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NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Divisional Playoff games in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 23: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs flashes a peace sign toward outside linebacker Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills as he heads for the end zone to score a touchdown during the 4th quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 23: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs flashes a peace sign toward outside linebacker Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills as he heads for the end zone to score a touchdown during the 4th quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 24: Clarence Davis #28 of the Oakland Raiders carries the ball against the Baltimore Colts during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on December 24, 1977 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Davis played for the Raiders from 1971 to 1978. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 24: Clarence Davis #28 of the Oakland Raiders carries the ball against the Baltimore Colts during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game on December 24, 1977 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Davis played for the Raiders from 1971 to 1978. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Best divisional round games in NFL history:  5. Raiders 37, Colts 31 (2 OT) (AFC: 1977)

John Madden’s team won Super Bowl XI in 1976 with a 13-1 record. One year later, the Silver and Black finished 11-3 and was limited to wild card status behind the upstart Denver Broncos. That meant the Oakland Raiders would travel to Baltimore to take on the AFC East champion Colts.

Madden’s club got on the board first via a 30-yard touchdown run by Clarence Davis. However, Ted Marchibroda’s Colts scored the next 10 points, the first of those when Bruce Laird returned a Ken Stabler interception 61 yards for a touchdown. Toni Linhart’s 36-yard field goal gave Baltimore a 10-7 halftime advantage.

Stabler and tight end Dave Casper connected for an eight-yard score after intermission and Oakland took a short-lived 14-10 lead. That’s because Marshall Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a TD. The teams continued to trade scores and the Colts owned a 31-28 fourth-quarter edge. However, a Stabler-to-Casper connection for 42 yards (aka the “Ghost to the Post”) set up the game-tying 22-yard field goal and the clubs headed to overtime.

One extra 15-minute quarter decided nothing. Stabler and Casper would eventually get the job done via a 10-yard touchdown strike just 43 seconds into the second overtime gave Oakland the win.

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