Largest Point Deficits Overcome in Major Leagues
The 2004 Boston Red Sox erased a 3-0 series lead against the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, completing the largest deficit reversal in MLB playoff history. The 2019 NBA playoffs saw the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers both erase 3-1 series deficits, while the Houston Rockets became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-2 series deficit twice in the same postseason, per NBA.com NBA playoff comeback records.
In the NFL, the 2022 Minnesota Vikings became the first team in league history to lose a 33-point lead and still force overtime, falling to the New York Giants 31-24 after leading 33-0 in the second quarter, according to ESPN Vikings 33-point lead collapse. In the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, AC Milan trailed 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the Round of 16 first leg before mounting a late rally, while Liverpool staged a 3-0 first-leg deficit reversal against Real Madrid in the 2017-18 quarterfinals, per UEFA.com Liverpool vs Real Madrid 2018 comeback.
Historic Championship Series Turnarounds
The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs became the first NHL team to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final, a record that stood for 80 years until the Florida Panthers matched it against the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, per NHL.com Panthers 2024 Stanley Cup comeback. In the 2024 MLB postseason, the New York Mets erased a 2-0 series deficit against the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card round, while the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a 3-2 series comeback against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, according to MLB.com 2024 MLB postseason comebacks.
The 2023-24 Formula 1 season saw Max Verstappen overcome a 21-point championship deficit to Lando Norris after the final race, securing his fourth consecutive title, per Formula1.com