Down But Not Out: Awesome Comebacks Since 2010

If you're anything like me, one thing that never gets old is a good sports comeback, where a team finds itself scratching and clawing its way to a victory by the most desperate means possible, shocking its opponent and fans alike.

No matter the stakes, when a team can overcome a massive deficit for a win, it's exciting—unless it happens to your favorite team, of course.

With so many epic comebacks in the past half-decade or so, I'm giving you the ultimate ones, with these being the best of the best.

Clinton LumberKings Overcome a 16-Run Deficit (2014)

Few people follow Single-A baseball regularly, but back in 2014, every baseball fan was probably aware of the epic comeback that the Clinton LumberKings were able to accomplish.

With the team trailing by 16 runs as late as the fifth inning, I'm sure fans weren't sticking around to see how the rest of the game played out.

Those who left, though, really missed out.

Fighting all the way back and sending the game to extra innings, the LumberKings ultimately completed the victory in the 12th inning and gave those who did stay in their seats something they'll never forget.

Miracle at the New Meadowlands (2010)

Anytime there's a specific nickname for a game, you know it means something crazy happened—which was the case during the Week 14 matchup between NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in 2010.

Known as the encore to the original Miracle in the Meadowlands, this game was critical in both teams' playoff hopes, with the winner having the upper hand in reaching the postseason.

As the G-Men marched out to a huge lead, once leading by 21 points late in the fourth quarter, the Eagles flew to new heights, scoring four touchdowns in less than seven minutes, 30 seconds to shock everyone watching.

Capping the craziness was an incredible 65-yard punt return as time expired by Philly's DeSean Jackson, which made this one of the nuttiest NFL games in recent memory.

Oracle Team USA Overcomes 8-1 Deficit to Win America's Cup (2013)

Like the aforementioned Clinton LumberKings of Single-A baseball, I would guess there aren't many of us who actually watch the America's Cup—even if it is the oldest international sporting trophy.

Still, when the event was held back in 2013, the race turned into one of the most memorable in its history, as the competition didn't just extend to 19 races but ended with a shocking come-from-behind victory that saw Oracle Team USA overcome an 8-1 deficit.

On the verge of losing the series with just one more loss, Oracle Team USA defeated Emirates Team New Zealand in the 34th edition and stunned the yachting world.

Los Angeles Clippers Sink the Memphis Grizzlies with a 27-Point Comeback (2012)

Entering the fourth quarter trailing by 21 points, then-Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro made the traditional call to rest his starters and just take the loss in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

You know, sometimes you just wave the white flag and live to see another day.

But Clips point guard Chris Paul wasn't having any of it, as he begged his coach to put him back in and try to change the result—which actually happened!

Falling behind by as many as 27 points, the Clippers went on a 26-1 run with the help of some timely shooting and shutdown defense, with Paul making a pair of free throws with 23.7 seconds left to stun the Grizz.

The 27-point comeback by L.A. is the second-largest deficit overcome by a team in NBA playoff history.

Michigan State Spartans Come from 20 Points Down for the Victory (2015)

Pitted against the high-flying offense of the Baylor Bears in last season's Cotton Bowl, the Michigan State Spartans knew they would have their hands full. But they probably never thought they would need to climb from a 20-point hole in order to get a victory.

That's what Sparty did, though.

Down by 20 points heading into the fourth quarter, Michigan State rattled off 21 unanswered points with a frantic effort, recovering an onside kick after a score and blocking a field goal that led to the game-winning touchdown pass with just 17 seconds left.

It was the highest-scoring Cotton Bowl ever, but it is probably remembered more for being one of the most entertaining.

Boston Bruins Net Three Straight Goals Before an Overtime Win (2013)

After the Toronto Maple Leafs were able to win two straight games to force a Game 7 in the opening round series against the Boston Bruins in 2013, the Leafs appeared to be the stronger team in the deciding game, holding a 4-1 lead with just over 11 minutes to play.

Knowing that their season was on the line, the Bruins pulled off the remarkable, rallying to tie the game as they scored two goals in the final 1:22 of regulation to force overtime before capping the series win with a game-winner.

According to an ESPN.com recap of the game, it was the first time a team had overcome a three-goal deficit in the third period of a Game 7 in Stanley Cup playoff history—and the Bruins did it in a fashion that most people won't forget.

