the other big upsets in history, both in spread and in scope? Let’s relive the biggest ones in each decade.

1960s

namath_sb_iii.jpg III: 16, Baltimore 7 - This is the upset of upsets, the greatest moment in Jets’ history, and one of the greatest in NFL history.

After the AFL had taken it on the chin in the first two Super Bowls, the NFL champion and 13-1 Baltimore Colts were favored to do the same against the AFL champion Jets.

Almost 35 years before he had eyes for Suzy Kolber, made his famous declaration that the Jets would pull off the upset. And lo and behold, the Jets went and did it, knocking off the Colts 16-7 to give the AFL their first victory. To this day, the Jets haven‘t gotten back to the promised land, but the one time they have was certainly one for the ages.

1970s

There weren’t any truly momentous upsets in the 70s, though Baltimore was the underdog when they beat Dallas in V, and Miami was actually a one-point underdog when they beat the Redskins to complete their 17-0 1972 season.

So, I’ll go with IV, and say that it counts because it was played in 1970.

A year after the Jets’ upset win over the Colts, the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Minnesota Vikings in the last before the AFL-NFL merger. The Chiefs had gotten pasted by the Packers in I three years prior, and weren’t expected to fare any better against the Vikings, who were 12 ½ point favorites.

But, the Chiefs forced five turnovers and triumphed 23-7, making it two in a row for the AFL, just when many detractors were dead set that the AFL and NFL were miles apart in quality.

1980s

doug_williams_sb_xxii XXII: Washington 42, Denver 10 - Timmy Smith’s finest hour, and a history-making night for Doug Williams and the Redskins offense.

The John Elway-led Broncos were favored to win, even after getting handily beaten by the New York Giants the previous year.

But, thanks to Williams, Smith, and a record night on a lot of fronts, the Redskins ran away with their second title of the decade.

Williams was the first black QB to start in a , but it was Elway and the Broncos who stole the spotlight first, taking a 10-0 lead