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NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Wild Card games in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during a Wild Card Playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 4, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a fourth quarter touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during a Wild Card Playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 4, 2014 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Head coach Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Noll was the head coach of the Steelers from 1969-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Head coach Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Noll was the head coach of the Steelers from 1969-91. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

9. Steelers 26, Oilers 23 (OT) (AFC: 1989)

Some called the 1989 season the best coaching job of Hall-of-Fame sideline leader Chuck Noll’s career. The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the year off a 5-11 showing, a last-place finish in the AFC Central and a fourth consecutive season without a playoff appearance.

Things didn’t look good early on. The team was manhandled by the Cleveland Browns at home in Week 1 via a 51-0 setback. Seven days later, the Steelers were pushed around by the then-reigning AFC champion Bengals at Cincinnati, 41-10.

Noll rallied the troops, the team won nine of its final 14 games and earned a wild card berth. The club would make its way to the “House of Pain” in Houston looking to avoid a third loss to the Oilers in ’89. Pittsburgh owned a surprising 16-9 lead only to see Houston rally to take a 23-16 lead.

Steelers’ running back Merril Hoge scored on a two-yard run with only 46 seconds and the subsequent PAT tied the game and it was on to overtime. In the extra session, Oilers’ running back Lorenzo White was smacked by CB Rod Woodson, forced a fumble and recovered it. It led to kicker Gary Anderson’s game-winning 50-yard field goal to give Noll’s team the upset victory.

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