The series victory kept the season alive for Boston, which reached the Stanley Cup Final—though it lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Europe Wins the Ryder Cup by Overcoming Four-Point Deficit on Final Day (2012)

Simply known as the Miracle at Medinah, when Team Europe overcame a four-point deficit on the final day of the 2012 Ryder Cup, it became one of the best comebacks in the tournament's history—and sent Team USA into complete and utter shock.

Down 10-6 to start the last day of matches, Europe won eight and tied one of the 12 singles matches, seeing Martin Kaymer sink a putt to defeat American Steve Stricker to give Europe the victory with one match still in progress.

The comeback matched the Americans' record rally during the 1999 version.

TCU Horned Frogs Overcome 31-Point Deficit (2015)

This is the most recent example of an epic comeback. When the TCU Horned Frogs found themselves trailing the high-powered offense of the Oregon Ducks by 31 points in the third quarter, I was on the brink of just passing out after assuming it was over.

Boy, am I glad I didn't.

That's because the rest of the game was insane, with the Horned Frogs marching all the way back to tie the game late in the fourth quarter and, eventually, win in triple overtime.

The fact that it happened with backup quarterback Bram Kohlhausen, filling in for the suspended Trevone Boykin and making some tough throws under pressure, is even more remarkable. Plus, it came in a bowl game during Kohlhausen's last college contest, so that's always cool.

The St. Louis Cardinals Pull Themselves Up from a Dangling Thread (2011)

If you watched Game 6 of the 2011 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, you probably think it's the best baseball game in the past 25 years.

Regardless of your personal opinion, David Freese and his Cardinals teammates probably think so, seeing as how they staged a furious comeback that led them to force a seventh game that, ultimately, led to a World Series title.

Entering the game, St. Louis was trailing the Rangers 3-2 in the series and down 7-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, with Texas' closer, Neftali Feliz, making his way to the mound to close out the title.

With two outs, two on and down to their last strike of the season, the Cardinals' Freese blasted a liner to deep right field that bounced off the wall and scored the two men on base to tie the game.

Freese's postseason heroics didn't end there, though.

After again overcoming a two-run deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the 10th, when Freese stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 11th, he hit a game-winning, walk-off homer to cap one of the most remarkable individual clutch performances in MLB history—and a couple of comebacks that might just be the best in World Series history.

Indianapolis Colts Overcome 28-Point Deficit in AFC Wild Card Game (2014)

It might not have been the still talked-about 31-point comeback that the Buffalo Bills had against the Houston Oilers in 1993, but, make no mistake, what the Indianapolis Colts were able to do in the 2014 AFC Wild Card Game against the Kansas City Chiefs was remarkable.

Trailing by as many as 28 points, the Colts flipped the script on K.C., avoiding disaster with some luck in order to march on in the postseason that year.

Indy quarterback Andrew Luck passed for four touchdowns and more than 400 yards to complete the second-largest comeback in NFL playoff history—trailing only, you got it, that Bills team in '93.

Tampa Bay Rays Overcome Seven-Run Deficit to Make Postseason (2011)

One can make the case that the final night of the MLB season in 2011 was the most shocking ever, with drama and theatrics occurring that seemed like they were written for a Hollywood movie.

Trailing the Boston Red Sox by nine games at one point in the month of September for the AL wild card, the Rays found themselves in a seven-run hole against the New York Yankees on the final day of the year, needing a win and a Sox loss to reach the playoffs.

Clawing their way all the way back in the game against the Yanks, Evan Longoria's 12th inning walk-off homer capped one of the best nights in MLB history, which, coinciding with a shocking loss by Boston against the Baltimore Orioles—where they blew a lead in the ninth inning—sent Tampa to the postseason.

The Philadelphia Flyers Do It All (2010)

While the Boston Bruins were on the winning side in the previously mentioned comeback against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2013, they were on the other end in 2010 against the Philadelphia Flyers during an Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup between the two teams.

What makes this one the best sports comeback since 2010 is that Philly didn't just dig itself out of an 0-3 series hole but also overcame a 3-0 deficit in the deciding Game 7.

Ultimately able to tie the game at three apiece in the second period, when Boston was called for a penalty, the Flyers' Simon Gagne netted the winner, hanging on for one of the greatest moments in NHL playoff history.