The NFL achieved an unprecedented milestone during the first playoff weekend of the 2025 postseason, as a total of 12 lead changes occurred in the fourth quarter across the first four games. This surpasses the previous playoff record of 10 lead changes for an entire postseason, which was established in 2007.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the most recent instance of such a high number of lead changes was during the 2007 playoffs, which included three changes in the Super Bowl when the New York Giants thwarted New England”s attempt at a perfect season.
This weekend not only highlighted the thrill of competition but also set a record for the four game-winning touchdowns scored in the final three minutes of regulation. The action commenced with an exhilarating matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams. The game was tightly contested and was only decided when Matthew Stafford connected with Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard touchdown pass, marking the fourth lead change of the fourth quarter.
Prior to this season, only four playoff games had featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter, the most recent being the thrilling 2018 AFC Championship where New England triumphed over Kansas City in overtime. The excitement continued as Buffalo faced off against Jacksonville, where the teams exchanged leads before Josh Allen”s 1-yard touchdown run secured a 27-24 victory for the Bills with just over a minute left, registering the fourth lead change in that quarter.
The day”s events continued with the San Francisco 49ers edging out the Philadelphia Eagles 23-19, highlighted by Brock Purdy”s 4-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey with under three minutes remaining. In a remarkable turn of events, the Chicago Bears became the fourth team in NFL history to win a playoff game after trailing by at least 15 points at the start of the fourth quarter. This rare feat last occurred during Super Bowl 52, when New England overcame a significant deficit to defeat Atlanta in overtime.
Chicago”s victory was their seventh this season when trailing in the final two minutes, a figure that matches the combined total of the other 31 teams in similar scenarios. The Bears achieved this victory without ever leading the game until Caleb Williams threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Moore with just 1:43 remaining. Following that, Green Bay failed to score, marking a unique win for Chicago.
This playoff weekend also showcased exceptional defensive performances, with New England Patriots defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 and Houston Texans earning a 30-6 victory over Pittsburgh Steelers. The Texans notably scored two defensive touchdowns, becoming only the second team in the Super Bowl era to achieve such a feat while allowing no touchdowns in the same playoff game.
The NFC West is well-represented in the upcoming divisional round, with the victories by the Rams and 49ers contributing to three teams from the division reaching this stage, alongside the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks. This occurrence marks just the fourth instance in NFL history of three teams from the same division advancing to the divisional round in a single season.
As the playoffs progress, the struggles of seventh seeds continue to be a narrative, with the recent losses by Green Bay and the Chargers leaving seventh seeds with a stark record of 1-11 in the wild-card round since the NFL expanded the playoff format.
